Amy Mackinnon

Washington, D.C., United States

Intelligence Reporter at POLITICO

National Security Reporter @foreignpolicy, podcast host, stray Scot 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿https://t.co/YYXuWWoB6D

Articles

Loomer sets her sights on Trump’s nominee to serve as Pentagon’s top lawyer

2 weeks ago | politico.com | Amy Mackinnon |Joe Gould |Daniel Lippman

Far-right activist Laura Loomer has chosen her next target in her campaign against those she sees as disloyal to President Donald Trump: Col. Earl Matthews, Trump’s nominee to be the Pentagon’s top lawyer. Loomer, in a series of X posts on Tuesday and Wednesday, alleged that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was at risk of being “subverted and obstructed” by Matthews.
Trump’s firing of NSA chief is ‘rolling out the red carpet” for cyber attacks

2 weeks ago | politico.com | Maggie Miller |Amy Mackinnon

“We’re under attack, and the president just irresponsibly removed our most important general from the field,” said Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), a member of both the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees. “This is an outrageous decision.” The Washington Post first reported on Haugh’s firing, which was detailed on X by far-right activist Laura Loomer.
Trump’s firing of NSA chief is ‘rolling out the red carpet” for cyber attacks

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Maggie Miller |Amy Mackinnon

Lawmakers and national security veterans reacted with shock on Friday to President Donald Trump’s decision to fire the head of one of the country’s most powerful intelligence agencies, describing it as a “chilling” action that would damage America’s cyber defenses and “roll out the red carpet” for attacks on critical networks by foreign adversaries. Gen.
CIA drops agency veteran from consideration as chief of clandestine operations

3 weeks ago | politico.com | Amy Mackinnon

The appointment of Ralph Goff — a six-time station chief and vocal supporter of Ukraine — had been well-received inside the agency. The seal of the Central Intelligence Agency at CIA headquarters is seen in Langley, Virginia, on April 13, 2016. | Carolyn Kaster/AP The CIA has withdrawn Ralph Goff, an agency veteran and vocal supporter of Ukraine, from consideration to serve as its chief of clandestine operations, according to four people aware of the decision.
CIA drops agency veteran from consideration as chief of clandestine operations

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Amy Mackinnon

The CIA has withdrawn Ralph Goff, an agency veteran and vocal supporter of Ukraine, from consideration to serve as its chief of clandestine operations, according to four people aware of the decision. The people, which include three former CIA officials and one person familiar with the decision, were all granted anonymity to discuss sensitive personnel matters at the agency. The decision appears to have been made in recent days.
Inside the hazy, fractured mess of Signal use in the government

3 weeks ago | politico.com | Maggie Miller |Amy Mackinnon

The app has been thrust at the center of a debate on whether top officials should be using Signal to communicate critical and potentially classified information, following the release of a report by The Atlantic last week detailing how members of the president’s Cabinet — including Vice President JD Vance, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — used it to coordinate military strikes in Yemen.
Inside the hazy, fractured mess of Signal use in the government

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Maggie Miller |Amy Mackinnon

The nation’s top intelligence officials have told lawmakers that it was routine for them to discuss sensitive national security issues on the encrypted messaging app Signal. It’s widely used at their agencies, they said, and even came preinstalled on their government devices.
Ratcliffe the good MAGA foot soldier

3 weeks ago | politico.com | Amy Mackinnon |Eric Bazail-Eimil

After being sworn in Jan. 23, CIA Director John Ratcliffe was quick to prove his MAGA bonafides. | Andrew Harnik/Getty Images With help from Daniel Lippman and Paul McLearySubscribe here | Email Robbie | Email EricCIA Director JOHN RATCLIFFE is faithfully carrying out President DONALD TRUMP’s agenda — and he wants you to know about it.
Tracking the Trump team blame game over the Signal chat leak

3 weeks ago | politico.com | Eric Bazail-Eimil |Amy Mackinnon

While President Donald Trump has so far stood behind the officials in the group chat (in public at least), the scandal could balloon big enough that someone loses their job. Administration officials have defended themselves by saying no classified information was shared in the chat and, regardless, the strike on the Houthis was a success.
Here’s who members of Houthi PC Small Group are blaming

3 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Eric Bazail-Eimil |Amy Mackinnon

What started as a group chat has turned into a circular firing squad. Trump administration officials who participated in the now infamous leaked Signal chat are scrambling to minimize the political stain on themselves. Many are blaming the media, or Democrats, for making such a big deal about it. Some are subtly pointing fingers at each other. Others are finding ways to reframe the conversation so they become minor players, otherwise deflecting, or staying silent and hoping the storm passes over.