2 h. ago I worked in Trump’s first administration. Here’s why his team is using Signal | Kevin Carroll

Using the platform was dangerous and wrong – but officials appeared to prioritize shielding themselves from litigationNo senior US government official in the now-infamous “Houthi PC Small Group” Signal chat seemed new to that kind of group, nor surprised by the sensitivity of the subject discussed in that insecure forum, not even when the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, chimed in with details of a coming airstrike. No one objected – not the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, who was abroad and using her personal cellphone to discuss pending military operations; not even the presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, who was in Moscow at the time. Yet most of these officials enjoy the luxury of access to secure government communications systems 24/7/365.Reasonable conclusions may be drawn from these facts. First, Trump’s national security cabinet commonly discusses secret information on insecure personal devices. Second, sophisticated adversaries such as Russia and China inter...

Politics

2 h. ago Brendan Rodgers goes against Celtic chiefs’ league stance as boss admits he wants a bigger top flight

The Irishman has had his say on the league set-up after a 10-team top flight came up for discussion.

Economics

10 h. ago Trump now fires his NSA chief as MAGA star linked to mass bloodletting on his security team celebrates

MAGA influencer Laura Loomer celebrated as Donald Trump added to his firings at the National Security Council by letting go of the director of the National Security Agency Thursday.

Events

11 h. ago Democrats decry reported dismissal of NSA director Tim Haugh

Dismissing Haugh, who headed the US Cyber Command, puts the country at risk at a time of ‘unprecedented cyber threats’, congressional Democrats sayTop congressional Democrats on Thursday protested against the reported firing of Gen Tim Haugh as director of the National Security Agency (NSA), with one lawmaker saying the decision “makes all of us less safe”.The Washington Post reported late Thursday that Haugh and his civilian deputy at the NSA, Wendy Noble, had been dismissed from their roles. Haugh also headed US Cyber Command, which coordinates the Pentagon’s cybersecurity operations. The Post report cited two current US officials and one former US official who requested anonymity. Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago Knives out for Mike Waltz as Trump fires national security officials

Maga critics circle around hawkish foreign policy adviser who was at centre of ‘Signalgate’ fiasco

Politics

18 h. ago Trump fires six national security staffers after meeting with far

Trump ally presented him with opposition research against a number of officials that she said showed their disloyaltyFollow US politics liveDonald Trump fired six national security council staffers after an unusual meeting in the Oval Office where the far-right activist Laura Loomer presented opposition research against a number of staffers that she said showed they were disloyal to the US president, according to two people familiar with the matter.The firings included three staffers who had been brought on by national security adviser Mike Waltz – an extraordinary situation where Loomer appeared to have more sway over NSC personnel than the official in charge of running the agency. It also undercut Waltz’s position to have his allies axed from under him. Continue reading...

Events

20 h. ago Pentagon launches investigation into Pete Hegseth’s use of Signal app after sensitive information leak

Defense chief and others discussed US military operations on messaging app that included journalistThe inspector general of the Department of Defense (DoD) is launching an investigation into Pentagon secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of the encrypted messaging app Signal to discuss sensitive information about military operations in Yemen.The investigation, announced on Thursday, follows a bipartisan request from the Senate armed services committee after allegations emerged that highly precise – and most likely classified – intelligence about impending US airstrikes in Yemen, including strike timing and aircraft models, had been shared in a Signal group chat that included a journalist. Continue reading...

Events

21 h. ago Trump fires national security officials after activist alleges ‘disloyalty’

Sackings come as top adviser Mike Waltz faces pressure for discussing military strikes in Signal chat

Politics

21 h. ago Pentagon watchdog to investigate Pete Hegseth over Signal war

Defense chief and others discussed US military operations on messaging app that included journalistThe inspector general of the Department of Defense (DOD) is launching an investigation into Pentagon secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of the encrypted messaging app Signal to discuss sensitive information about military operations in Yemen.The probe, announced on Thursday, follows a bipartisan request from the Senate armed services committee after allegations emerged that highly precise – and most likely classified – intelligence about impending US airstrikes in Yemen, including strike timing and aircraft models, had been shared in a Signal group chat that included a journalist. Continue reading...

