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** OPINION
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** A united media stands up against the Pentagon’s press restrictions
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, shown here in the White House on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The Trump administration is seemingly trying to do everything in its power to stifle the free press in this country.

Trump’s White House got Congress to cut funding for public media. It has sued news organizations. It has banned respected media outlets, such as the Associated Press, from certain access to the president.

And, of course, Trump has spent a decade insulting the media by calling them “fake news” and “enemy of the people” in an obvious attempt to mute coverage he doesn’t like and sow mistrust to strengthen his power.

But the media is not taking the latest administration threats and actions quietly.

In a notable united stand, media organizations from across the political spectrum have banded together to fight back against the latest restrictions on their coverage.

Tuesday was the deadline for journalists to sign the latest press policy of the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. As my colleague, Angela Fu, wrote in Tuesday’s newsletter ([link removed]) , “The new policy warns that reporters who ‘solicit’ Department of Defense employees to disclose nonpublic information that has not been approved for release could lose their press credentials. The new rules’ breadth and inclusion of unclassified information mark a significant departure from past policy.”

On Tuesday, ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC put out a joint statement that said: “Today, we join virtually every other news organization in declining to agree to the Pentagon’s new requirements, which would restrict journalists’ ability to keep the nation and the world informed of important national security issues. The policy is without precedent and threatens core journalistic protections. We will continue to cover the U.S. military as each of our organizations has done for many decades, upholding the principles of a free and independent press.”

As The Washington Post’s Scott Nover pointed out ([link removed]) , “Fox’s dissent is notable considering the Trump-friendly views of many of its opinion hosts, whose ranks previously included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.”

That’s right. Even the network that used to employ Pete Hegseth said Hegseth’s policy is wrong.

The Associated Press issued its own statement on Tuesday saying, “The Pentagon’s new press policy undermines the First Amendment and AP’s core values as an independent global news organization. The restrictions impede the public’s access to information about their government and limit the people’s right to know. AP remains focused on continuing to produce strong independent coverage of the Pentagon in the public interest.”

In addition, NewsNation and The Hill also announced they wouldn’t be signing the new policy.

Those organizations joined several that which previously announced they would not sign, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, HuffPost, Bloomberg, The Atlantic and even conservative outlets such as Newsmax and the Washington Times.

Unsurprisingly, One America News, which has always been a fierce supporter of Trump, is, as far as anyone can tell, the only outlet to actually sign the policy.

On social media, Hegseth responded with the “goodbye” emoji to outlets saying they wouldn’t agree to the new restrictions. He has said those who do not agree with the new policy would be kicked out of the Pentagon.

As The AP’s David Bauder explained ([link removed]) , “The Pentagon has said the rules establish ‘common sense media procedures’ and want news outlets to sign a statement acknowledging them, even if they don’t agree with them. The news outlets have said that they are concerned, however, that their reporters will be subject to expulsion if they simply try to report news not approved by Hegseth.”

That’s the bottom line: The Pentagon wants complete control over what is reported about the department.

The Atlantic’s Nancy Youssef tweeted ([link removed]) , “Starting Wednesday, for the first time since the Pentagon opened in 1943, there will be likely no major news outlets accredited to cover the dept, the one spending nearly $1 trillion of taxpayer money.” She then linked to the Pentagon Press Association’s lengthy statement ([link removed]) about the policy.

On Tuesday, Trump defended Hegseth and the policy, telling reporters, “I’ll let him speak for himself, but I think he finds the press to be very disruptive in terms of world peace and maybe security for our nation.”

Even more alarming, Trump then seemed to suggest that those who cover the White House could have access diminished.

Trump said, “You know, we have an option here to, as you know, the press years ago moved into the White House. It used to be across the street. We could move them. You’re lucky I’m president, because we could move them very easily across the street. They used to have … they would have more room. We have a beautiful, nice space. You could sit all by yourselves and have fun. Instead, you walk around the White House talking to anybody that can breathe.”

To be clear, this all does not mean reporters will stop reporting on the Pentagon and, for that matter, the White House.

