Category: Authoritarian

Pentagon Restricts Stars and Stripes Military Newspaper Editorial

The Pentagon announced “modernization” changes to Stars and Stripes on March 9, immediately restricting the independent military newspaper’s editorial operations weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s spokesman called the publication “woke.” The memo prohibits the newspaper from publishing wire service content from organizations like the Associated Press and Reuters, eliminating coverage of war zones including the new conflict in Iran where military readers may be deployed, and bans lighter content such as March Madness coverage and comic strips.

The memo requires Stars and Stripes content to be “consistent with good order and discipline,” military justice language that threatens military staff reporters with court-martial if they publish stories the Defense Department opposes. Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin stated the Pentagon did not directly communicate the memo to his newsroom, which discovered it three days after implementation on a Defense Department website, leaving staff uncertain about compliance requirements and legal exposure for uniformed journalists.

The Pentagon claims the changes return Stars and Stripes to serving “the warfighter” while denying the newspaper will lose editorial independence. However, the memo redirects the newspaper’s ombudsman to send Congressional information to the Defense Department first rather than directly to legislators, dismantling a Congressional mandate protecting the publication’s autonomy since the 1990s. The Trump administration withdrew the federal regulation underpinning that mandate in January.

Stars and Stripes has operated independently under Congressional mandate since World War II and historically received bipartisan support, including from Trump during his first term. Applicants for Stars and Stripes positions are now being screened based on loyalty to the president’s policy priorities, representing direct assault on institutional independence. Press freedom organizations condemned the memo; PEN America stated service members rely on Stars and Stripes for independent reporting, not material dictated by officials the newspaper should hold accountable.

The Defense Department’s restrictions on Stars and Stripes follow Hegseth’s broader campaign against diversity initiatives across military institutions. In September, Hegseth imposed a policy requiring media outlets to pledge not to gather information without formal authorization from defense officials, forcing established news organizations including NPR to surrender press credentials rather than comply. Hegseth has similarly pressured Scouting America to implement transgender youth restrictions under Pentagon direction, demonstrating systematic institutional control efforts.

(Source: https://www.npr.org/2026/03/14/nx-s1-5748020/pentagon-tightens-controls-over-stars-and-stripes-after-calling-it-woke?utm_term=nprnews&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=npr&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwdGRleAQizGFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEej7qKf0rpz1enHZ43OdilQAgGvWjeko5o_ISNz39QoXq-4KFvlQTe_B7X9SU_aem_LmcSZMI9L6Q3yyss_RUeAA)

FCC Chair Carr Threatens License Revocation Over Trump Coverage

FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to revoke broadcast licenses on Saturday, directly echoing Trump’s criticism of media coverage of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran. Carr stated on social media that broadcasters running “hoaxes and news distortions” would “lose their licenses” during renewal periods, though he cited no specific networks or stories. The threat followed Trump’s Truth Social post attacking news coverage of five U.S. tanker aircraft in Saudi Arabia, claiming networks falsely reported damage when “four of the five had virtually no damage.”

Trump has repeatedly demanded license revocation for negative coverage, telling reporters in September 2025 that networks covering him negatively should “maybe” have their licenses revoked and that the decision would be “up to” Carr, whom he appointed. In August, Trump said NBC and ABC “give me 97% BAD STORIES” and he would be “totally in favor” of revoking their licenses. This pattern mirrors earlier instances where Trump administration pressure preceded consequences, such as when Carr demanded patriotic content from broadcasters and Kimmel’s show was pulled from air in mid-September after Carr called Kimmel’s remarks “a very, very serious issue.”

The FCC’s own website states that the “First Amendment and the Communications Act expressly prohibit the Commission from censoring broadcast matter” and that its role in overseeing broadcast content “is very limited.” The agency issues eight-year licenses to individual broadcast stations, not to television networks themselves. Carr did not identify which specific stories he believed were distorted or provide evidence contradicting any reporting.

Some Republicans including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz stated Carr went too far, yet Trump defended his appointee, saying “I think Brendan Carr is doing a great job.” Trump’s direct control over agency actions targeting his media critics demonstrates the weaponization of federal authority against news organizations that report unfavorably on his administration.

(Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/fcc-brendan-carr-threat-news-networks-broadcast-license/)

Trump Attacks Press For Questioning Iran War Duration

President Trump attacked journalists who questioned the duration of his Iran military campaign, falsing claiming media outlets report Iran is “doing wonderfully” when coverage has documented severe humanitarian costs. As the second week of Operation Epic Fury concluded, 13 U.S. service members had been killed, a preliminary military investigation determined the U.S. was responsible for a strike on an elementary school that killed at least 160 children, and attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz destabilized global energy markets and stock prices.

When asked directly how long the war would last, Trump refused to provide a timeline but stated it would continue “as long as it’s necessary” while claiming the U.S. was “way ahead of schedule.” He characterized media reporting as “fake news” for suggesting Iran was functioning normally, insisting instead that the country was “collapsing” and “doing as bad as you can have.”

Trump’s conflicting statements about the war’s progress—simultaneously declaring victory while justifying ongoing military operations—have drawn heavy criticism. His administration has issued contradictory messaging on the Iran war, stating both that the U.S. has already won and that operations must continue until conditions feel right.

The president’s dismissal of critical reporting exemplifies his pattern of attacking the press when coverage documents human costs or strategic ambiguity in his foreign military actions. Trump previously characterized the deaths of U.S. service members as components of a beneficial transaction, demonstrating indifference to casualty figures even as they mounted.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/online/trump-confronted-by-reporter-on-when-war-will-end-claims-media-says-iran-doing-wonderfully/)

Trump Fires Kennedy Center President Grenell After Institutional

Trump announced Friday that Richard Grenell, his appointed Kennedy Center president, is stepping down after more than a year marked by institutional chaos and mass artist defections. Grenell will be replaced by Matt Floca, the center’s vice president of facilities operations. The leadership change follows the board’s decision to rename the venue the Trump-Kennedy Center, which triggered widespread performance cancellations by major artists including composer Philip Glass and the Washington National Opera.

Grenell’s tenure was defined by confrontation with the arts community and selective media engagement. He attacked artists who criticized the center’s decisions and granted interviews exclusively to right-leaning news organizations, refusing to speak with outlets he deemed unfriendly. His defense of the Trump-branded renaming involved assailing major news outlets rather than addressing substantive concerns about the center’s new business model, which now requires performers to fund productions entirely in advance, departing from standard industry practice.

Trump’s control of the Kennedy Center has been absolute since he fired the entire board in early February 2025 and appointed himself chairman. Within a week, he named Grenell interim executive director as prominent artists including Shonda Rhimes and Renée Fleming withdrew from performances. The center announced an imminent two-year closure for renovations, a development that surprised employees and arts stakeholders still processing the institutional upheaval.

Trump praised Grenell’s work in a Truth Social post, calling him an “excellent” coordinator during the “transition period” and touting plans for the renovated center to become “the finest facility of its kind anywhere in the World.” The Kennedy Center declined to comment on Grenell’s departure, maintaining silence amid continued institutional turmoil driven by Trump’s takeover of the nation’s premier performing arts venue.

(Source: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2026-03-13/kennedy-center-president-richard-grenell-replaced-matt-floca)

Donald Trump tells House Republicans: SAVE America Act will ‘guarantee the midterms’

President Trump demanded House Republicans pass the SAVE America Act, claiming the voting restrictions bill will “guarantee the midterms” and threatening to block all other legislation until it passes. The measure requires proof of citizenship to register and photo ID to vote, cleared the House in February with a 218-213 vote, and stalled in the Senate where Democrats oppose it as voter suppression. Trump instructed Republicans to expand the bill with provisions banning mail-in voting except for illness, disability, military service, or travel, and prohibiting transgender athletes from women’s sports.

Trump declared at the House GOP annual conference in Florida that supporters demand the bill, stating “The people are demanding it. Every time I go out, save America! Save America!” He added that passage will secure Republican victories in midterms and future elections. Trump refused compromise, instructing Republicans to “go for the gold” and reject any watered-down version, saying “I’m not going to sign anything until this is approved.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer characterized the measure as “Jim Crow 2.0” that would disenfranchise tens of millions, stating Senate Democrats will not support it under any circumstances. Senate Majority Leader John Thune previously warned that forcing a voting rights blockade would derail government funding legislation and bipartisan housing affordability bills. On Monday, Thune called a talking filibuster “much more complicated and risky than people are assuming.”

