Former Romney adviser bankrolled by left-wing groups ripped for leading anti-DOGE charge: ‘Paid puppet’
A well-known economist who was believed to be trying to influence the Trump administration’s economic policies in the lead-up to the inauguration is facing criticism for his opposition to President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) efforts in line with the resistance from some of his group’s top donors. “Elon Musk is not actually a popular person, and the frame of politics that the DOGE crew is pushing is not an effective brand of politics,” American Compass founder and chief economist Oren Cass told Politico in February. Also in February, Cass wrote a piece for UnHerd, titled “Why DOGE will fail: There isn’t an easy button for everything,” where he argued that “DOGE is haphazardly cutting expenditures without even knowing what they are.” Cass has a long history of criticizing Musk, including last year when he took shots at Musk’s personal character and said in a post on X that Musk’s values are not aligned with the interests of the American people after the tech billionaire opened a factory in China. DEMOCRATS IN PANIC MODE AS ELON MUSK AND DOGE GO PUBLIC In March 2024, Cass posted that Musk has “already committed to upholding core socialist values” to placate the Chinese Communist Party for financial gain. Fox News Digital previously reported on Cass positioning himself as an ally of the Trump administration and that a significant chunk of American Compass’ funding comes from a handful of foundations tied to liberal causes, including almost $2 million from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Omidyar Network, which is led by a founder described as “notable for funding liberal-in-conservative clothing groups that target former president Donald Trump and his supporters.” The Hewlett Foundation gave nearly $2 million, 44.1% of total funding, to American Compass from 2020-2023, including a startup grant, while Pierre Omidyar, of the Omidyar Network, gave $550,000, 11.3% of total funding, from 2020-2023. Both the Hewlett Foundation and Omidyar Network have resisted the Trump administration. TOP FINANCIAL OFFICIALS SOUND ALARM ON ‘UNCONSCIONABLE’ ECONOMIC IMPACT OF DOGE PROTEST VIOLENCE: LETTER Hewlett Foundation Director Of Economic And Society Initiative Jennifer Harris has been critical of Musk and DOGE’s efforts on X, including riposting a criticism doubting that DOGE cuts would result in actual savings and sharing a post that said, “The Air Crashes Of The Past Two Days Show Us The Obvious: The Man In Charge Of @DOGE Runs Companies That No One Would Miss If They Disappeared Tomorrow. If Good Government Disappears, People Die.” The Atlantic posted a piece in February with the headline, “DOGE Is Failing on Its Own Terms.” The bottom of that article stated, “Support for this project was provided by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.” The Omidyar Network has been active behind the scenes pushing resistance against Musk and the Trump administration, the Washington Examiner reported in November, and has opposed Musk in various forms and previously backed corporate boycotts against Musk, the Washington Free Beacon reported. Along with his criticism of DOGE, Cass has been a vocal opponent of another one of the Trump administration’s top priorities, tax cuts. Despite Cass offering some praise of Trump, he has been a longtime critic of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, calling them an “expensive failure” and saying Trumpism is facing an “inevitable expiration” and adding in September 2020 that Trump is “building no intellectual foundation, no institutional infrastructure and no policy agenda.” “Oren Cass is a former Romney staffer upset that Trump is cutting taxes and cutting government spending, DOGE shouldn’t care about the political assessment of a man who just lost a local school board election,” Mike Palicz, director of Americans for Tax Reform, told Fox News Digital. David McIntosh, Club for Growth president, told Fox News Digital in a statement, “So American Compass opposes the Trump tax cuts, and now Elon Musk’s work to cut federal government waste, it’s almost like he’s just a paid-puppet of the left – oh wait, he is.” After Trump’s 2024 election victory, Cass continued to signal opposition to Trump’s tax policy. “Well, I think we have today a politics where both candidates go around talking about how they`re just going to cut everybody`s taxes,” Cass told PBS on Nov. 10. “And, of course, everybody likes a tax cut. But I don`t think those are the things that are going to turn our economy in a much better direction.” During another interview earlier this year, Cass said one of the things he thought was “most encouraging” was that there are no “mini Trumps” and that he is “extremely encouraged” by the post-Trump-era Republican leaders he is seeing. “American Compass advocates for limited government and a commitment to paying for the government that we have rather than leaving the bill to our children,” Cass told Fox News Digital in November. “Anti-tax zealots can lobby for larger deficits if they want, but conservatives are under no obligation to follow them into the fiscal ditch.” In a statement to Fox News Digital, a Hewlett Foundation spokesperson said, “The Hewlett Foundation funds grantees across the ideological spectrum, including American Compass—specifically for its efforts to prioritize American prosperity and American workers.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Omidyar Network and American Compass for comment.
