Ricochet Releases Episode 120 of “What’s Bugging Me” Podcast, Hosted by Dennis Kneale

April 05, 2025 at 13:11 PM EDT

The Ricochet podcast platform has released episode 120 of “What’s Bugging Me,” hosted by veteran journalist Dennis Kneale, author of the new book “The Leadership Genius of Elon Musk.”

Now available on Ricochet, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major platforms, this episode covers the recent controversy dubbed “Signal Gate,” involving a Signal app group chat among 18 Trump administration officials. Participants included Vice President JD Vance and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who were reportedly discussing military planning related to Houthi rebel activity affecting Suez Canal shipping.

The conversation was made public after journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic was inadvertently added to the chat and subsequently published its contents. This led to concerns and criticism from members of Congress, who questioned whether the discussion posed national security risks.

Kneale notes that the Signal app is approved for government use and that the conversation did not contain classified information. The episode includes clips from Senate hearings where officials, including Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, responded to questions from lawmakers such as Senators Jon Ossoff and Mark Warner.

The podcast also references commentary from public figures like Senator Tom Cotton and television host Will Cain, who questioned the nature and handling of the controversy. Additionally, the episode examines recent political rallies and statements by Democratic leaders, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Senator Chuck Schumer.

Listeners are encouraged to tune in on their preferred podcast platform, leave a rating, and explore Kneale’s new book, The Leadership Genius of Elon Musk, available through the following links:

“What’s Bugging Me,” Episode 120