Category: Attack the Press

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 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 Demands Netflix Fire Susan Rice Over Corporate

President Trump demanded Netflix fire Susan Rice, a board member since 2023, after Rice criticized corporations that capitulate to Trump’s agenda. In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump called Rice a “racist, Trump Deranged” political hack with “no talent or skills,” threatening Netflix with unspecified consequences if the company did not comply immediately. Trump’s attack followed a video clip shared by Laura Loomer showing Rice warning that companies bowing to Trump will face accountability from Democrats if they return to power.

Rice, former National Security Adviser and U.N. Ambassador under President Obama, stated that corporations, law firms, universities, and media entities taking a knee to Trump will not fare well. She argued their capitulation represents short-term self-interest and predicted they will be held accountable by future Democratic administrations for firing employees and abandoning principles. Rice specifically challenged the assumption that Democrats would forgive such actions, saying corporations have “another thing coming” if they expect leniency.

The timing of Trump’s attack coincides with Netflix’s efforts to close a $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery while facing Department of Justice scrutiny over potential harm to consumers. Trump’s demand for Rice’s firing exploits regulatory vulnerability as competing bidders, including Paramount Skydance, attempt to block the merger and acquire WBD themselves. Rice has previously criticized Trump initiatives, including his dismantling of federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and his defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth.

Trump’s demand weaponizes his presidential authority to pressure a major media company into firing a corporate board member for expressing political speech. This attack exemplifies Trump’s use of regulatory power and public threats to silence critics and enforce loyalty, directly targeting someone who warned corporations against capitulating to his administration.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-demands-netflix-fire-racist-susan-rice-after-ex-obama-ambassador-slammed-companies-that-take-a-knee-to-potus/)

FCC Chair Carr Demands Patriotic Content While Silencing Late-Night Hosts

Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has called on broadcasters to air “patriotic, pro-America” content as part of a “Pledge America Campaign” ahead of the nation’s 250th independence anniversary in July. Carr’s directive explicitly requests networks air programming celebrating American history, begin each broadcast day with the Pledge of Allegiance, and feature music by composers including John Philip Sousa, Aaron Copland, Duke Ellington, and George Gershwin. The campaign frames such programming as addressing declining civics education and serving broadcasters’ public interest obligations.

Carr has become a central figure in the Trump administration’s conflict with late-night television hosts after pressuring ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel’s show in September over comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting. Upon returning, Kimmel called out Carr’s hypocrisy by citing a 2022 social media post from Carr himself stating that “political satire is one of the oldest and most important forms of free speech.” Stephen Colbert similarly attacked Carr this week after CBS reportedly blocked an interview with Democrat James Talarico running for U.S. Senate in Texas, with Carr having indicated he was considering removing talk show exemptions from FCC equal-time rules.

Anna Gomez, the sole Democratic FCC Commissioner, directly opposed Carr’s campaign, stating on X that “nothing is more American than defending our constitutional rights against those who would erode our civil liberties” and urging broadcasters to refuse government interference by defending their First Amendment rights. CBS denied blocking the Talarico interview, stating instead that legal guidance indicated broadcast could trigger equal-time requirements for other candidates. The FCC’s equal-time rules do not apply to digital platforms, and the blocked interview has garnered over 8.3 million views on The Late Show’s YouTube channel.

Carr has framed his actions as ending broadcaster control over public discourse. In a Fox News interview with Laura Ingraham, Carr declared that “the days that these legacy media broadcasters get to decide what we can say, what we can think, who we can vote for, are over,” crediting Trump with “smashing the facade” of media independence. Carr’s language and actions demonstrate the administration’s deliberate effort to pressure networks into aligning content with government-approved messaging while simultaneously attacking press freedom as a mechanism of control.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-fcc-brendan-carr-patriotic-colbert-kimmel-b2924780.html)

Trump Expels Media From Governors Meeting To Hide Policy Disputes

President Donald Trump expelled journalists from a White House governors meeting on February 20, 2026, instructing media to leave so discussions could proceed “very candidly.” Trump stated directly to assembled reporters, “We’re going to be asking the press to leave,” before White House communications staff ushered them out, with some pressing questions before being removed.

Trump’s official social media account mocked the press expulsion, posting that he had “kicked them out” after inviting them, characterizing reporter questions as “stupid.” This move prevented public scrutiny of a meeting where Trump had initially excluded Democratic governors Jared Polis of Colorado and Wes Moore of Maryland over political disagreements before reversing course under pressure and extending invitations.

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer stated he could not recall a president officially inviting media into a formal meeting only to expel them, calling the action “extraordinary.” Correspondent Kevin Liptak reported Trump may have sought to hide contentious exchanges with governors, referencing a prior governors summit dispute where Maine Governor Janet Mills confronted Trump over an executive order withholding federal funding related to transgender sports participation and pledged to challenge him in court.

