The United States Inspector General report reviewing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's text messaging mess recommends a single change to keep classified material secure. A United States Inspector General report publicly released today found that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth could have put US troops and military operations at risk by using the consumer messaging service Signal to share sensitive, real-time details in March about a planned attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen. The IG first shared the classified report with Congress on Tuesday. The report contains only one direct recommendation: that the chief of US Central Command's Special Security Office "review the command's classification procedures for compliance" with Department of Defense regulations "and issue additional procedures, as necessary, to ensure proper portion marking of classified information." The report also references another IG publication about use of "non-DOD-controlled electronic messaging systems" and points to its recommendations that DOD "improve training for senior DOD officials on the proper use of electronic devices."

Several legal experts have told BBC Verify that the second strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat by the US military was probably illegal, and would likely be considered an extrajudicial killing under international law. On Monday, the Trump administration confirmed that a follow-up strike on the boat - which has been criticised as a double tap - was ordered by US Navy Admiral Frank Bradley with the overall operation having been authorised by War Secretary Pete Hegseth. Nine people died in the first strike on the vessel and two survivors were left clinging to the burning wreckage when it was struck again, killing them, according to the Washington Post. A US official has said four missiles were used in the operation. The Trump administration has not denied there were survivors and has insisted the strikes on 2 September were in accordance with the law of armed conflict.

President Donald Trump's administration has dramatically expanded its work with Palantir, elevating the company cofounded by Trump ally Peter Thiel as the government's go-to software developer. Following massive contract terminations for consulting giants and government contractors like Accenture, Booz Allen, and Deloitte, Palantir has emerged ahead. Now the data analytics firm is partnering with those companies--offering them a lifeline while consolidating its own power. Palantir has become one of the few winners in the Trump administration's cost-cutting efforts, receiving more than 113 million in federal spending since the beginning of the year, according to The New York Times. Palantir's US government revenue has grown by more than 370 million compared to this time last year, according to the company's most recent quarterly earnings report.

National Review editor-in-chief Rich Lowry and FOX Business' Liz Claman join'MediaBuzz' to discuss Hegseth's heated press conference where he called out the media's'hatred' of President Donald Trump. FIRST ON FOX: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued sweeping new orders to fast-track drone production and deployment, allowing commanders to procure and test them independently and requiring drone combat simulations across every branch of the military. As part of an aggressive push to outpace Russia and China in unmanned warfare, "the Department's bureaucratic gloves are coming off," Hegseth wrote. "Lethality will not be hindered by self-imposed restrictions... Our major risk is risk-avoidance." In a pair of memos first obtained by Fox News Digital, Hegseth rescinded legacy policies that he believes restricted innovation.

Sign up for the Surge, the newsletter that covers most important political nonsense of the week, delivered to your inbox every Saturday. Hello once again from the Surge, Slate's roundup of the most relevant characters of the week in the delightful novel called United States Politics in 2025. I'm Ben Mathis-Lilley, filling in for Jim Newell, who is currently protesting the administration's refusal to exempt bananas from import tariffs, even though they can't be grown at scale domestically, by standing outside the Department of Commerce dressed as a sad banana. This week we had the usual mess of absurd economic chaos and disconcerting announcements from people who are shutting down entire government departments on the basis of things they saw on Facebook. But first, the preliminary public opinion verdict on whether Donald Trump should have unlimited Judge Dredd powers is in … and it's not good news for Mr. Dredd's many fans in the White House.

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Henry Blodget to discuss the financial and political fallout from the President's threats to fire Fed Chair Powell and subsequent retreat; a Supreme Court case over free exercise of religion that could have broad implications; and why Trump stands by Hegseth after Signalgate Part 2. Here are some notes and references from this week's show: Colby Smith for The New York Times: Trump Says He Won't Fire Powell. His Fed Battle May Not Be Over Yet. America's economy is collateral damage Nicole Narea for Vox: Trump's tariffs are driving a gold rush Megan K. Stack for the New York Times (Opinion: Guest Essay): My School District Could Have Avoided This Supreme Court Case Neal McCluskey for Reason: The Supreme Court Is About To Hear 2 Education Cases. Ian Millhiser for Vox: The Supreme Court's "Don't Say Gay" argument went disastrously for public schools Aaron Blake for The Washington Post (Analysis): Even on the gravest of issues, GOP can't summon the will to question Trump Michael Crowley for The New York Times: Critics Call Rubio's Overhaul Plan a Blow to U.S. Values Here are this week's chatters: Henry: Christopher Lamb, Alicia Johnson, Jhasua Razo, and Sarah-Grace Mankarious for CNN: Who will be the next pope?