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The Evening Rundown | 3.25
Gabbard crashes on Capitol Hill, Garcelle exits RHOBH, and carpetbagging in IL-9?
Zachary Shaw
March 25, 2025
It’s 6 p.m. in the East and 11 p.m. in Berlin — the city where I discovered what I’m convinced is the drink of the summer.
Welcome to The Evening Rundown—here’s what happened today.
Gabbard and Ratcliffe Hit with Sudden Amnesia at Senate Hearing
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testifies on Capitol Hill. Credit: AP
Well, at least Tulsi Gabbard’s suit looked nice.
Outside of that, today’s Senate Intelligence Committee hearing with the nation’s top intelligence officials regarding “Signalgate” was an unmitigated disaster. Gabbard, who was joined by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, FBI Director Kash Patel, and others, all fumbled in truly extraordinary ways. Basic questions about ongoing intelligence operations, national security threats, and foreign interference were met with vague, meandering responses that left even the most patient senators visibly frustrated. The officials weren’t just dodging questions—they genuinely seemed like they didn’t know the answers.
Gabbard, in particular, delivered an oddly defensive performance, often responding to straightforward inquiries with sweeping generalities about "preserving democracy" and "ensuring national security interests" without actually providing any substance. Ratcliffe, meanwhile, struggled to recall key details of recent intelligence reports, and Patel fared no better, at one point contradicting himself in the span of two sentences. It was a train wreck in slow motion, with each official somehow managing to make the situation worse every time they opened their mouths.
By the end of the hearing, any hope of real oversight had been thoroughly crushed under the weight of bureaucratic jargon and deflections. But the real showstopper of the day was the group’s near-comical overuse of “I don’t recall.” Time and time again, when pressed on specific intelligence briefings or policy decisions, Gabbard, Ratcliffe, and Patel all suddenly developed a collective case of amnesia. Most egregiously, when asked about the Signal messages they had sent just ten days ago—messages that are already part of the public record—they still clung to their forgetfulness like a lifeline.
Why it matters: In a Republican-controlled Congress, real accountability for intelligence failures—or even basic transparency—will be nearly impossible to attain. Today’s hearing was a clear demonstration of how easily Trump’s top officials can evade scrutiny, relying on convenient memory lapses and deflections without facing meaningful consequences. With GOP leadership more focused on protecting its own than on conducting rigorous oversight, there’s little incentive to push for real answers. If these officials can’t recall texts they sent just ten days ago, what are the chances they’ll be held to account for far more complex intelligence missteps?
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The Day In Focus
Pope Francis’ Medical Team Nearly Stopped Treatment: Pope Francis was reportedly much closer to death than previously known. Several Rome-based newspapers revealed today that his medical team had considered halting treatment for his pneumonia, a decision that could have had fatal consequences. It was only thanks to the intervention of one of his nurses that treatment continued, ultimately leading to his recovery. The Pope was discharged last weekend and is now recuperating in his Vatican City apartment.
No Other Land Director Released by Israelis Following Abduction: Hamdan Ballal, the Oscar-winning director of No Other Land, has been released after being detained by Israeli authorities in the West Bank. According to his lawyer, Ballal was first attacked by settlers before being taken by Israeli police, where he was allegedly tortured overnight. His detention sparked international outcry, particularly given his film’s critical look at the Israeli occupation.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett Calls Texas Governor Abbott “Hot Wheels”: At the Human Rights Campaign’s national dinner in Los Angeles, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) didn’t hold back, referring to Texas Governor Greg Abbott as “Governor Hot Wheels.” Abbott, who uses a wheelchair due to paralysis, has signed a record number of laws rolling back protections for people with disabilities. While some saw Crockett’s jab as harsh, others pointed to Abbott’s policies as the real attack on disability rights.
Garcelle Beauvais Exits The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Garcelle Beauvais at The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Reunion in Los Angeles, Credit: Bravo TV
Garcelle Beauvais dropped a bomb on Instagram this morning, announcing her decision to leave Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills after five seasons. Beauvais made history as the first Black woman to join the franchise and the first Haitian American to star on a major network reality show. She explained that her exit is driven by a desire to spend more time with her family and focus on her production company. Reps for Bravo said the decision was fully her own, saying that Beauvais would always be welcome on the Beverly Hills cast.
