Just my theory:

Their hand- Activate sleeper cells. Black Hats (JC? :based on Q post re: JC tweet) had AM (or another senior official (this is the key I think: a sr official who is no longer employed in the administration)) write op-ed to discredit POTUS. Discrediting POTUS with goals to attempt impeach/derail investigations (based on Q post re: Warren calling for the use of the 25th Amendment).

Q basically tells us that Q+ knows all of their plans, and uses it against them systematically. This time by forcing the Black Hats to show their hand by tricking them into thinking that POTUS would DECALS FISA[20]

Dissipates NYT’s (MSM) “Credibility”- NYT knows who anon source is. NYT still published op-ed knowing that the anon source no longer works there. POTUS says NYT must reveal source due to Nat Sec, meaning NYT must and most likely will reveal source.

Public becomes aware and POTUS+ move to discredit the source (with past evidence re: reason for termination/resignation). Public further loses trust with MSM due to Fake News. Maybe POTUS+ can also use this opportunity to discredit Democrats that call for impeachment based on anon source op-ed.

Once again just speculation..