On The Daily Show, it was Jon Stewart who humorously suggested that modern journalists have it much easier when it comes to accessing confidential information. His comedic take highlights the evolving landscape of journalism, where the lines between entertainment and serious news reporting often blur.

“Back in my day, if you were a journalist and wanted to obtain leaked war documents, you would have to cultivate sources, meet them in dark alleys, build trust, and work diligently to uncover the truth,” he lamented, reflecting on the challenges faced by journalists in the past compared to today’s more accessible digital communication methods.

“Now, you simply wait for the National Security Advisor to become distracted by The White Lotus while he’s setting up his ‘Bomb Yemen’ group chat,” Stewart quipped, adding a comedic flair by questioning, “Are these guys just messing around?” This commentary sheds light on the absurdities of the current political climate.

For those who haven’t been following The White Lotus, this is a legitimate question viewers might ponder, and you can delve deeper into the show’s intricacies right here:

Interestingly, Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was somehow added to a group chat two weeks ago that included significant figures from the Trump administration, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Vice President J.D. Vance, and others, raising eyebrows about the nature of classified discussions in a digital format.

“He was watching this chain of messages detailing the logistics and specifics of a military strike and initially thought someone was trying to fool him; he suspected it was disinformation,” Jimmy Kimmel remarked regarding the thread that included planned attacks on the Houthi terrorist group in Yemen.

“It turned out to be just a bunch of fools because the strikes began occurring exactly as described in the texts,” Kimmel elaborated, highlighting the shocking reality of the situation.

Kimmel went on to express his disbelief that “no one on the chain thought to ask, ‘Who is JG? … They could have been leaking secrets to Jeff Goldblum, for all they know,” emphasizing the absurdity of the situation.

After the White House appeared to acknowledge the mix-up, Hegseth provided further denial, stating to reporters on Tuesday per Newsweek, “No one was texting war plans, and that’s all I have to say,” attempting to downplay the situation.

Regarding Goldberg, Hegseth remarked, “You are talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who has made a career out of peddling hoaxes time and time again… This is a man who deals in trash,” illustrating the intense scrutiny and backlash faced by media figures in today’s politically charged environment.

Kimmel analyzed how conservative media reacted to this unfolding story, specifically pointing out Hegseth’s former weekend co-host on Fox & Friends, Will Kane, who suggested that the content of the texts reflected a “collaborative, open, honest, team-based effort to come to the right decision.”

“He chose to focus on the bright side of it,” Kimmel remarked, while simultaneously questioning the rationale behind interpreting the messages’ content in such a manner.

“‘If you read the content of these messages—’” he quoted, before adding, “The point is, we’re not supposed to read the content of these messages! I must hand it to him, that’s a real talent for a spin,” highlighting the absurdity of the situation.

This commentary follows Kimmel’s speculation about how he imagined the right might react had something similar occurred during the previous administration, showcasing the differing media reactions based on political affiliations.

“My god, if Joe Biden’s top military staff accidentally texted these plans to a journalist, Laura Ingraham’s excitement would be so intense it could burst through the wall like the Kool-Aid Man,” he humorously speculated, illustrating the hyperbolic reactions of media personalities to political events.

Meanwhile, Stewart was analyzing the specific language and remarks within the leaked text thread from this “administration that is executing its plans with competence and professionalism,” revealing the irony in the situation.

“Perhaps my favorite text from the entire group chat is the one from our Secretary of Defense stating, ‘We are currently clear on OPSEC,’” he quoted with a knowing glance at the camera, underscoring the absurdity of discussing operational security in a public forum.

“For those who don’t know, OPSEC means operational security,” the comedian explained, allowing a moment for the significance of the words to resonate with his audience. “He said that in a group chat. A group chat with a journalist,” highlighting the breach in protocol and the ludicrous nature of the situation.