Major Garrett: Welcome to The Takeout. Tonight’s show covers a Pentagon inspector general report on what’s been called “Signalgate,” questions about U.S. strikes off Venezuela, rising concerns about immigration enforcement and targeted ICE actions, the president’s pardon of Rep. Henry Cuellar, and the U.S. economic outlook as the White House’s top economist discusses jobs, manufacturing and the Fed.
Signalgate and the Pentagon IG report
– Background: In March, the former National Security Advisor Michael Waltz created a Signal group including top officials; messages describing operations against Houthi targets in Yemen were shared. An Atlantic journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly added to the chat and published those messages, which included launch times, aircraft types and strike timing.
– IG findings (summarized): The Pentagon inspector general found that sharing operational details on Signal risked jeopardizing troops and mission security and concluded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated DoD protocols by using a personal phone for official business. The report notes the messages originated from CENTCOM with classification markings; the IG did not resolve whether they were declassified prior to sharing, only that Hegseth has declassification authority. The Pentagon says the report found no sharing of classified information; critics call that a technicality given the sensitivity of the details.
– Reaction: Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), ranking member of Armed Services, called the conduct poor judgment that potentially jeopardized pilots, arguing if lower-ranking personnel had done this they could face charges. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) said the IG found the information wasn’t classified and called the episode reckless but not criminal. Garrett noted Signal is encrypted but considered insecure for classified or operational detail.
Venezuela strikes, chain of command and potential crimes
– Reporting indicates U.S. strikes off Venezuela on Sept. 2 included follow-up strikes; media and outside lawyers have raised the question whether repeated strikes that struck survivors could amount to war crimes.
– Senator Reed said the committees will demand Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley explain his role and orders; if deliberate attacks on survivors occurred that would likely be a war crime. Reed called the administration’s handling ad hoc and risky.
– Rep. McCaul defended some maritime interdiction as part of counter-drug operations, asserting constitutional and self-defense arguments for actions in international waters if used to stop drugs bound for the U.S. but acknowledged Congress should be briefed. He said messaging and congressional oversight were deficient.
– President Trump signaled the US might expand strikes to land in Venezuela; Reed said there is no legal basis for attacks on sovereign Venezuela without congressional authorization and called the president’s statements confused and ad hoc.
Pardons: Henry Cuellar
– President Trump pardoned Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and his wife. Cuellar had been indicted on bribery-related charges and denied wrongdoing; he had not been convicted. Trump’s explanation framed the indictment as politically motivated because Cuellar opposed “open borders.” Reporters point to a broader pattern of clemencies awarded by the president to allies and supporters.
Economy and the Fed: Kevin Hassett
– Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council and a potential Fed chair candidate, discussed labor market data and manufacturing.
– ADP reported private payroll declines and notable small-business job losses in November: ADP cited a 32,000 net decline, including a large small-business drop and gains at larger firms. Hassett said the official BLS reports are more important and that productivity gains — boosted by AI — can explain strong GDP without parallel rapid job growth.
– Hassett and the White House forecast a near-term rebound in growth (noting prior quarters above 4% pre-shutdown and expecting a rebound from the government shutdown), and argued capital spending and factory groundbreakings are supporting supply and limiting inflation pressures.
– On tariffs and manufacturing sentiment: Hassett said hard industrial production and capital goods indicators look solid; he cautioned that sentiment surveys can be distorted by shutdowns. He emphasized the government will review incoming official data before concluding a trend.
Immigration enforcement, ICE directives and Somali immigrants
– Reporting: Sources tell CBS News the Trump administration ordered ICE to target undocumented Somali immigrants in the Minneapolis–St. Paul region. President Trump also used disparaging language about Somali immigrants in a White House meeting.
– Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA), chair of the House Democratic Caucus and representative of an immigrant-rich district, called the president “unhinged” on the topic and accused the administration of weaponizing ICE, carrying out illegal and disruptive raids, rounding up nonviolent immigrants and disrupting communities. Aguilar urged prioritizing removal of violent criminals and called for vigorous oversight.
– The administration also reportedly paused immigration case proceedings and naturalization ceremonies for nationals from about 19 countries, a move Aguilar said harms vetted people and hurts communities and the economy.
Other reporting highlights
– House Democrats released previously unseen images and video from Jeffrey Epstein’s properties in the U.S. Virgin Islands; observers called the material disturbing.
– Tennessee special election: Republican Matt Van Epps won a previously contested seat with a narrow margin that prompted heavy GOP spending.
– Indiana redistricting: FBI and state police are investigating threats, bomb threats and “swatting” incidents aimed at state lawmakers amid a heated redistricting fight. Law enforcement and legislators are concerned that online targeting and threats could validate violent tactics and trigger copycats.
– Swatting and threats: Law enforcement warns a surge in hoax emergency calls and targeted threats — often to intimidate or disrupt legislators — is dangerous and prosecutable.
Pentagon accountability and oversight
– House and Senate committee activity: Garrett noted multiple congressional hearings and investigations are ongoing, including review of the Signal chat, the chain of command and the rules governing use of unclassified messaging apps for sensitive operational details.
– Lawmakers emphasized the potential consequences: normalization of discussing sensitive operational details on commercial apps could imperil force protection and the conduct of military operations; inconsistent accountability undermines discipline.
What to watch
– The Pentagon IG report release and any follow-up public testimony by Admiral Bradley and others on the September strikes.
– Congressional oversight into Signalgate, operational security policies and any disciplinary or legal actions.
– Developments in immigration enforcement directives, ICE actions in Minneapolis–St. Paul and the broader policy and legal debates in Congress and the courts.
– Economic data releases (BLS payrolls, manufacturing, GDP updates) and any White House decision on a Fed chair nominee.
End note
– Major Garrett closed by saying The Takeout remains “relentlessly curious, reliably civil, and occasionally clever.” The episode also previewed The Daily Report and additional segments.
