What did we learn from the war chat leaks?

Listen & Subscribe

Jeffrey Goldberg’s story in the Atlantic is so mind-blowing it’s hard to know what to say in response. It defies belief that Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, appears to have accidentally added a top journalist to a Signal messaging group with senior government officials – including the Vice President, Secretary of State, Defense Secretary and the Director of National Intelligence – to discuss top-secret military action. It boggles the brain that the people running the most powerful country on the planet, the Principals Committee of US national security no less, use childish emojis to discuss a bombing campaign which they helped co-ordinate in order to kill 53 people. It’s another painful reminder that, whether Trump or Biden is in the White House, the free world is not being led by serious people.

Freddy is joined by Ben Domenech, US editor-at-large of The Spectator, to discuss.

About the show

US politics and analysis, delivering in-depth discussions with the best American pundits. Presented by Freddy Gray.

More from The District

  • Milei’s victory, the heir to MAGA and Kamala 2028
    In this episode, US arts editor Luke Lyman is joined by Kate Andrews, formerly of The Spectator, to discuss President Javier Milei’s landslide victory in the Argentinian elections this week. Plus, Luke and Kate discuss who might be the heir to MAGA in 2028: J.D. Vance or Marco Rubio? And what does it say about the state … Read more
  • tara reade
    Why is Tara Reade in Moscow?
    In this episode of Americano, Freddy speaks to Tara Reade – the former Senate aide who accused Joe Biden of sexual assault and now lives in Moscow after seeking political asylum. She discusses her allegations, why she left America and how she views the war in Ukraine.
  • Will peace in Ukraine elude Trump?
    With a Gaza ceasefire deal, President Trump’s attention has turned to ending the war in Ukraine. A meeting with Putin was suggested, before coming to nothing. Owen Matthews joins Freddy to talk about the fundamental differences between Trump and Putin, the limits on Ukraine’s President Zelensky when it comes to negotiation and why the global … Read more
  • James Orr on the ascendancy of J.D. Vance
    Freddy Gray sits down with academic James Orr at the Battle of Ideas in London for a live Americano podcast to discuss Vice President J.D. Vance. Having been described as “Vance’s British sherpa,” James responds to how likely it is that Vance will be president one day, which weaknesses could hold him back and how … Read more
  • Is Trump on a roll?
    Was this Donald Trump’s most phenomenal week yet? Freddy Gray and Kate Andrews discuss the President’s success in orchestrating a Gaza peace plan, his Mean Girls-style of dealing with world leaders and how to interpret his comments about not being “heaven bound.” They also talk about how Trump might bailout Argentina – but only if … Read more