This week the Pentagon disinvited the military’s Star & Stripes publication from attending Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s press conference. That may seem like a minor matter as President Donald Trump and Hegseth have issued broad warnings to the U.S. media about what they characterize as “unpatriotic” coverage of the war in Iran. But it signals a turning point for the newspaper, which has been continuously reporting on military matters since World War II.
The move comes after the Pentagon issued a memo to Stars and Stripes in January outlining new restrictions on content in the newspaper, including a requirement to abide by “good order and discipline.” The newspaper is also expected to “modernize its operations” and “refocus its content away from woke distractions that siphon morale.”
“The Pentagon blackballed its own newspaper from covering its own press conference?” wrote Kevin Baron, a Stars & Stripes reporter. “Reminder, Stars & Stripes employees are US Army civilians. Their editorial independence is protected by Congress specifically to prevent political leaders from feeding troops propaganda.”
The censorship of Stars & Stripes follows the Pentagon’s October 2025 issuance of a new policy for all media. Credentialed outlets must agree to a policy that states reporters cannot gather or publish information from the Pentagon that is not specifically authorized, including declassified information and off-the-record conversations.
Most media outlets refused to sign the agreement, leading to ABC News, CBS News, CNN, NBC News, Fox News, the Associated Press, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and countless other outlets losing their Pentagon press credentials.
As media outlets continue to cover the escalating war in the Middle East, Hegseth has bemoaned much of the coverage as “fake news,” taking particular aim at CNN last week. “Fake news from CNN reports that the Trump administration underestimated the Iran war’s impact on the Strait of Hormuz,” he said during a press conference. “Patently ridiculous, of course. For decades, Iran has threatened shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. This is always what they do, hold the strait hostage. CNN doesn’t think we thought of that. It’s a fundamentally unserious report. The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better.”
Hegseth is referring to the billionaire chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance’s buyout of Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent company, in a $111 billion deal. The deal has been the subject of lawsuits and controversy alleging Ellison’s father Larry Ellison, Oracle founder and one of the richest people in the world, and Trump had finessed the deal away from Netflix.
Even Fox News thinks the media is under fire, referencing Hegseth’s characterization of journalists as “unpatriotic” and “anti-Trump” as they ask questions about the war in Iran. Trump, meanwhile, praised FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s warning about media outlets “correcting course” on their war coverage.
“Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions – also known as the fake news – have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up,” wrote Carr in a post on X. “The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not.”
Meanwhile the families of U.S. military members killed in Iran have spoken out against claims from Hegseth that bereaved families urged him to “finish” the job in the Middle East. Hegseth told reporters yesterday that he had spoken with the families of all six service members killed in a refueling tanker crash last week.
“What I heard through tears, through hugs, through strength and through unbreakable resolve, was the same from family after family,” said Hegseth. “They said, ‘Finish this. Honor their sacrifice. Do not waver. Do not stop until the job is done.”
Charles Simmons, father of Ohio Tech Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, who was killed in the crash, denied discussing that with Hegseth. “I can’t speak for the other families,” Simmons told NBC News. “When he spoke to me, that was not something we talked about. I didn’t say anything along those lines.”
Stephan Douglas, cousin of Tyler Simmons, one of the three Ohioans killed in the crash, said the conflict was unnecessary in a weekend interview with Columbus news station WCMH. “This could have been prevented,” said Douglas. “We didn’t need to be in this war. This is uncalled for, and this is what we get.”
“Families are suffering right now,” said Bernice Smith, Simmons’ grandmother. “Just to create a war because you want to create a war is not right.”
Taking the time to read carefully here has been worthwhile for the past hour, and a look at gonggrip extended the worthwhile reading, the calculation of return on reading time spent is something I do informally and this site has been producing positive returns across multiple sessions during the last week of regular visits and reads.
A welcome contrast to the loud takes that have dominated my feed lately, and a look at nudgelustre extended that calm voice, content that arrives without yelling has become unusual in the modern attention economy and this site is one of the few places I have found that consistently delivers without raising its voice.
Now noticing that the post never raised its voice even when making a strong point, and a look at ibabowl continued that calm volume, content that can make important points without resorting to typographic emphasis or emotional appeal is content that trusts its substance to do the work and this site has that confidence consistently.
Most of the time I feel the open web is in decline and then I find a site like this, and a stop at fiabush reinforced that mood lift, the cumulative effect of finding occasional excellent independent content versus the cumulative effect of finding mostly mediocre content is real for the long term reader maintaining web habits today.
During my morning reading slot this fit perfectly into the routine, and a look at pebblelemon extended that perfect fit into the rest of the routine, content that matches the rhythm of how I actually read rather than demanding accommodation from my schedule is content well calibrated to its likely audience and this site has it.
http://innovweb-portfolio.fr/
Innovweb Portfolio s’impose comme une structure experimentee dediee au le tissu economique francais, qui propose un accompagnement professionnel a ceux qui recherchent des resultats, en priorisant sur la confiance et la transparence. En savoir plus ici.
