A Viral Political Implosion
It was supposed to be a typical takedown of security clearance —dialogue-heavy memo, click to post. Instead, it became a national scandal. Tulsi Gabbard, as Director of National Intelligence, released a memo on X naming 37 officials stripped of their security clearances, including a veteran undercover CIA officer. Cue explosive headlines, furious intelligence insiders, and an entirely different kind of “oops” moment. Gabbard’s office reportedly didn’t consult the CIA ahead of time—a misstep that had life-or-death implications for covert operations. She may have been acting on the President’s orders, but that didn’t cushion the fallout.The Daily BeastThe Washington Post
Unbelievable. This would be a resigning or sackable offence in any other administration. https://t.co/jTlZql0NFO
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj) August 28, 2025
Gabbard shouldn’t have been nominated or confirmed. She should have been fired a long time ago. The next best time to fire her would be now. https://t.co/UDUZSruKmx
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) August 28, 2025
Tulsi Gabbard included an undercover, Russia-focused CIA officer on a public list of people stripped of security clearances because she did not know his role (despite it being part of her job) nor coordinate with the Agency (also part of her job). https://t.co/qXGLTFqxjD
— Kyle Orton (@KyleWOrton) August 28, 2025
This looks like a pretty big fuckup. If she can’t check basic shit like this and adjust accordingly, she needs to resign. If she did check and knew and did it anyway and the “didn’t know” here is just bluster and distraction, then she also needs to resign. https://t.co/XpTYZS7Dc3
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) August 28, 2025
What Went Wrong—and Why It Matters
Here’s the play-by-play from the spotlight to the firestorm:
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Gabbard’s office did deliver the list to the CIA the night before its public posting—but the agency had zero idea it would be published on X. As in, no cradle-to-grave preparation. Cue shock.The Daily Beast
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A senior, long-serving CIA Russia analyst—previously on the National Intelligence Council—showed up in the memo. Undercover. Dangerous. Possibly mission-compromising.The Daily BeastThe Washington Post
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Former CIA insiders branded it “irresponsible,” even “stupid.” One former chief of staff said a “smart” intelligence director would consult the CIA firstThe Daily Beast
Political Firestorm and Legal Alarm Bells
Let’s be real: exposing an undercover agent isn’t a “whoopsie.” It’s potentially a Privacy Act violation, which isn’t just embarrassing—it is potentially felonious, depending on context and intent. This isn’t career-ending—it’s career-obliterating.The Daily Beast
Meanwhile, the political fallout is equally savage. Critics are demanding resignation or termination. As one expert tweeted, “‘Sackable.’ In any other administration, this would be a resigning or sackable offense.” Cue hard stare emoji.The Daily Beast
Gabbard’s Political Persona Under Microscope
This isn’t Gabbard’s first brush with controversy:
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Critics previously flagged her 2017 visit to Syrian President Assad and questioning of Russian threat narratives. These have cast long shadows over her foreign policy credibilityThe Daily Beast
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Nearly 100 ex-diplomats wanted Senate hearings before her confirmation, suspecting her loyalty and judgment.Politico
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There was also that Signal group chat leak involving generals and journalists—Gabbard later admitted it was a mistake.AP News
Now, with this name-revealing flub, those earlier red flags feel like cartoon foreshadowing.
Final Word: Intelligence Isn’t Reality TV (Even If It Sometimes Feels That Way)
In Hollywood terms, it’d be like a spy thriller gone sideways: the hero drops the villain’s identity mid-movie—and the next 24 hours implode. But this is real life, and the global stakes are higher.
Tulsi Gabbard may have aimed for political zeal—exposing alleged disloyalty—but ended up exposing a colleague’s hiding place—and possibly compromise. Intelligence professionals don’t usually call for resignations, but let’s just say this feels unscripted… and straight out of a cautionary tale.
All Sources
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Intelligence Chief Gabbard Slammed for Identifying Undercover CIA Officer – Daily Beast
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Tulsi Gabbard Blindsided CIA Over Revoking Clearance of Undercover Officer – Wall Street Journal (summary)
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Trump, Gabbard Fired Top CIA Russia Expert Days After Alaska Summit – Washington Post
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In Major Flub, Tulsi Gabbard Reveals Identity of Undercover Officer – The New Republic
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Gabbard ‘Accidentally Shared Name of CIA Spy on X’ – The Telegraph
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Tulsi Gabbard ‘Accidentally Shared Name of CIA Agent’ – Yahoo News
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Gabbard Accidentally Outs Undercover CIA Agent – Washington Examiner
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Conspiracy Theories and Cozying Up to Dictators: Why Intelligence Experts Are Spooked by Gabbard – The Guardian
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Former Officials Urge Senate Hearings on Gabbard Nomination – Politico
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Gabbard Calls Signal Chats a ‘Mistake’ in Leaks – AP News
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Top Dem Deflates Gabbard’s Obama ‘Coup’ Claims – The Daily Beast
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Tulsi Gabbard Biography and Political Career – Wikipedia