Beauvais’ departure comes at a crucial time for Bravo, which has been grappling with programming challenges in recent years. Casting instability and shifting viewer habits have led to declining ratings across multiple shows. In the past year alone, Bravo has canceled or “paused” several Real Housewives franchises, including New Jersey, Dubai, and Miami. Meanwhile, reboots of New York City and Atlanta have struggled to regain their former audiences.
Losing Beauvais could leave Beverly Hills in a tough spot, especially with the show’s recent history of cast exits, including fan favorites like Lisa Rinna and Crystal Kung-Minkoff.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season finale airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo and streams on Peacock the following day.
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The Drink of The Summer Is…
Lillet Spritz. Credit: Lillet USA
As I write this, a canvas painting of an Aperol Spritz sits to my left — a housewarming gift from my first apartment in South Orange. I adore Aperol Spritzes. Seriously. They’re pure nostalgia, a liquid snapshot of the summer of 2019, right before COVID changed everything. But these days? An Aperol Spritz just doesn’t hit like it used to. Now, it tastes faintly of… disappointment.
One afternoon last summer in Berlin, perched at a café beneath the Fernsehturm, I had the cocktail. Crisp, effervescent, utterly perfect. It whisked me back to the carefree feeling of sipping a spritz aboard the Frying Pan off the west side of Manhattan — but this? This was something else. It felt more refined, more grown-up.
Enter: the Lillet Spritz. My official drink of Summer 2025.
Ingredients:
2 oz Lillet Blanc
3 oz Prosecco (or any dry sparkling wine)
1 oz soda water (or club soda)
Ice
Orange or lemon slice (for garnish)
Instructions:
Fill a glass with ice — preferably a wine glass or large tumbler.
Pour in the Lillet Blanc over the ice.
Add the Prosecco, followed by the soda water, and give it a gentle stir.
Garnish with a slice of orange or lemon for a fresh, citrusy touch.
A Progressive Showdown in IL-9 — But Is It Really a Fight?
Kat Abughanzaleh in Evanston, IL. Credit: Rolling Stone
Kat Abughazaleh, a prominent progressive influencer, made headlines yesterday with her decision to challenge longtime Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky in Illinois’ 9th Congressional District — and she’s off to a fast start. In less than twelve hours, Abughazaleh pulled in over $200K, vowing to funnel the funds directly back into the district and promising a campaign that breaks from the norm.
But beneath the splashy launch, things get a little complicated. Schakowsky, one of the most progressive members of Congress, has held the seat since the '90s — a tenure Abughazaleh sees as problematic. Yet in interviews with Rolling Stone and Politico, Abughazaleh admits she’s not from the Chicago area (she just moved here in July), doesn’t live in the district, and seems unfamiliar with its makeup. IL-9 is primarily suburban, not centered on Chicago, though you wouldn’t guess that from her campaign logo, which features a Chicago star. Policy-wise, aside from Israel, there’s not much daylight between her and Schakowsky either. The issue of Israel will also certainly be a huge issue in this primary — IL-9 has one of the largest populations of Israeli Americans in the nation.
Primary challenges can spark necessary conversations and push important issues to the forefront — but carpetbagging is another story. So far, Abughazaleh hasn’t addressed the growing criticism around her outsider status. Whether Democrats in IL-9 will rally behind her or reject her as an opportunist is still up in the air, but one thing’s certain: this race just got a lot more interesting.
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The Last Call
Okay — not that anyone asked for my take on this, but can we please start telling influencers to STOP GIVING OUT FREE PROMO?
By now, we’ve all seen that alpha-male Saratoga water video. Sure, most of you are cringing at the content, but I’m losing my mind over the free advertising. This guy just handed a multi-million dollar brand what… $50 million worth of publicity? For free!
What are we doing?! Stop it! Make brands pay!
Secure the bag, friends…