It Could Happen Here – Executive Disorder: White House Weekly #9
Release Date: March 28, 2025
Hosts: Garrison Davis, James Stout, Robert Evans

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode’s central focus is the now-infamous “Houthi PC Small Group” Signal group chat security breach in the Trump White House, and the wide-ranging fallout from this—both as an object lesson in the perils of digital security at the highest levels of government, and as a window into a broader collapse of political norms and escalation of government repression. The crew also examines ongoing immigration abuses, ICE tactics against student protestors, and the continued targeting of Palestinian journalists in Gaza.

Group Chat Mayhem: The Houthi PC Small Group Leak

Context & Timeline ([03:01])

• The episode covers March 20-26.
• The major story is a catastrophic security breach involving a Signal group chat where top Trump administration officials coordinated airstrikes against the Houthis; Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to this chat.

Signal & Digital Security Breakdown ([04:28])

• Robert patiently explains Signal’s encryption, why non-state actors or technically skilled “exes” are usually required to break in, and the potential vulnerabilities: QR codes and insecure notifications.
  • "When I hear QR code, I reach for my Glock 19." — Robert Evans ([06:52])
  • “Do not use QR codes. Yeah. The work of Satan.” — Garrison Davis ([07:10])

Origins & Purpose of the Group Chat ([07:14])

• Explains how officials wandered around norms: sensitive military planning usually reserved for secure SCIFs was instead carried out over personal devices. Names involved include JD Vance, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, and Stephen Miller.
  • “You got all these people in there… JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth... DNI Tulsi Gabbard... head of the CIA...” — Robert Evans ([09:52])

Accidental Invite: Who is Jeffrey Goldberg? ([11:08])

• Atlantic co-editor Jeffrey Goldberg is not an adversary of US natsec policy, nor a left-wing radical:
  • "Not one of our guys... not a guy who's probably broadly opposed to most of what the Trump administration is doing, especially Houthi airstrikes." — James Stout ([12:56])
• Goldberg quickly realizes this must be a mistake, documents carefully, then leaves the group without disclosing sensitive details.
  • “You don’t get invited into a chat with the SEC Def and the head of the CIA planning a military strike. That just doesn’t happen.” — Robert Evans ([14:44])

Notable Messages/Quotes from the Group Chat ([15:13])

• The group’s conversation is brazen and sometimes farcical:
  • “Michael Waltz, vp, Full Stop. Building collapsed. … JD Vance replies. What? Michael Waltz typing too fast. Full stop. The first target—their top missile guy—now it’s collapsed. JD Vance replies, Excellent. … Waltz: [fist emoji][American flag][flame].” — Garrison Davis ([15:25])
  • The group seems oblivious to proper security protocols even as they issue reassurances:
    • “Funniest message in this Signal group is that we’re all good on opsec. Yeah, that he says in a group chat with a journalist.” — James Stout ([17:48])

Implications & Fallout for the Trump Administration

Political & Legal Response ([17:55], [18:17])

• The administration is expected to retaliate against Goldberg rather than confront its own error.
  • “They are going to try to nuke Jeffrey Goldberg. Like, they’re going to try to send him to prison if not a literal... work camp.” — Robert Evans ([17:55])
• Hypocrisy noted: Administration previously obsessed over digital leaks and harshly punished lower-level personnel for minor security lapses.
• Mainstream press sometimes fails to grasp the severity: “It’s so relatable that they added someone to the group chat!”— USA Today, missing the point that the real error was using insecure, personal channels for classified material ([19:08])
  • “Yeah, but I’ve never bombed Yemen...” — Robert Evans ([19:18])

Major Disinformation and Damage Control ([21:16])

• White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt dismisses reporting as a “hoax” and “sensationalist spin,” tries to split legal hairs (“war plans” vs “attack plans”).
  • “Both of these things are kind of ludicrous claims.” — Garrison Davis ([21:33])

International Fallout and Absurdities ([20:03], [21:33])

• Michael Waltz disparages European military capacity, drawing public rebukes from allies:
  • “France has a navy... They could end the world.” — Robert Evans ([20:16])
• Jokes abound about the tone and dynamics of the chat and the inept bureaucracy (“I am the JD Vance of my group chats…”).

Leadership Style: Miller and Trump ([23:29])

• Stephen Miller appears to act as final word, “speaking directly for the President,” with wording that echoes the intentional ambiguity of the Third Reich (“work towards the Führer”).
  • “As I heard it, the President was clear: green light. But we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return.” — Stephen Miller (quoted, [25:19])

Immigration, ICE, and Repression Escalates

Judicial Updates: Boasberg and Immigrant Detentions ([29:49])

• Judge Boasberg now presides over both secret rendition cases and the Hegseth/Signal lawsuit.
• Government invokes “state secrets” arguments even after catastrophic OPSEC failure.

Targeting Vulnerable Migrants ([30:45], [34:39])

• “Venezuelan migrants are being rounded up using shallow pretexts (tattoos, etc.) despite some having legal refugee status. Detentions result in family separations and abuse.
  • “They sort of randomly grabbed tattooed Venezuelans… some had already been through background checks.” — James Stout ([31:50])

IRS About to Hand Over Tax Records ([32:52])

• For the first time, IRS may give ICE the tax records it previously safe-guarded from immigration enforcement, threatening tax compliance and the wellbeing of millions.

