Restrictions on U.S. Military Newspaper Signal First Amendment Danger for All Media

Pete Hegseth has banned photographers from Pentagon briefings after “unflattering” photos were published earlier this month

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.”

7,924 Comments

  1. Speaking honestly this is among the better discoveries of my recent browsing, and a stop at xavlumo reinforced that discovery quality, the ranking of recent discoveries is informal but meaningful and this site has placed near the top of that ranking based on the consistency of quality across what I have already read carefully.

  2. Looking through other posts here the consistency is what makes the site valuable rather than any single piece, and a stop at premiumdesigncollective 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.

  3. The structure of the post made it easy to follow without losing track of where I was, and a look at zenvani kept the same logical flow going, this site clearly understands that organisation is half the battle in keeping readers engaged from the first line to the last across any kind of post.

  4. Started a draft response in my head and ended without publishing it because the post said it well enough, and a look at musebeats produced the same effect, content that satisfies my urge to add to it by being complete enough on its own is rare and represents a particular kind of editorial completeness here.

  5. Worth recognising the absence of the usual blog tropes here, and a look at wattedge continued that fresh quality, sites that avoid the standard moves of the medium read as more original even when the content is on familiar topics and this one has clearly chosen its own path through the conventional terrain skilfully.

  6. Now planning to write about the topic myself eventually using this post as a reference, and a look at liegepenny would also serve in that future piece, content that becomes raw material for my own writing rather than just informing my reading is content with multiplicative value and this site is generating that multiplicative effect.

  7. Bookmark added without hesitation after finishing, and a look at plumvendor confirmed I should bookmark the homepage too rather than just this page, the rare site that earns category level trust rather than just single article approval is the kind I want to rely on across many different topics over time.

  8. Bookmark added without hesitation after finishing, and a look at julyelm confirmed I should bookmark the homepage too rather than just this page, the rare site that earns category level trust rather than just single article approval is the kind I want to rely on across many different topics over time.

  9. Now wondering how the writers calibrated the level of detail so well, and a stop at styleluma continued the same calibration, the right level of detail is one of the harder editorial calls in any piece and this site has clearly developed an instinct for it through what I assume is years of careful practice publicly.

  10. Worth saying that the quiet confidence of the writing is what landed first, and a look at lullneon continued that quiet quality, confident writing without the loud display of confidence is a rare combination and this site has clearly developed both the knowledge and the editorial restraint to land that combination consistently.

  11. Worth saying that this is one of the better things I have read on the topic in months, and a stop at genieframe reinforced that ranking, the topic is well covered by many sources but few do it with this level of care and the few that do deserve to be flagged so other readers can find them.

  12. Just want to record that this site is entering my regular reading list, and a look at hazegloss confirmed it deserves the spot, my regular reading list is short and well curated and adding to it requires meeting a fairly high quality bar that this site has clearly cleared without much effort apparently.

  13. Glad I gave this a chance rather than scrolling past, and a stop at pactpalace confirmed I made the right call, sometimes the best content is hidden behind unassuming headlines that do not scream for attention and learning to slow down and check those out has paid off many times now across years of reading.

  14. Picked this up while looking for something else and ended up reading every paragraph because it was actually informative, and after jetfrost I was sure I would come back, that does not happen often when most sites bury the useful parts under endless ads and pop ups today and across most categories online.

  15. Now feeling confident enough in this site to use it as a reference point for evaluating others on the same topic, and a look at hiltgable continued the comparison friendly quality, sites that serve as quality benchmarks for their topic are precious and this one has clearly become a benchmark for me on this particular subject area.

  16. Came in confused about the topic and left with a much firmer grasp on it, and after luxrivo I felt I could explain this to someone else without hesitation, that is the gold standard for any educational content and most sites simply fail to reach it ever which is unfortunate but true.

  17. http://yenortega.es/
    El equipo de Yenortega se presenta como una estructura de confianza dedicada al mercado espanol, que pone a disposicion soluciones personalizadas a sus clientes, destacandose por en la atencion personalizada. Mas informacion a traves del enlace.

  18. Now considering whether the post would translate well into a different form, and a look at ivoryvendor suggested similar versatility, content that could move into other media without losing its substance is content that has been built around ideas rather than around format and this site reads as idea first throughout posts.

  19. Stands apart from similar pages by actually being useful, that is high praise these days, and a look at urbanzaro kept that standard going, you can tell when a site is built around the reader versus around metrics and this one clearly belongs to the first category for sure based on what I read.

  20. Came back to this an hour later to reread a specific section, and a quick visit to cartmixo also drew a second look, content that pulls you back rather than letting you move on permanently is the kind I want to fill my browser bookmarks with in 2026 and beyond as the open internet evolves.

  21. Considered against the flood of similar content this one stands apart in important ways, and a stop at movlino extended that distinctive feel, sites that find their own corner of a crowded topic and stay there are sites worth following and this one has clearly carved out its own space and committed to defending it carefully.

  22. Reading this on a difficult day was a small bright spot, and a stop at qenmora extended that brightness, content that improves a hard day is content that has earned a particular kind of place in my reading habits and this site is occupying that uplifting role for me today which I appreciate clearly.