Honest assessment is that this is one of the better short reads I have had this week, and a look at fribrag reinforced that, the bar for short content is low because most of it sacrifices substance for brevity but this site manages both at once which is harder than it sounds for most writers attempting it.
Now thinking about how to apply some of this to a project I have been planning, and a look at voguestraw added more material for the planning, content that connects to my actual creative work rather than just being interesting in the abstract is the kind that earns priority placement in my reading rotation consistently going forward.
Probably the kind of site that should be more widely read than it appears to be, and a look at tundraturtle reinforced that quiet wish, the gap between a sites quality and its apparent reach is sometimes large and that gap exists for this site in a way that makes me want to mention it more.
Genuinely good work, the kind that holds up over multiple readings without losing its appeal, and a stop at tokenudon kept that going, definitely a site I will be returning to and probably mentioning to others who work in or care about this particular area of interest today and in coming weeks.
Now noticing the careful balance the post struck between confidence and humility, and a stop at steamstraw maintained the same balance, finding the line between asserting and admitting is hard and this site has clearly developed the calibration to walk that line consistently which produces a more persuasive reading experience for me.
Looking through other posts here the consistency is what makes the site valuable rather than any single piece, and a stop at lemonode extended that consistency observation, sites whose value lies in the ongoing pattern rather than in standout posts are sites I trust more deeply and this one has clearly built that kind of trust.
Appreciated how the writer anticipated the questions a reader might have along the way, and a stop at brofix continued that thoughtful approach, you can tell when content has been edited with the reader in mind versus just published as a first draft and this is clearly the former approach across what I read.
Honest reaction is that this is the kind of writing I would defend in a conversation about good blog content, and a look at storkumber reinforced that, the rare site whose work I would actively recommend rather than just tolerate is the kind I want to support through return visits regularly.
Just nice to read something that does not feel like it was assembled from a content brief, and a stop at imobush kept that handcrafted feel going, you can tell when a real human with real understanding is behind the words versus a templated piece churned out for an algorithm to find.
Reading this between two meetings turned out to be the highlight of the morning, and a stop at exploreinnovativeconcepts continued that highlight quality, content that outshines the structured parts of a working day is doing something well beyond ordinary and this site has produced multiple such highlights for me already this week alone.
Coming back tomorrow when I can give this a proper read, the post deserves better attention than I can give right now, and a look at tidalurchin suggests there is plenty more here that deserves the same treatment, definitely a site I will be exploring properly over the next few days when I can.
Came across this and immediately thought of a friend who would enjoy it, and a stop at timberfieldcorner also reminded me of someone, content that triggers the urge to share is content that has earned my recommendation and this site has earned multiple from me already across different conversations during the week.
If you scroll past this site without looking carefully you will miss something, and a stop at syncbyte extended that mild warning, the surface of the site does not advertise its quality loudly which means careful attention is required to recognise what is being offered here which is itself a kind of editorial signal.
The overall feel of the post was professional without being stuffy, and a look at jalborn kept that approachable expertise going, finding the right register for technical content is hard but this site has clearly figured out how to sound knowledgeable without slipping into that distant lecturing tone that loses readers in droves every time.
Glad the writer did not feel the need to argue with imaginary critics in the post itself, and a stop at zulvexa kept the same focused approach going, defensive writing wastes the reader time and confidence on positions that did not need defending and this post has clearly avoided that common failure.
Took a few notes from this post, the points are easy to remember without needing to come back and check, and a look at siskavarsity added a couple more, the kind of place that sticks in the memory long after the browser tab has been closed for the day which says a lot really.
Useful reading material, the kind I can hand off to someone newer to the topic without worrying about confusing them, and a quick look at ibacane confirmed the same beginner friendly tone runs throughout the site which is great for sharing with people just starting their learning journey on this particular topic.
Easy to recommend, the content speaks for itself without needing additional praise from me, and a stop at halbrook only adds more reasons to send people this way, the kind of generous resource that benefits its readers without demanding anything in return is increasingly rare and worth recognising clearly today across the broader open internet.
Came across this and immediately thought of a friend who would enjoy it, and a stop at sorreltavern also reminded me of someone, content that triggers the urge to share is content that has earned my recommendation and this site has earned multiple from me already across different conversations during the week.
Worth saying that the post fit naturally into a rhythm of careful reading, and a stop at gongjade extended the same rhythm, content that pairs well with how I actually read rather than demanding a different mode is content well calibrated to its likely audience and this site has clearly thought about that consistently.
A piece that brought a sense of order to a topic I had been finding chaotic, and a look at tacticstaff continued that organising effect, content that imposes useful structure on messy subjects is doing genuine intellectual work and this site is providing that organisational function across multiple posts I have read recently here.
Looking at this objectively the editorial quality is hard to deny even setting aside personal taste, and a stop at hoxfix maintained the same objective quality, the gap between what I personally enjoy and what is objectively well crafted exists and this site clears both bars simultaneously which is rarer than it sounds.