Anna Paulina Luna forces House leadership’s hand on proxy voting as GOP war escalates
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., is forcing a vote on legislation to enable new parents serving in Congress to vote remotely in the weeks surrounding the birth of their child. Luna introduced the measure as a “privileged resolution” on Tuesday, which gives House leaders two legislative days to take up the measure. It’s the latest in an increasingly high-stakes fight between Luna and House GOP leaders, who have teamed up with some of Luna’s now-former House Freedom Caucus colleagues to ensure she cannot force a vote on the legislation. Luna’s initial plan to fast-track her bill despite opposition from House GOP leaders involved a discharge petition, a mechanism for getting a bill onto the House floor if it gets a majority of lawmakers’ signatures – which Luna’s resolution did. EXPERT TURNS TABLES ON DEM CRITICS AFTER MUSK ACCUSES SOCIAL SECURITY OF BEING ‘PONZI SCHEME’ But Republican leaders had language inserted into an unrelated package of bills in the House Rules Committee on Tuesday morning that would have neutered Luna’s effort in a move that rankled GOP supporters of proxy voting. Even some Republicans on the House Rules Committee, which did ultimately advance the measure, were frustrated by what they saw as a last-minute play by leadership that was done without briefing those GOP lawmakers, Fox News Digital was told. House GOP leaders will likely opt for a procedural vote to “table” the resolution or to refer it to the relevant committee for consideration via the traditional route – both moves that would all but kill the bill. If that fails, however, the legislation could very well pass with support from all Democrats and just a few House Republicans, given the GOP’s slim majority. Luna accused conservatives of holding Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., “hostage” on the matter in a letter to fellow House Republicans on Monday night. She also announced she was leaving the House Freedom Caucus, citing a small group of conservatives who have pressed leaders to kill her measure. Luna’s bill, which is co-led by Rep. Brittney Pettersen, D-Colo., would give new moms and dads serving in Congress the ability to vote by proxy for up to 12 weeks surrounding the birth of their child. In her letter she shared praise for House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., whose conduct she called “gentlemanly,” but added, “With a heavy heart, I am resigning from the Freedom Caucus.” APPEALS COURT RULES DOGE CAN CONTINUE OPERATING AT USAID IN ANOTHER WIN FOR TRUMP ADMINISTRATION “I cannot remain part of a caucus where a select few operate outside its guidelines, misuse its name, broker backroom deals that undermine its core values and where the lines of compromise and transaction are blurred, disparage me to the press, and encourage misrepresentation of me to the American people,” Luna wrote. Johnson said he believed proxy voting was “unconstitutional” in remarks after House Republicans’ regular closed-door meeting last week, and spoke out on the issue again this week. “We addressed this in conference this morning. A couple of our, a handful of our colleagues, have gotten behind the effort, and, look, I’m a father. I’m pro-family,” the speaker said last week. “Here’s the problem. If you create a proxy vote opportunity just for young parents, mothers and, the fathers in those situations, then where is the limiting principle?”