Trump and Republican allies have pressured Thune to invoke a talking filibuster to bypass Democratic opposition, which would require continuous floor speeches before allowing a 51-vote passage. Trump stated Monday the Senate must approve the bill, saying “they’re going to have to go the filibuster, and maybe it’s going to be the talking filibuster.” This demand weaponizes the legislative process to strip voting protections after Trump previously threatened to bypass Congress on voter identification.

(Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5776058-trump-republicans-save-america-act-midterms/?fbclid=IwdGRleAQdsa1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEex7bhCMsV80DMDXzu1ndC-egejwQFV_z_eaV5pIVsdL5gPPCq6huJMQLeWng_aem_5W7f_iWpLLaUtqGIKFSOyA)

Trump Attacks Reporter for Citing Bill Barr’s Election Fraud Findings

President Donald Trump attacked PBS reporter Liz Landers as “rotten” on Wednesday after she confronted him with facts contradicting his false claims about the 2020 election. When Landers noted that his former attorney general Bill Barr found no widespread fraud in the 2020 election despite FBI seizures of Arizona and Georgia election records, Trump responded defensively and refused to acknowledge Barr’s documented conclusion.

Landers directly stated that Barr, Trump’s own attorney general in 2020, determined there was no measurable voter fraud capable of changing the election outcome. Trump rejected this fact, insisting the election was rigged while offering no evidence when pressed by the reporter. Rather than provide documentation or reasoning, Trump labeled Landers “rotten” for disagreeing with his false narrative.

Trump and Barr have a documented history of conflict over election fraud claims. Barr told NBC News in 2022 that he confronted Trump directly, calling his fraud allegations “bulls**t” and stating Trump’s team was wrong to promote them. Trump reacted with rage to this confrontation, according to Barr’s account.

When Barr endorsed Trump for president in 2024, Trump responded by mocking him publicly and attacking his record as attorney general. Trump posted on Truth Social that Barr “let a lot of great people down by not investigating Voter Fraud,” despite having previously called Barr weak and gutless. Trump’s attack on a reporter for citing his own attorney general’s findings demonstrates his pattern of weaponizing language against those who contradict his false claims, whether journalists or former officials.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-blasts-rotten-reporter-after-she-reminds-him-his-own-ag-contradicted-his-election-claim/)

Trump Administration Pushes Gun Ban for Marijuana Users

The Trump administration urged the Supreme Court to uphold a 1968 law denying gun rights to habitual users of illegal drugs, including marijuana. The case, U.S. v. Hemani, centers on Ali Hemani, a Texas man whose federal gun possession charge was dismissed by lower courts on Second Amendment grounds, though agents found a handgun and marijuana in his home during an FBI search in 2020.

Most justices expressed skepticism toward the administration’s position, with Justice Neil Gorsuch questioning why marijuana was chosen as a test case when Trump himself signed an executive order reclassifying marijuana as a lesser controlled substance. Justice Amy Coney Barrett challenged the government to provide evidence that occasional marijuana use makes someone dangerous enough to deny firearms.

Deputy Solicitor General Sarah Harris argued Congress determined mixing firearms with controlled substances is dangerous and that temporarily disarming habitual marijuana users does not violate the Second Amendment. However, Second Amendment advocate Erin Murphy countered that millions of Americans could face criminal prosecution under this interpretation, particularly since the government has not clearly proven marijuana itself is addictive and dangerous in the way Congress designated controlled substances.

The American Civil Liberties Union defended Hemani, stating that tens of millions of Americans own handguns for self-defense while also using marijuana occasionally, and the government’s broad interpretation would criminalize ordinary conduct without requiring proof of actual impairment or danger. The ACLU warned the ruling threatens to extend criminal law’s reach against lawful gun owners engaging in activities millions of Americans undertake.

The Supreme Court will decide the case by the end of June 2024, determining whether habitual marijuana use can strip individuals of Second Amendment rights despite questions from the bench about marijuana’s actual danger and the legal inconsistency created by Trump’s own drug reclassification effort.

(Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/supreme-court-questions-denying-gun-182308900.html?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=69a608723ff5b100011ec72f&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQKNjYyODU2ODM3OQABHr8kJUJkbOhk4MtkRmbQUbj9aitfL78h0BG8FPURzD2ex_yWCpzIJ9lW_PdY_aem_vViPdaoCIp7vbssTt-0Y5w)

Trump Uses Iran Strike to Justify Imminent Election Takeover Plan

President Trump authorized Operation Epic Fury, a major military assault on Iran early Saturday, February 28, 2026, justifying the strikes by claiming Tehran refused to renounce nuclear weapons development and posed an imminent threat requiring regime change. Hours after the operation commenced, Trump posted on Truth Social linking to a right-leaning news article alleging Iranian interference in the 2020 and 2024 U.S. elections on behalf of former President Joe Biden, an election Trump has repeatedly lied about as “stolen.”