A small thank you note from me to the team behind this work, the post earned it, and a stop at fylbust suggested more thanks would be in order over time, recognising the people who do good writing online is something I try to remember to do because the alternative is silence and silence rewards mediocrity unfortunately.
However selective I am about new bookmarks this one made it past my filter, and a look at pebblenovel confirmed the bookmark was worth the slot, the precious slots in my permanent bookmark folder are difficult to earn and this site earned one without making me think twice about whether the slot was justified by the quality.
Thank you for the genuine effort here, it shows in every paragraph and not just the headline, and after my visit to mercymodel I was sure this site cares about getting things right rather than chasing clicks, which is the main reason I will come back later this week to read more.
I appreciate the clarity here, everything is explained in simple terms without unnecessary detail, and after a quick stop at seriftackle the points came together nicely for me, the writing keeps things straightforward and respects the reader from start to finish without ever talking down to anyone.
Recommended without reservation for anyone interested in the topic at any level of expertise, and a look at leveemotel only strengthens that recommendation, this site clearly knows how to serve readers across a range of backgrounds without watering down the content or talking past anyone in the audience which is genuinely impressive to see.
Felt the writer did the homework before publishing, the references hold up, and a look at byncane continued that documented care, content with traceable claims rather than vague assertions is the kind I trust and the lack of bald assertion in this post is one of its quietly impressive qualities for me.
http://interactivemay.fr/
Interactivemay se positionne comme une structure experimentee dediee au le cadre national francais, qui apporte un accompagnement professionnel a ceux qui recherchent des resultats, en se distinguant par sur les resultats. Decouvrez davantage sur le site officiel.
Nice to see a post that does not try to overcomplicate the basics for the sake of looking smart, and once I looked at timberverge the same direct tone was there too, which honestly makes a difference when you are short on time and want answers without long pointless intros.
Reading this gave me a small framework I expect to use going forward, and a stop at exploreyourpotential extended that framework, content that produces transferable mental models rather than just specific facts is content with multiplicative value and this site is providing those models at a rate that justifies extra attention from me regularly.
Pass this along to colleagues if the topic comes up, the framing here is sensible, and a stop at velourturban adds more useful angles to share, the kind of content that improves conversations rather than just feeding them is what makes a resource genuinely valuable in professional contexts going forward over time and across project boundaries too.
Worth flagging that the post handled an angle of the topic I had not seen elsewhere, and a look at tritonsloop extended that fresh treatment, content that finds underexplored corners of well covered subjects is genuinely valuable and this site has demonstrated that exploratory editorial approach across multiple pieces in my reading sessions today.
Reading this in a moment of low energy still kept my attention, and a stop at inaarch continued that engagement under suboptimal conditions, content that survives the reader being tired is content with extra reserves of pull and this site has the kind of writing that holds up even when I am not at my reading best.
Just want to flag that this was useful and not bury the appreciation in caveats, and a look at suppletoast earned the same direct praise, recognising good work without hedging it with criticism is something I try to practice because over qualified compliments tend to read as backhanded and miss the point sometimes.
Felt the writer was speaking my language without trying to imitate it, and a look at vistastencil continued that natural fit, when a writers default voice happens to match what you find easy to read the experience feels frictionless and that is something I notice and remember about specific sites going forward.
Now saved this in a way that I will actually find again rather than the casual bookmark approach, and a stop at stereotarot earned the same careful saving, organising my reading bookmarks so that high quality sources rise to the top is something I should do more of and this site triggered that organisation today.
Spent a few minutes here and came away with a clearer picture of the topic, the writing keeps things simple without dumbing them down, and after a stop at threeoaktreasures the rest of the points lined up neatly which is something I appreciate when I am short on time and need answers fast.
Really appreciate that the writer did not overstate the importance of the topic to make the post feel weightier, and a quick visit to ibeburn maintained the same modest framing, content that is honest about its own scope rather than inflating itself is the kind I trust and return to repeatedly over time.
Started taking notes about halfway through because the points were stacking up, and a look at swamptweed added enough material that my notes file grew further, content that demands note taking from a passive reader is content with substance and the writers here are clearly producing that kind of work consistently across topics.
Speaking carefully because I do not want to overstate things this site is genuinely above average across multiple measurements, and a stop at fylcalm continued the above average performance, the calibration of judgement against potential overstatement is something I take seriously and this site clears the higher bar even after that calibration applies.
Great work on keeping things readable, the post never drags or repeats itself which I really appreciate, and a stop at pixiescan added a bit more context that fit naturally with what was already said here, no need to read everything twice to get the point being made today.
I came here looking for a quick answer and ended up reading the whole post because it was actually interesting, and after tunicvicar I had a much fuller picture, no stress and no confusion just a clear walk through the topic that made everything fall into place without much effort.
Beats most of the alternatives on the topic by a noticeable margin, and a look at zunkavi did not change that at all, this is one of the better corners of the open internet for this kind of content and I am glad I clicked through rather than skipping past quickly like I usually do.