Major news outlets, including the NYT, AP and Reuters, refuse to sign Pentagon’s new press rules, risking eviction over First Amendment concerns.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reacted by posting the Times’ statement on X and adding a hand-waving emoji. His team has said that reporters who don’t acknowledge the policy in writing by Tuesday must turn in badges admitting them to the Pentagon and clear out their workspaces the next day.

The new rules bar journalist access to large swaths of the Pentagon without an escort and say Hegseth can revoke press access to reporters who ask anyone in the Defense Department for information — classified or otherwise — that he has not approved for release.

  • danc4498@lemmy.worldEnglish
    11·
    7 days ago

    The new rules bar journalist access to large swaths of the Pentagon without an escort and say Hegseth can revoke press access to reporters who ask anyone in the Defense Department for information — classified or otherwise — that he has not approved for release.

    Escort, ok. Revoke access for asking questions they aren’t comfortable with answering?

    And this is how the fascists represent this change:

    Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the rules establish “common sense media procedures.”

    “The policy does not ask for them to agree, just to acknowledge that they understand what our policy is,” Parnell said. “This has caused reporters to have a full blown meltdown, crying victim online. We stand by our policy because it’s what’s best for our troops and the national security of this country.”

    Hegseth also reposted a question from a follower who asked, “Is this because they can’t roam the Pentagon freely? Do they believe they deserve unrestricted access to a highly classified military installation under the First Amendment?”

    Hegseth answered, “yes.” Reporters say neither of those assertions is true.