  23. Over the course of reading several posts here a pattern of quality has emerged, and a stop at seovista confirmed the pattern, the difference between sites that hit quality occasionally and sites that hit it consistently is huge and this site has clearly demonstrated the consistent kind through what I have read this morning.

  24. Now considering whether the post would translate well into a different form, and a look at ygavexaudition2024 suggested similar versatility, content that could move into other media without losing its substance is content that has been built around ideas rather than around format and this site reads as idea first throughout posts.

  25. Reading this as part of my evening winding down routine fit perfectly, and a stop at discovermoreoffers extended the wind down nicely, content that calms rather than agitates is what I want at the end of the day and this site provides that calming reading experience reliably which is increasingly rare across the modern web.

  26. Reading the writers other posts after this one suggests the quality is consistent rather than peak, and a stop at ebonfig confirmed the consistent quality reading, sites that hold the same level across many pieces rather than peaking on a few are sites with sustainable editorial discipline and this one has clearly developed that.

  27. Now recognising the specific pleasure of reading writing that shows real care for sentence shapes, and a look at zenvaxo extended that craft pleasure, sentence level writing quality is something most blog content ignores entirely and this site has clearly invested in the prose layer alongside the substance which is rare today.

  28. Took longer than expected to finish because I kept stopping to think, and a stop at windyforestfinds did the same to me, content that provokes thought rather than just delivering information is in a different category and the team here is clearly working at that higher level rather than just cranking out posts.

  29. A piece that respected the reader by not over explaining the obvious, and a look at xavnora continued that calibrated approach, finding the right level of explanation is one of the harder editorial calls and this site has clearly thought carefully about what readers will already know versus what they need help with consistently.

  30. Great work on keeping things readable, the post never drags or repeats itself which I really appreciate, and a stop at lilacneedle 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.

  31. Honest reaction is that I want to send this to a friend who would benefit from it, and a look at wattedge added more material I will pass along too, the impulse to share is the strongest signal I have for content quality and this site is generating that impulse cleanly across multiple posts.

  32. Definitely returning here, that is decided, and a look at tirzani only made the case stronger, this is one of those rare websites that rewards regular visits rather than feeling stale after the first read which is something I cannot say about most of the places I bookmark today across all my topics.

  33. Now understanding why someone recommended this site to me a while back, and a stop at gladfir explained the recommendation, sometimes recommendations make sense only after experience and this site has finally clicked into place as the kind of resource I now understand was being recommended for sound editorial reasons by my friend.

  34. Reading this gave me a small refresher on something I had partially forgotten, and a stop at modcove extended the refresher, content that strengthens existing knowledge rather than just adding new is content with a particular kind of consolidating value and this site is providing that consolidating function across multiple visits.

  35. If the topic interests you at all this is a place to spend time, and a look at curatedglobalcommerce reinforced that recommendation, the broader question of where to invest topical reading time is one this site answers convincingly through the consistent quality across multiple pieces I have sampled during the current reading session today.

  36. Solid little post, the kind that does not need to be flashy because the substance is doing the work, and a look at fossera kept that quiet confidence going across the site, this is what writing looks like when the writer trusts the content to land on its own without theatrics or unnecessary attention seeking behaviour.

  37. Honestly this was a good read, no jargon and no padding, and a short look at hazeherb kept that same feel going which I really appreciated, the writer clearly knows the topic well enough to explain it without hiding behind big words or filler that often gets used to seem clever.

  38. Now feeling the small relief of finding writing that does not condescend, and a stop at oakarenas extended that respect for readers, content that treats its audience as capable adults rather than as people to be managed produces a different reading experience and this site has clearly chosen the respectful approach across all pieces.

  39. Useful enough to recommend to several people I know who would appreciate it, and a stop at stylemixo added more material I will pass along too, the kind of writing that earns word of mouth is the kind that actually delivers on its promises which is what this site does without any drama or fanfare attached.

  40. Even from a single post the editorial care is clear, and a stop at luxrova extended that care across more pages, the kind of attention to quality that shows up in every paragraph is what separates serious sites from the rest and this one has clearly invested in that paragraph level attention across what I have read.

  41. Genuinely changed how I think about a small piece of the topic, which does not happen often online, and a look at hiltgem added another nudge in the same direction, the kind of writing that earns a small mental shift rather than just confirming what you already thought before reading is a sign of careful thought.

  42. Bookmark folder created specifically for this site, and a look at mintvendor confirmed the dedicated folder was the right call, dedicated folders for individual sites are a level of organisation I rarely deploy and this site has earned that level of dedicated tracking based on the consistency I have seen so far across sessions.

  43. If you scroll past this site without looking carefully you will miss something, and a stop at urbivio 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.

  44. Thanks for laying this out in a way that someone newer to the topic can follow, and a stop at jumbohelm kept that accessibility going, writing that meets readers at different experience levels without condescending is hard to do well and the writers here have clearly thought about who they are writing for.

  45. Yesterday I was complaining about the state of online writing and today this site has temporarily fixed that complaint, and a look at cartrivo extended that mood reversal, the short term mood improvement that comes from finding good content is real and this site has produced that improvement for me at a useful moment.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *