The Rachel Maddow Show
Allies wary of Trump admin's incompetence after scandal over military plan group chat
Fri, 28 Mar 2025
Not only has the scandal over Trump officials discussing military plans in a group chat on an insecure commercial platform made the Trump administration look like fools to Americans paying attention, but overseas allies are drawing conclusions about the risk of sharing intelligence with America when its top officials are so careless with sensitive data. Alexander Ward, national security reporter for the Wall Street Journal, talks with Rachel Maddow about his reporting that it was actually an Israeli intelligence asset that was exposed by the sloppiness of the Trump officials' group chat.
Chapter 1: Why are Americans protesting against Social Security cuts?
Thanks to you at home as well for joining us this hour. You can't leave either. I'm very happy to have you here. Have you met the new political leadership in this country? The people who may not have the title, may not have the like plate on the office door or whatever, but these are the people who are actually getting it done. We found them in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
And I turned 65 on Sunday and I just made a decision. I woke up this morning and said I got to do something.
In Grand Rapids Wednesday afternoon, around two dozen people gathered in front of the Social Security Administration office on Knapp Street and East Beltline.
Trying to bring attention to what's going on and also supporting the people that are working in there. We appreciate you.
The crowd, mostly retirees and Social Security recipients, they protested against recent moves by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, many of them feeling that access to Social Security benefits and Medicare could be at risk.
Well, I am a retiree. I worked for 50 years in all different trades of working, and I paid into my Social Security benefits all those years.
Those protesting tell us they are against the Trump administration's moves to close dozens of SSA field offices across the country, along with eliminating over-the-phone ID verification starting at the end of this month, requiring people to verify their IDs online only or in person.
Let's say you're elderly and you have no way of coming physically to an office that's still open, or if you live in a rural area. I mean, it's just ridiculous. They're trying to make it so difficult for people to get their own money back.
Those protesting also wanting to show support to federal employees, many saying they have been helped by staff at this very location.
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Chapter 2: What is the impact of the Trump administration on Social Security?
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