This Former CIA Officer Let People Ask Him Anything About “Signalgate”

12.

Q: With the secretaries being what they are (using Signal for top secret communications), congress being controlled by Republicans, and Democrats unable to get their heads out of their butts, Supreme Court rulings, and a president where you could make the argument is a Russian asset, where do we go from here? What part of the government can actually help the people?

A: You’re right in that it sure seems like this Administration is able to act with impunity, putting our national security at risk in the process. With only a couple notable exceptions, the White House’s GOP allies in Congress have stymied efforts to investigate SignalGate and other scandals. And the Supreme Court – in both this term and decisions issued under Biden – has afforded the President with extraordinary powers. So, the usual checks and balances aren’t quite functioning as they should. 

That said, the lower courts every day are doing what they’re there to do: uphold the law. And we’ve seen a number of cases in which judges have put a hold on what they deem to be illegal acts – just as they should. 

Finally, there are two additional sources of checks and balances: the media and the American people. Of course, it was a reporter who revealed Signalgate, and journalists have uncovered a number of other strategically, legally, and/or ethically questionable practices – from the inadvertent and accidental deportation of an individual to El Salvador to the chaos that the so-called DOGE is inflicting on our institutions. 

At the end of the day, though, the most important check on an Administration like this might be everyday Americans. The more people learn about the mistakes this Administration is making and the damage they’re inflicting on our national security, foreign policy, and economy – among other realms – the more likely they are to put pressure on Members of Congress, take part in peaceful protests, and, ultimately, make sound decisions at the ballot box. Americans who are outraged will have a chance to have their voices heard at the national level in 2026 and 2028. Hopefully, this AMA will help more Americans understand the implications of a scandal such as this.