Trump Labor Department secures eye-popping sum to return to taxpayers amid DOGE push
U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced on Monday that her department will return over $1 billion in unused COVID-era funding back to the taxpayer amid the Trump administration’s push for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to slash waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government. In a press release, the Labor Department said $1.4 billion of unspent COVID funding will be “returned to taxpayers through the U.S. Department of Treasury’s General Fund” and added that “action” is “being taken to recover the remaining $2.9 billion.” “The roughly $4.3 billion was intended for states to use for temporary unemployment insurance during the pandemic,” the press release states. “Instead, several states continued spending millions of dollars despite no longer meeting necessary requirements, which was uncovered in a 2023 audit conducted by the department’s Office of Inspector General.” The department explained in the press release that the funding originated from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act in March 2020 and that the program was meant to provide expanded unemployment insurance for Americans who were not able to work during the pandemic. EXPERT TURNS TABLES ON DEM CRITICS AFTER MUSK ACCUSES SOCIAL SECURITY OF BEING ‘PONZI SCHEME’ The program was closed in 2021, the department said, but the 2023 audit “found four states were allowed to access the funding ‘despite not meeting program requirements,’ totaling over $100 million in spending.” “There’s no reason leftover COVID unemployment funds should still be collecting dust,” DeRemer told Fox News Digital in a statement. “I promised to look out for Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars, and we are delivering at the Department of Labor.” “Any money still sitting around for pandemic-era unemployment funds is a clear misuse of Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars,” Chavez-DeRemer said in the press release, adding that she is “rooting out waste to ensure American Workers always come First.” LABOR SECRETARY CHAVEZ-DEREMER’S FIRST MEMO CALLS ON STAFF TO COMPLY WITH TRUMP POLICIES: ‘LET’S GET TO WORK’ Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling said in a statement, “It’s unacceptable that billions of dollars went unchecked in a program that ended several years ago. “In a huge win for the American taxpayer, we’ve clawed back these unused funds and will keep working to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.” The announcement comes after DeRemer said in her first memo to the department after taking over last month that she plans to comply with Trump’s executive orders and work with DOGE to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse. “Under the leadership of President Trump, our focus remains on promoting job creation, enhancing workforce development, and ensuring safe working conditions, wages, and pensions so that every American has the opportunity to succeed,” DeRemer said to employees in the memo. “I challenge each of you to actively engage with your teams to identify innovative solutions that can help us achieve our goals.” Chavez-DeRemer said that the Labor Department must align with the priorities of the Trump administration and “must focus on practicing fiscal responsibility, reducing unnecessary spending, and optimizing our resources to ensure that taxpayer dollars are utilized effectively.” Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this report
Cory Booker staffer arrested for allegedly carrying pistol without license at Capitol
A congressional staffer was arrested for carrying a pistol without a license after being escorted into the U.S. Capitol by a member of Congress, police said Tuesday. The United States Capitol Police said in a statement, “Yesterday afternoon, a Member of Congress led an ID’ed staff member around security screening at the Hart Senate Office Building. “Later that evening, outside the Senate Galleries, the IDed staff member — who is a retired law enforcement officer — told our officers he was armed. HAWLEY OFFICIALLY A YES ON DR. OZ AFTER SECURING COMMITMENTS ON TRANSGENDER, ABORTION ISSUES “The staff member, 59-year-old Kevin A. Batts of New Jersey, was arrested for Carrying a Pistol Without a License. All weapons are prohibited from Capitol Grounds, even if you are a retired law enforcement officer, or have a permit to carry in another state or the District of Columbia,” the statement continued. Batts is listed as a “special assistant” to Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., on Legistorm, a research entity that routinely updates salaries and information about lawmakers and their staffs. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Booker spokesperson Jeff Giertz said, “Sen. Booker’s office employs a retired Newark police detective as a New Jersey-based driver who often accompanies him to events. We are working to better understand the circumstances around this.” ‘BLINDSIDED’: HOW STEFANIK’S TRUMP NOMINATION AS UN AMBASSADOR IMPLODED In 2016, Booker shared a video of Batts on social media, identifying Batts as a former detective in Newark. At the time, Batts said he had worked for either the city of Newark or Booker’s office for 28 years. “Kevin Batts has been a friend and team member since 2006 when I became mayor and even before,” the senator wrote on Instagram. “I so deeply appreciate his steadfast friendship, incredible dedication to Newark and now his service to the state. Kevin was raised in Columbus Homes projects in Newark, then spent 6 years in the United States army reserves and then joined the Newark Police Department and became a detective in 2004. “In 2006, he joined my security detail as a member of Newark’s executive protection unit. In 2013 he joined my Senate staff. I am truly blessed by his friendship and loyal hard work.” HOW TRUMP-BLOCKING JUDGES MANAGED TO GET PAST SENATE JUDICIARY HAWKS Booker also mentioned Batts in a 2017 commencement speech at the University of Pennsylvania. “And as I told my driver, an incredible officer named Kevin Batts, retired from the Newark Police Department, joined my staff because of our friendship and our bond, I said to him, “Kev, we’re almost home but do you mind? We have to swing through the drive-thru,” he said. Batts’ arrest comes as Booker continues to break records for one of the longest floor speeches in American Senate history. The senator, who began speaking Monday night, now holds the fourth-longest Senate floor speeches, recently surpassing Sen. Robert La Follette, R-Wis., who spoke for 18 hours and 23 minutes in 1908. JOSH HAWLEY BELIEVES HIS BILL CAN STOP ‘RESISTANCE’ JUDGES FROM ‘PROVOKING A CRISIS’ Next up is the record held by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, whose speech against Obamacare in 2013 went on for 21 hours and 19 minutes. The record holder is Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes against a civil rights bill in 1957. If Booker continues to speak, he will break Thurmond’s record around 7:19 pm Eastern time on Tuesday night.
Germany and Italy arrest more than 30 in Mafia food fraud sweep
German police officer among those held in raids against the ‘Ndrangheta over sales of expensive food and equipment. German and Italian authorities have arrested dozens of suspects, including a policeman, in raids against the ‘Ndrangheta criminal organisation over fraud involving the sale of expensive food and pizza-making equipment. The ‘Ndrangheta is considered Italy’s wealthiest and most powerful Mafia and is also heavily involved in drug trafficking, controlling the bulk of cocaine flowing into Europe. Hundreds of law enforcement officials carried out about 40 searches in four German states and several areas of Italy as part of a five-year investigation that involved cooperation from the international police organisation Interpol. Fourteen suspects, including a 46-year-old police officer accused of supporting the gang, were arrested in western Germany, and 20 were detained in Italy, German police said on Tuesday. They are accused of “an elaborate fraud with high-value food products, such as expensive cheeses and olive oil, as well as kitchen equipment for pizza production”, said Eurojust, the European Union’s judicial agency, which coordinated the raids. Advertisement The suspects are also accused of other crimes, including arson, drug trafficking and tax evasion. The alleged food fraud took place in and around Stuttgart, Germany, and involved suspects posing as representatives of German food companies who then targeted Italian firms, according to German prosecutor Joachim Dittrich. They ordered large quantities of food and equipment in the name of a fake company but did not pay, leading to losses of hundreds of thousands of euros to the suppliers, he said. The suspects then allegedly pressured Italian restaurants in and around the German city to buy the supplies, and the businesses agreed to avoid possible reprisals. Italian prosecutors said the victims were Italians from Calabria, the southern region of the country where the ‘Ndrangheta is based. The arrested police officer is accused of disclosing confidential information to help the suspects. Adblock test (Why?)
