PBS Washington Week with The Atlantic - Full Show Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 12/5/25
Dec 6, 2025
Join Peter Baker, Chief White House correspondent at The New York Times, Susan Glasser, staff writer at The New Yorker, and Nancy Youssef, national security correspondent at The Atlantic, for an incisive discussion on the controversies surrounding Pete Hegseth and his handling of national security details. They explore accusations of war crimes, challenge claims of exoneration, and debate the implications of military strikes on intelligence sharing. The panel raises critical questions about congressional oversight and the Pentagon's aggressive defense tactics.
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Signal Messages Endangered Operations
- The IG found Hegseth’s Signal messages exposed sensitive operational details and risked U.S. pilots.
- The administration’s “total exoneration” claim contradicts the report’s finding of operational risk.
Parallel Secure And Insecure Communications
- The IG documented Hegseth copying verbatim secure comms into Signal while still using secure channels with commanders.
- That contrast undermines his claim that the material was unclassified or nonessential.
Congress Must Demand Clear Oversight
- Congress should exercise oversight and demand accountability for questionable defense conduct.
- Lawmakers must not accept reflexive reassurances and should investigate operational and legal compliance.