The exclusion of press from a bipartisan governors meeting demonstrates Trump’s pattern of restricting public access to government proceedings and suppressing media inquiry into policy disagreements. By barring journalists, Trump prevented documentation of disputes between his administration and state leaders on federal funding and regulatory matters.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-shockingly-asks-media-to-leave-as-governors-breakfast-meeting-kicks-off-that-way-we-will-talk-very-candidly/)

Trump Threatens Lawsuit Against Michael Wolff Over Epstein Emails

President Donald Trump announced plans to sue author Michael Wolff, accusing him of “conspiring” with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to damage his political career. Trump made the statement to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday night, following the release of additional Epstein documents, claiming that emails between Wolff and Epstein exonerated him rather than implicating him.

Released documents from 2015 and 2016 show Wolff messaging Epstein about obtaining damaging information on Trump before the 2016 presidential election. In one 2016 message, Wolff wrote that Epstein could “help finish” Trump by providing opposition research; in a 2015 exchange, Wolff stated that if Trump denied visiting Epstein’s plane or property, “that gives you valuable PR and political currency. You can hang him.” Trump characterized these exchanges as evidence of a conspiracy against him, calling Wolff a “third-rate writer” engaged in a political attack.

When Wolff released a video response to the emails in late 2024, he avoided addressing his communications with Epstein and instead suggested the correspondence might reveal details about Trump’s relationship with Epstein himself. Trump has previously dismissed Epstein-related coverage as a Democratic diversion and repeatedly sought to strengthen libel laws to restrict press reporting. Trump stated he will “certainly” sue Wolff and may also pursue legal action against the Epstein estate.

Wolff authored the 2018 bestseller “Fire and Fury,” which documented internal dynamics of Trump’s first administration. Trump’s litigation threat follows his pattern of using lawsuits to suppress unfavorable reporting and accounts of his conduct.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-aiming-to-sue-michael-wolff-for-conspiring-with-jeffrey-epstein-to-wreck-his-political-career/)

White House Threatens CBS With Lawsuit Over Trump Interview

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt threatened CBS News with litigation if the network edited an interview with President Donald Trump, according to an audio recording obtained by the New York Times. Leavitt told CBS anchor Tony Dokoupil that Trump demanded the 13-minute segment air “in full” without cuts, warning “If it’s not out in full, we’ll sue your ass off.” CBS broadcast the unedited interview on Tuesday, months after the network’s parent company Paramount settled a $16 million lawsuit filed by Trump over the editing of a 2024 interview with Kamala Harris.

The threat reflects a pattern of abuse of power by the Trump administration targeting media outlets for editorial decisions. CBS had previously settled Trump’s lawsuit despite arguing that editing for time is standard television journalism practice, effectively capitulating to pressure and sending a signal that legal intimidation of news organizations works. This capitulation emboldened further demands for editorial control over coverage of the Republican administration.

The incident occurs against a backdrop of institutional capture at CBS News, where newly appointed editor-in-chief Bari Weiss has faced accusations of favoritism toward the Trump administration and compromised editorial independence. CBS is now controlled by Paramount Skydance, owned by David Ellison, a friend of Trump, and Paramount also purchased Weiss’s conservative opinion company Free Press in October. This consolidation of ownership and editorial control mirrors authoritarian media dynamics, exemplified by Trump’s pattern of weaponizing government power against business competitors and those who do not demonstrate absolute loyalty.

Weiss’s tenure has been marked by decisions that benefit the Trump administration, including pulling a 60 Minutes segment scheduled for December 21 about Venezuelan men deported by the administration, which veteran correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi had reported. Weiss cited lack of response from the Trump administration as justification, effectively allowing government non-cooperation to determine editorial judgment at a major news network.

The White House statement defending the threat claimed “The American people deserve to watch President Trump’s full interviews, unedited” while simultaneously using legal threats to dictate how news organizations operate. CBS’s decision to air the full interview and maintain it was always their intention contradicts the original need for Leavitt’s intimidation, exposing how threats of litigation function as tools of control over media coverage independent of actual editorial disputes.

(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/18/white-house-press-secretary-cbs-trump-interview)

Military Newspaper Applicants Face Loyalty Test

Applicants for positions at Stars and Stripes, the independent U.S. military newspaper, are being asked during recruitment how they would support the president’s policy priorities. This recruitment approach has prompted concern among staffers and media observers regarding the outlet’s editorial independence and journalistic autonomy.

The loyalty-based screening represents a direct attack on the institutional independence that Stars and Stripes has maintained throughout its history. By conditioning employment on alignment with presidential policies, the administration is weaponizing hiring practices to reshape editorial direction and eliminate dissenting voices within the military press.

This effort aligns with the Pentagon’s broader push to overhaul the military newspaper, which the administration has labeled “woke” for its factual reporting. The systematic pressure to conform editorial judgment to executive preferences dissolves the firewall between government propaganda and legitimate news reporting.

Staffers and press watchdogs recognize the implications for military journalism and public accountability. Subordinating news judgment to presidential loyalty ensures that critical reporting on military spending, conduct, and policy decisions will be suppressed in favor of administration messaging.

(Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/01/14/stars-and-stripes-trump-loyalty-test/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_source=bluesky,facebook,threads,twitter&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwdGRleAPU5phleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeagqzlN2HRRIyzSbs4vATvyqpRzroKbZTJVklifnl11B7-R459m4FebIInbc_aem_7tz7GhA6l2VwJs6gHoZmEQ)

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