Okay, there is so much to talk about tonight, but let me just remember this.

You probably remember that just last month, the intrepid journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick at the Atlantic published a blockbuster story.

Based on interviews with more than two dozen sources, a lot of sources, including current and former FBI officials.

And the story alleged that FBI director Cash Patel's drinking has been a

recurring source of concern across the government. Sources told Fitzpatrick that Patel is known to

drink to the point of obvious intoxication. They said that morning meetings had to be rescheduled

for later in the day because of Patel's alcohol-fueled nights. Multiple sources even told Fitzpatrick that at one point,

security officials had requested breaching equipment,

you know, the kind of stuff SWAT teams used to break doors down

because Patel had become unreachable behind locked doors.

And when the Atlantic prepared to publish that story, Patel dared them to print it,

saying it was all false and that he would see them in court.

Now Patel has in fact followed through on that threat.

He followed through quite quickly.

He has sued the Atlantic for defamation and demanded $250 million in damages.

So that's where the story stood going into today, as of last night.

And then this morning, MS Now's Kendolyan and Carol Lennox broke the news that the FBI has

launched a criminal leak investigation focused on Sarah Fitzpatrick and her piece on Kash Patel

in the Atlantic.

MS Now has two sources, two people familiar with the matter, who have confirmed the existence

of that investigation.

But the FBI is denying it.

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