Pod Force One – Friday Mini: In Defense of Tulsi Gabbard

Host: Miranda Devine (New York Post)
Date: April 10, 2026

Episode Overview

In this special “Friday Mini” episode, Miranda Devine delivers an impassioned defense of Tulsi Gabbard, currently serving as Donald Trump’s Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Against the backdrop of widespread media attacks and persistent rumors of her impending ouster, Devine explores the orchestrated challenges Gabbard faces from within the intelligence community, examines her high-profile declassification efforts, and situates her as a fierce advocate for transparency and accountability in Washington.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Media and “Deep State” Campaign Against Gabbard

• Miranda opens by decrying the “relentless campaign” of negative press against Gabbard, citing anonymously sourced articles in outlets like The Guardian, The New York Times, and the Washington Post.
• Devine frames these as attempts by “the Deep State and their allies in the mainstream media” to undermine Gabbard’s credibility (00:18).

2. Trump’s Relationship with Gabbard Amid Internal Tensions

• While rumors circulate that Trump is dissatisfied and Gabbard may soon be ousted, Devine notes that Trump continues to robustly support her, including at a recent Air Force One press conference.
  • Quote (Trump, via Miranda): “She’s a little bit different in her thought processes than me... but that doesn’t make somebody not available to serve.” (01:02)
• Trump previously praised Gabbard on Pod Force One after her “bombshell” press conference implicating Obama in the “Russia collusion hoax.”
  • Quote (Trump): “Tulsi’s done a great job... A lot of people would not have found the classified documents showing Obama’s role... It would be easier not to.” (01:44)

3. Gabbard’s Declassification Campaigns and Internal Obstruction

• Gabbard, per Devine, is pursuing Trump’s wish for transparency, focusing on declassifying intelligence related to:
  • The Russia investigation
  • The Ukraine impeachment
  • Alleged “Deep State plots,” including potential assassination attempts against Trump (02:10)
• She faces obstruction from both political opposition and Trump’s own appointees (Kash Patel at FBI, John Ratcliffe at CIA), highlighting infighting and bureaucratic resistance (03:00).

4. Public Agency Friction and Key Flashpoints

• Examples of bureaucratic infighting brought to public light:
  • FBI’s public objection to consolidating counterintelligence under Gabbard’s ODNI (03:28)
  • Tension over Gabbard’s involvement in the FBI’s election investigation in Fulton County, GA (03:57)
  • CIA resistance to Gabbard’s declassification of a 2020 House Intelligence report (04:15)

5. Controversies over Security Clearances & “Sources and Methods”

• Gabbard pushed for Trump to strip security clearances from 37 current/former intelligence officials accused of “politicization or weaponization of intelligence” (04:33)
• Accusations from unnamed CIA officials that Gabbard endangered an undercover agent’s identity (Julia Garaganis), which Devine calls a bureaucratic ploy—stating Garaganis was already a public figure (05:00).

6. Afghanistan Withdrawal, Terrorism Oversight, and Further Agency Tensions

• Gabbard fought CIA red tape to declassify information showing thousands of suspected terrorists entered the US post-Afghanistan withdrawal—material that cast the CIA negatively under Biden (05:27).

7. Gabbard’s Forthcoming “Bombshell” Declassifications

• Expected soon:
  • 2019 transcripts from House hearings with Inspector Michael Atkinson, potentially undercutting Trump’s first impeachment (06:00)
  • “COVID files,” including US-funded biolabs in Ukraine, China, etc. (06:40)

8. Joe Kent’s Resignation and “Anti-war Israel Conspiracy” Accusations

• Joe Kent’s resignation from the National Counterterrorism Centre and public criticism have intensified scrutiny of Gabbard, with some suspecting she holds similar views—though Devine argues her conduct has been strictly professional (07:05).

9. The Value of Nuanced Intelligence

• Gabbard is commended for providing the president with “unvarnished facts,” and each agency’s slightly differing insights give leaders a “more complete picture”—preventing the groupthink that led to disasters like 9/11 and the Iraq War (07:53).

10. Public Sentiment and Accountability

• Devine highlights polling showing a majority of Americans want accountability for alleged crimes of the Obama administration concerning Russian interference claims (08:44).
  • Quote: “It is hard enough to bring sneaky people to account without the agencies that hold the evidence squabbling with each other.” (06:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Miranda Devine (00:18): “Anonymously sourced hit pieces have hammered Tulsi Gabbard the last few months... They are part of a relentless campaign to undermine Donald Trump’s Director of National Intelligence.”
• President Trump (impromptu Air Force One presser, 01:02): “She’s a little bit different in her thought processes than me... but that doesn’t make somebody not available to serve.”
• Trump (Pod Force One, 01:44): “She went deep into the files and she found it. Look, this was an attempted coup. A lot of people would not have found the classified documents showing Obama’s role.”
• Devine (06:10): “It is hard enough to bring sneaky people to account without the agencies that hold the evidence squabbling with each other.”
• Devine (on Gabbard’s briefings, 07:53): “She delivers the unvarnished facts as the president deserves...each agency's analysis is slightly nuanced, providing a more complete picture for decision makers.”

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:18 – Overview of the media’s attacks on Gabbard
• 01:02 – Trump reaffirms his support for Gabbard
• 01:44 – Trump’s praise for Gabbard’s “bombshell” document discoveries
• 03:00 – Description of internal turf wars in the intelligence community
• 03:28 – FBI’s public objection to ODNI reorganization
• 04:15 – CIA pushback on declassification of Russia report
• 05:00 – Controversy over CIA official Julia Garaganis
• 06:00 – Forthcoming declassification of key impeachment transcript
• 06:40 – Preview of upcoming COVID and biolab file releases
• 07:53 – Commentary on value of nuanced intelligence
• 08:44 – Referencing public desire for accountability

Tone and Language

Miranda Devine maintains a direct, impassioned, and somewhat combative style throughout, blending her journalistic insight with strong defense of Trump administration figures against what she regards as entrenched bureaucratic and media opposition. The episode is informative for those following the intersection of intelligence, politics, and transparency controversies in the Trump era, and offers a window into Gabbard’s continued role as a disruptor within Washington.