Wave of court orders blocking Trump’s agenda are a ‘judicial coup d’etat,’ Gingrich says
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich condemned the wave of federal judges blocking President Donald Trump’s agenda as a “judicial coup d’etat” on Tuesday. Gingrich made the comments while testifying at a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing focused on “judicial overreach” by U.S. district court judges across the country. The former lawmaker highlighted that the vast majority of judges filing injunctions or restraining orders against Trump’s executive actions have been appointed by Democrats. “Mr. Gingrich, I’m told that 92% of the judges who have issued blanket injunctions against the administration have been appointed by Democrats. That at least suggests a partisan tilt to all of this… doesn’t that undermine public confidence in our courts?” Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., asked at the hearing. “If you look at the recent reports from various polling firms, clearly a majority of Americans believe that no single district judge should be able to issue a nationwide injunction,” Gingrich responded. “Look, my judgment is as a historian. This is clearly a judicial coup d’etat. You don’t have this many different judges issue this many different nationwide injunctions – all of them coming from the same ideological and political background – and just assume it’s all random efforts of justice,” he continued. WHO IS JAMES BOASBERG, THE US JUDGE AT THE CENTER OF TRUMP’S DEPORTATION EFFORTS? “This is a clear effort to stop the scale of change that President Trump represents,” he added. ‘WOEFULLY INSUFFICIENT’: US JUDGE REAMS TRUMP ADMIN FOR DAYS-LATE DEPORTATION INFO Gingrich went on to argue that it is unacceptable for “random” judges to micromanage the president of the United States. “They put both Americans and the nation at risk when they intervene to become basically alternative presidents. You now have potentially 677 alternative presidents, none of whom won an election,” he said. The best solution for the wave of injunctions is for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to intervene, Gingrich said. Roberts could ensure that any such rulings from lower federal courts could move straight up to the Supreme Court. At the center of the court controversy is District Judge James Boasberg, who attempted to block the Trump administration from deporting members of the Tren de Aragua gang to El Salvador. Other judges have placed injunctions on Trump’s efforts to trim down the federal government. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., met privately with Republican judiciary committee members last week for what sources called a “brainstorming” session on how to respond to judges like Boasberg. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Ideas raised by lawmakers included a fast-tracked appeals process, wielding Congress’ spending power over the judiciary, and limiting the ability to “judge shop.” And some conservatives are eager to target specific judges they believe are abusing their power via the impeachment process, but House Republican leaders are wary of that route and believe it to be less effective than other legislative avenues. Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
Musk says Social Security scammer who allegedly ripped off 400K Americans faces imminent arrest
Elon Musk said that an alleged scammer who reportedly ripped off 400,000 Americans by selling their Social Security numbers is facing imminent arrest. “I believe someone is going to be arrested tomorrow, because there’s someone who actually stole 400,000 Social Security numbers and personal information from the Social Security database,” Musk said during a tele-town hall with Wisconsin voters Monday evening. Wisconsin is holding a high-stakes state Supreme Court election Tuesday that will determine if the state’s highest court will hold a liberal or conservative majority by filing a retiring justice’s seat. The person was “selling Social Security numbers and all the identification information in order for people to basically steal money from Social Security,” he continued. Musk was responding to a phone call from a Wisconsin voter who asked if Attorney General Pam Bondi had plans to investigate and prosecute fraud surrounding Social Security. Musk is helping lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is working to uncover government overspending and fraud, and reported in March that “there’s a massive amount of fraud” related to alleged scammers submitting phony Social Security numbers in an attempt to receive federal benefits. MUSK SHARES ‘MIND BLOWING’ CHART SHOWING MILLIONS OF ‘NONCITIZENS’ GIVEN SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS UNDER BIDEN Musk did not provide any additional details on the alleged scammer during the call. Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Justice inquiring about any investigations into Social Security fraud claims and if the department was preparing to make arrests, but did not immediately receive a reply. Musk continued in the phone conversation Monday that potential fraud related to Social Security leaves the system vulnerable to illegal immigrants fraudulently obtaining identification numbers. EXPERT TURNS TABLES ON DEM CRITICS AFTER MUSK ACCUSES SOCIAL SECURITY OF BEING ‘PONZI SCHEME’ “A particular avenue of fraud for like illegal immigrants and for voter fraud, because the main way that identification is established in the United States is via Social Security,” he said. “So, if you compromise a Social Security system, you can basically get people to get de facto registered to vote, even if they’re not citizens, and to get a bunch of benefits.” Musk and members of his DOGE team joined Fox News at the end of March to discuss their operation and what they have uncovered since they began investigating federal agencies in the search of fraud and mismanagement. Musk identified Social Security as reportedly chronically vulnerable to fraud. ELON MUSK IS CORRECT THAT SOCIAL SECURITY OPERATES LIKE A ‘PONZI SCHEME’: EXPERT “They steal people’s Social Security, is what happens,” Musk said in a Thursday exclusive interview on Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier.” “They call in, they claim to be a retiree, and they convince the Social Security person on the phone to change where the money is flowing. It actually goes to some fraudster. This is happening all day, every day. And then somebody doesn’t receive their Social Security, it’s because of all the fraud loopholes in the Social Security system.” DOGE engineer Aram Moghaddassi added in the interview, “At Social Security, one of the first things that we learned is that they get phone calls every day of people trying to change direct deposit information.” “So when you want to change your bank account, you can call Social Security. We learned 40% of the calls that they get are from fraudsters.” Amid DOGE’s investigation into the Social Security Administration, President Donald Trump has vowed not to cut Medicare or Social Security benefits for Americans.
Trump’s transgender military ban dealt legal blow after appeals court ruling
A U.S. appeals court on Monday rejected the Trump administration’s request to pause a lower court ruling that temporarily blocked its ban on transgender military service members – a near-term blow as the administration signals it may take the case to the Supreme Court. The three-judge panel on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied the administration’s request for an administrative stay, which would have allowed it to enforce the ban while a lower court weighs the case. Instead, the appellate court decision leaves in place, for now, a preliminary injunction handed down late last month by U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle. That decision blocked the Trump administration from identifying and removing transgender service members for the near-term while the case proceeds in lower court. “The Department of Justice has vigorously defended President Trump’s executive actions, including the Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness Executive Order, and will continue to do so,” a spokesperson for the Justice Department told Fox News Digital. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ASKS SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW EL SALVADOR DEPORTATION FLIGHT CASE The Trump administration filed its appeal to the 9th Circuit last week, seeking to overturn Judge Settle’s preliminary injunction. In court filings, the government argued that the transgender military policy “furthers the government’s important interests in military readiness, unit cohesion, good order and discipline, and avoiding disproportionate costs.” However, the policy has already faced a wave of early legal challenges. Settle, who is based in Tacoma, Washington, is not the only federal judge to block the Trump administration’s transgender military ban this year. Last month, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes also temporarily blocked Trump’s ban, citing what she described as a lack of evidence to support the administration’s stated rationale for the policy. Reyes vehemently contested the government’s assertion that being transgender is “not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.” JUDGES V TRUMP: HERE ARE THE KEY COURT BATTLES HALTING THE WHITE HOUSE AGENDA Reyes noted in a scathing, 79-page ruling that transgender service members have provided a combined total of “over 130 years of military service,” have been deployed around the globe, including currently in an active combat zone, and together have earned more than 80 commendations and medals for their service. The three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit broke with Reyes’s order, however – agreeing to grant the Trump administration an administrative stay. Still, the judges stressed that the stay “should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits” of the case. The panel also said they reserve the right to reconsider the administrative stay if the military is found to have taken adverse action against passenger service members. President Donald Trump ordered the ban in question shortly after taking office in a January executive order. The order states that the “adoption of a gender identity inconsistent with an individual’s sex conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one’s personal life” – which plaintiffs have vigorously contested. The case is one of many that will likely be kicked up to the Supreme Court.