Multiple analysts and legal experts identified Trump’s election interference claim as the probable actual justification for the military action. Columbia University professor Anthony Zenkus responded with exasperation to the post, while journalist Eva Golinger compared the pattern to previous military interventions in Venezuela and implied Cuba would be next. Florida-based attorney Fernando Antonio argued the election interference narrative served as cover for a larger authoritarian scheme to consolidate federal control over future elections.

Antonio’s analysis detailed the operational sequence Trump appeared to be executing. The strategy involved fabricating an imminent Iranian threat to justify military conflict, weaponizing that conflict to declare an emergency, then exploiting the emergency pretext to seize control of electoral systems under the guise of national security. This pattern aligns with Trump’s documented authoritarian methods of using external crises to expand executive power and dismantle democratic institutions.

The discrepancy between Trump’s stated rationale for war and the election interference post reveals how the administration manufactures justifications for military action. By linking Iran to election interference, Trump created a false premise connecting foreign adversaries to his election losses, then used that fabricated connection to authorize military operations and potentially justify emergency powers that would affect domestic elections.

(Source: https://www.rawstory.com/oh-for-the-love-of-god-overlooked-trump-post-hints-at-justification-for-major/)

Trump Orders U.S. Agencies to Stop Using Anthropic AI Tech After Pentagon Standoff – The New York Times

Trump ordered federal agencies to cease using Anthropic’s artificial intelligence technology on Friday, attacking the company as “radical Left” and claiming its leadership lacks understanding of reality. Within 13 minutes of Trump’s announcement, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally designated Anthropic a “supply-chain risk to national security,” barring any military contractor from conducting business with the company, a designation previously reserved for foreign adversaries rather than American firms.

Anthropic had resisted Pentagon demands for unfettered access to its AI systems without safety guardrails, citing two specific concerns. The company refused to allow its AI models to be deployed in autonomous weapons systems, arguing current models are unreliable and would endanger American troops and civilians, and rejected use of its technology for mass domestic surveillance, which it characterized as violating fundamental rights.

Legal experts characterized the Pentagon’s action as unprecedented and legally vulnerable. Anthropic stated it would challenge the designation in court, calling it historically reserved for U.S. adversaries and warning the move establishes a dangerous precedent for American companies negotiating with the government. The company had attempted good faith negotiations with the Pentagon over acceptable uses of its AI technology for national security purposes.

The confrontation reflects Trump’s pattern of weaponizing government authority against corporations that resist his demands, consistent with his broader efforts to remake federal institutions and eliminate independence from executive control. Hours after Anthropic’s designation, OpenAI announced a deal with the Defense Department to provide AI technology for classified military systems, demonstrating Trump’s preference for companies willing to comply without restrictions.

(Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/us/politics/anthropic-military-ai.html)

USDA Sells South Building, Scatters Staff Nationwide

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to sell its flagship South Building on Washington’s National Mall and relocate remaining staff to regional hubs in North Carolina, Missouri, Indiana, Colorado, and Utah by year’s end. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins described the 1930s-era building as “a shell of what it once was,” citing $1.6 billion in delinquent maintenance costs and approximately 80% office vacancy rates, according to GSA Administrator Edward Forst.

The sale is framed as a cost-cutting measure under Republican President Donald Trump’s broader push to downsize the federal government. However, thousands of USDA employees have already departed through buyout programs as the administration dismantles the agency’s workforce and institutional capacity.

The building will be transferred to the General Services Administration for sale, with Iowa Senator Joni Ernst displaying a “For Sale By Owner” sign during the announcement. This disposal of a historic federal property reflects the administration’s agenda to strip down government operations and eliminate institutional presence in the nation’s capital.

(Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/usda-selling-its-flagship-south-building-washington-relocating-staff-2026-02-25/?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=699fb068781ea000015a4217&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwdGRleAQNyFxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEehS9gM5eu0uQrXX6WzQUEG50zlvWA7TTJIpkxBzU7CsYspzuboaAdlIWlqMI_aem_0ubKb2BcEiwMxC9E186dlA)

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