Golden Visa Corruption ([33:56])

• Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick claims to have “sold” 1,000 $5M “gold cards” for immigrant investors, despite no clear process for issuing them and widespread legal confusion.

Humanitarian Crisis at the Border ([34:39])

• Another deadly storm: at least three have died crossing the border this month, highlighting lethal conditions for migrants.

ICE Targets Student Protestors and the Chilling Effect on Free Speech

Columbia & Tufts: ICE Pursues Student Protestors ([38:24], [43:31])

• Yoon Sao Chung: Permanent resident and student at Columbia, targeted by ICE after participating in protests. The government apparently cannot distinguish between students, green card holders, and “visa” holders but revokes “status” anyway.
  • “The Trump administration is arguing that Chung’s presence in the United States hinders the administration’s foreign policy agenda. One 21 year old student… is hindering their foreign policy agenda for attending a sit-in protest.” — James Stout ([44:38])
• Chung’s lawyers argue this is blatant suppression of protected protest.
  • “Officials at the highest echelons of government are attempting to use immigration enforcement as a bludgeon to suppress speech that they dislike…” ([45:46])
• Temporary restraining order granted—at least delaying deportation.

Tactics: Surveillance, Doxing, Escalation ([48:25])

• Ramesa Ozturk (Tufts): Snatched by masked ICE agents after her name was published by Canary Mission, moved to Louisiana for detention within hours.
  • “There’s very frightening video of her just standing on the sidewalk…” — James Stout ([48:33])
• Government’s use of “harboring non-citizens” warrants sets a precedent for breaking into homes; the aim is to chill protest via intimidation.

Commentary & Broader Concerns

• These events echo tactics of past state terror and demonstrate the administration’s disregard for legal process and constitutional rights.
  • “You are literally, as a 21-year-old junior, being forced to go into hiding because federal agents are after you because you sat down in protest of a genocide.” — James Stout ([52:41])

Venmo Fails, Tariffs, and Minor Updates

Venmo Security Failure ([35:06])

• National Security Advisor Mike Waltz’s public Venmo reveals frequent contacts with journalists and political operatives, further showcasing the dire state of OPSEC.

Tariffs (and Guinness jokes) ([37:23])

• Trump’s new tariffs could raise imported Guinness to $22-27/pint; the crew jokes about “true value” and the upside of Twisted Tea remaining affordable.

Gaza: Ongoing War on Journalists

IDF Kills Palestinian Journalists ([54:43])

• Mohammed Mansour and Hassam Shabbat killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, continuing a long string of journalist deaths in the conflict.
  • Highlighted: Shabbat’s posthumous statement, urging the world not to look away from Gaza.
    • “If you’re reading this, it means I have been killed... I did all this because I believe in the Palestinian cause... Keep fighting. Keep telling our stories until Palestine is free.” — Hassam Shabbat ([55:26])

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “When I hear QR code, I reach for my Glock 19.” — Robert Evans ([06:52])
• “You don’t get invited into a chat with the SEC Def and the head of the CIA planning a military strike. That just doesn’t happen.” — Robert Evans ([14:44])
• “The funniest message in this Signal group is that we’re all good on opsec. Yeah, that he says in a group chat with a journalist.” — James Stout ([17:48])
• “They are going to try to nuke Jeffrey Goldberg. Like, they’re going to try to send him to prison if not a literal... work camp.” — Robert Evans ([17:55])
• “Yeah, but I’ve never bombed Yemen...” — Robert Evans ([19:18])
• “You are literally, as a 21-year-old junior, being forced to go into hiding because federal agents are after you because you sat down in protest of a genocide.” — James Stout ([52:41])
• “If you’re reading this, it means I have been killed... Keep telling our stories until Palestine is free.” — Hassam Shabbat ([55:26])

Timeline of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:01 | Show opens: week’s theme and context | | 04:28 | Signal security primer and the breach explained | | 08:30 | Trump admin uses group chat, invited players named | | 11:08 | Jeffrey Goldberg spotlighted; accidental invite detailed | | 15:13 | Absurd group chat dialogue quoted | | 17:55 | Fallout, damage control, and hypocrisy in admin response | | 20:03 | Euro-military “shade,” international reactions | | 23:29 | Stephen Miller, Trump’s leadership, “working towards the Führer”| | 29:49 | Shift to immigration: legal battles, judicial update | | 32:52 | IRS’s changing policy, Gold Cards scheme, border crisis update | | 38:24 | Columbia/ICE student targeting, escalation of protest suppression| | 48:25 | Snatching of Tufts student Ramesa Ozturk, tactics analyzed | | 54:43 | Killings of journalists in Gaza: reading Shabbat’s statement |

Closing Notes & Resources

• The hosts encourage students and community members to contact them about repression or surveillance on campus via ProtonMail: coolzonetipson@protonmail.com.
• James is working on an upcoming episode about ICE’s targeting of student protestors and “lavender scare”-style suppression of trans military personnel.
• Concludes with a somber call to not lose focus on Gaza.

Listen if you want:

• Detailed, irreverent breakdown of a historic government security blunder
• Insights into the escalation of state repression, particularly against immigrants and protestors
• Dark humor, sharp analysis, and a lot of quotable moments

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