Events

23 h. ago Trump fires National Security Council staff after Laura Loomer urged him to cut people she saw as disloyal: report

Trump fired ‘several’ NSC members after his Oval Office meeting with Loomer, according to reports

Events

24 h. ago Trump fires three national security staffers after meeting with far

Loomer reportedly presented Trump with opposition research on national security council officials at Oval OfficeFollow US politics liveLaura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist and Islamophobic former Republican congressional candidate banned from Uber, Paypal and some social media platforms has apparently been successful in pushing the White House to fire national security staffers for disloyalty.The New York Times first reported that Loomer, famous for promoting racism and 9/11 conspiracy theories, was spotted in a meeting on Wednesday where she reportedly presented Trump with opposition research on national security council officials during a 30-minute Oval Office meeting. Continue reading...

Events

25 h. ago Trump fires staff of 'idiot' adviser embroiled in Signal scandal after urging by controversial MAGA influencer

President Donald Trump has fired several members of his National Security Council team, Axios reported Thursday.

Politics

28 h. ago TikTok set for €500m fine over sending EU data to China as US sale deadline looms

Ireland’s data protection commission is said to have found TikTok's owners fell foul of GDPR laws by sending users' data to China, amid fears the video sharing app poses a national security threat

Events

28 h. ago Prime Minister hails Martyn's Law as 'landmark moment for national security'

'I am determined to ensure nobody endures what my family has experienced'

Politics

44 h. ago Mike Waltz’s team set up at least 20 Signal chats for national security work – report

National security adviser and team shared ‘sensitive information’ in group chats on app, sources tell PoliticoUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and his team have created at least 20 different group chats on the encrypted messaging app Signal to coordinate sensitive national security work, sources tell Politico.The revelation, which cites four people with direct knowledge of the practice, follows heightened scrutiny of the administration’s handling of sensitive information after the Atlantic recently published messages from a chat that included the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, sharing operational details of deadly strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Continue reading...

Events

45 h. ago Elon Musk reportedly to step down from lead Trump role as service limit nears

Insiders say Musk will leave soon, when 130-day cap on government service expires but ‘Doge’ team set to continueElon Musk’s polarizing stint slashing and bashing federal bureaucracy will probably soon end, with the world’s richest person’s government service hitting its legal limit in the coming weeks.“He’s got a big company to run at some point he’s going to be going back,” Donald Trump told reporters on Monday. Continue reading...

Politics

47 h. ago Law firms fear Trump orders could affect security clearances of lawyers who are military reservists

President Donald Trump says executive orders targeting law firms are being issued in the name of national security, with the White House asserting that the firms don’t deserve access to sensitive U.S. government information

Events

47 h. ago 10 team top flight set to be TORPEDOED as clubs push for bigger Premiership and date for showdown talks set

Record Sport has learned the clubs who have triggered the requrest for a major overhaul all currently play in the Championship

Politics

49 h. ago National security adviser Michael Waltz reportedly conducted business via Gmail

Latest security flap again focuses scrutiny on Waltz after he earlier added journalist to Yemen war-planning chatUS politics live – latest updatesMichael Waltz, the embattled national security adviser to Donald Trump, and other members of the national security council have reportedly used personal Gmail accounts to conduct government business.The apparent use of Gmail, a relatively insecure method of communication for high-level government officials, places further scrutiny upon Waltz, who is already under pressure after adding a journalist to a group chat on the commercial Signal app, where top US officials then planned and celebrated a US airstrike in Yemen last month. Continue reading...

Events

53 h. ago Donald Trump's former staffer admits 'I'm terrified' after this one event happened

Anthony Scaramucci, who was briefly White House director of communications in 2017, has admitted he is 'terrified' for national security following the latest round of leaks and scandals by the Trump administration

Politics