Trump pick for Joint Chiefs chair tells Senate ‘element of surprise’ should be guarded amid Signal chat leak
Lt. Gen. Daniel “Razin” Caine, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the U.S. top military officer, side-stepped questions from Senate Democrats about his view on the recent Signal leak controversy roiling the Trump administration, but he did say the “element of surprise” should be safeguarded as a result of the incident. Democrats, including Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, repeatedly asked Caine about how he would respond to hypothetical scenarios regarding the leak, during a Thursday confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Caine, careful with his responses, repeatedly stressed the importance of “preserv[ing] the element of surprise,” adding that he has “always” communicated sensitive information using the proper channels. Blumenthal charged that the “element of surprise was very likely lost” as a result of the leak. TRUMP’S PICK FOR JOINT CHIEFS CHAIR DANIEL ‘RAZIN’ CAINE SET FOR SENATE GRILLING While the Trump administration and its supporters have denied that anything discussed in the Signal chat amounted to war plans, critics have disagreed, citing the fact the chats included a detailed timeline about a U.S. attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen. “Because of your extraordinary service, general, I can’t imagine anyone better qualified to answer this question,” Blumenthal said to Caine. “Knowing what you do, about the substance of that conversation, how would you feel?” “Well, Senator, I stand by what I said before. I think we all can agree that we need to always protect the element of surprise,” Caine said. “And that element of surprise was very likely lost, if there had been any intercept by one of our enemies or adversaries that could be conveyed to the Houthis. Correct?” Blumenthal asked. “That’s a little bit of a hypothetical question, but, I am thankful, as always, that we we protect our servicemen and women who are going into combat operation,” Caine replied. TRUMP NOMINATES AIR FORCE LT. GEN. DAN ‘RAZIN’ CAINE FOR JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF CHAIRMAN Hirono questioned Caine with a similar hypothetical but went a step further and asked if he would “just let this matter drop,” as she claimed the Trump administration is doing. “It’s really not a hypothetical. It is what is confronting this administration,” Hirono said. “Given the fact that the chairman and ranking member have asked for an investigation, I don’t want to comment on the particulars,” Caine relented as Hirono hounded for an answer. “I do want to stay at the strategic altitude and say that we should always preserve the element of surprise.” Reed proceeded to ask Ciane if he “were on that conversation” would he have “objected to the fact that it was being conducted on Signal?” “Well, Senator, you know, I was not in that chat,” Caine responded. “I know that that’s why I asked if you were,” Reed said. Caine asserted that he has “always communicated proper information in the proper channels.” Caine was tapped by Trump to replace Biden-appointed Gen. Charles Q. “C.Q.” Brown Jr. after he was fired in February. VANCE VISITS CAPITOL HILL TO URGE SENATORS TO CONFIRM ELBRIDGE COLBY FOR PENTAGON NO. 3 POST The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is a group of senior military officials who advise the president, the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council on military matters. The JCS consists of the highest-ranking officers from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and National Guard, with the chairman serving as the highest principal military advisor. The chairman is typically required to have served as a four-star general in charge of a military service branch or as a combatant commander, qualifications Caine does not possess. However, the president has the authority to waive these requirements if deemed necessary for national interests. Caine’s extensive Air Force military background includes serving as a decorated F-16 combat pilot and playing critical roles in special intelligence operations. Given the slim Republican majority, his full Senate confirmation would require near-unanimous support from Republican senators.
Yemen chat leak: What does it tell us about Trump’s administration?
US officials downplay a journalist being included in Yemen attack chats, but it sheds light on workings of the White House. If the sharing of private chats of top United States intelligence officials with a reporter “were a part of an episode of Veep [a satirical US TV series], I wouldn’t have believed it”, former Pentagon official Alex Wagner says. The chats touched on Yemen, Europe, and other foreign and domestic policy concerns. Wagner and military affairs journalist Kevin Baron tell host Steve Clemons that the inadvertent inclusion of the journalist in the Signal group chats indicates a level of “carelessness” that is more insidious than the Trump administration cares to admit. Despite the gravity of the mistake, no one expects any accountability for the officials involved. Adblock test (Why?)