Good morning from Washington, where the buzz around Signal Gate and the ongoing budget reconciliation process continues to dominate political conversations. Alex Cameron joined Scott Mitchell on this week’s DC Debrief to break it all down. You can watch DC Debrief each weekend on News 9 in Oklahoma City and News On 6 in Tulsa.
Signal Gate: Sensitive, Not Classified?
Oklahoma’s congressional delegation has started weighing in—some more willingly than others—on the now-infamous Signal app thread that disclosed sensitive military information ahead of a strike on the Houthis.
Senator Markwayne Mullin has strongly defended the Trump administration and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. While he hasn’t spoken publicly in interviews, his social media posts suggest he believes no classified lines were crossed.
Senator James Lankford initially downplayed the situation, saying the chat didn’t contain classified information. However, after the Atlantic published the entire thread, he acknowledged that not everything shared should have been included.
It’s worth noting the app in question, Signal, is encrypted and approved for limited government use, but not for classified material. The concern now: even if the information wasn’t classified, was it smart to post it in a place vulnerable to hacking?
Despite the misstep, no one in Oklahoma’s delegation is calling for Hegseth’s resignation. Senator Lankford referred to the situation as a mistake—one that should not be repeated.
Reconciliation: The Clock Is Ticking
Meanwhile, reconciliation—Congress’s fast-track tool for major legislative moves—is inching forward. Republicans are looking to push through several priorities in one comprehensive bill: boosting border security, extending the 2017 tax cuts, eliminating taxes on tips and Social Security benefits, cutting domestic programs, and increasing military funding.
Both the House and Senate have passed their own versions of a budget resolution, but now they must agree on a joint outline before writing the detailed legislation. The Senate originally wanted two separate bills, but they’re now aligning with the House’s “one big bill” strategy.
Still, disagreements remain over spending cut targets and tax policy adjustments.
Rep. Josh Brecheen, a member of the House Budget Committee, wants the House to lead negotiations. But as Scott Mitchell noted, veteran Hill watchers are skeptical. Speaker Mike Johnson hopes to have the bill passed by Memorial Day, but even finalizing the outline before Easter looks unlikely.