As Bauder wrote, “The news organizations who have rejected the rules all say they will continue covering the U.S. military, even without being permitted on the Pentagon grounds. Barring a change from either side, the case looks to be headed for court.”

Meanwhile, the Pentagon Press Association said, “Our members did nothing to create this disturbing situation. It arises from an entirely one-sided move by Pentagon officials apparently intent upon cutting the American public off from information they do not control and pre-approve.”


** Why it matters
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On Tuesday, NPR Pentagon reporter Tom Bowman wrote: “Why I'm handing in my Pentagon press pass.” ([link removed])

Bowman writes in his piece, “Signing that document would make us stenographers parroting press releases, not watchdogs holding government officials accountable.”

Bowman has had a Pentagon press pass for 28 years — meaning he has covered many administrations on both sides of the political aisle. He described why it was important to be inside the Pentagon, talking to sources and getting information that was important for the public to know. He gave several examples.

Then he added, “So yes, we've received solicited and unsolicited information on everything from failed policies and botched military operations that led to unnecessary military and civilian deaths, to wasteful government projects that both Democratic and Republican administrations would rather stay in the shadows. That's our job.”

He closed by saying, “So now, how will the American people find out what is being done at the Pentagon in their name, with their hard-earned tax dollars, and more importantly, the decisions that may put their sons and daughters in harm's way? With no reporters able to ask questions, it seems the Pentagon leadership will continue to rely on slick social media posts, carefully orchestrated short videos and interviews with partisan commentators and podcasters. No one should think that's good enough.”


** A special story
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On Tuesday, Poynter published another in our series called The Poynter 50 ([link removed]) — our project looking back at 50 of the most significant media moments and people of the past 50 years.

And this one is particularly special: “Gary Hart’s scandal brought down a candidate and changed how political journalism covers private lives.” ([link removed])

This story is special for two reasons. One, it’s deeply reported and superbly told. And, second, it was the final story of our dear Poynter colleague Rick Edmonds, who passed away on Oct. 5.

It’s a story worthy of your time.


** Don’t sign here please
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(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

Last week, after she took over as editor-in-chief of CBS News, Bari Weiss sent a memo (her first at CBS) to all staffers asking how they spend their working hours, what is working in the news division, and what is not.

Weiss wrote, “Please be blunt — it will help me greatly.” The deadline for responses was supposed to be Tuesday.

Deadline’s Ted Johnson wrote at the time ([link removed]) , “Her note triggered concerns among staffers, though, amid expected upheaval in the division.”

Last week, after she took over as editor-in-chief of CBS News, Bari Weiss sent a memo (her first at CBS) to all staffers asking how they spend their working hours, what is working in the news division, and what is not.

Weiss wrote, “Please be blunt — it will help me greatly.” The deadline for responses was supposed to be Tuesday.

Deadline’s Ted Johnson wrote at the time ([link removed]) , “Her note triggered concerns among staffers, though, amid expected upheaval in the division.”

However,Variety’s Brian Steinberg reported Tuesday ([link removed]) that staffers at CBS News won’t face consequences if they don’t respond to Weiss’ request. The Writers Guild of America East, the union representing many CBS News employees, sent out a memo to members saying that CBS “informed us that you will not be disciplined if you do not respond to the email, indicating that a response is optional. The company further stated that if you choose to respond, it will not be a basis for discipline, discharge, or layoff.”

The Guild added, “We intend to hold the company to these responses.”

You can understand why Weiss’ memo might have spooked many employees. After all, CBS has new owners, she’s a new boss and there are rumors that big changes are coming.

Steinberg reported, “CBS told the union that employee responses to Weiss were not supposed to be used to foster pushback against respondents. ‘The intention is that only Bari Weiss and her Chief of Staff will see the responses, though they may have an obligation to share with other senior executives,’ CBS said. The company also noted that Weiss’ purpose in seeking employee reaction was simply ‘to know the employees and use it as a discussion guide as she meets with employees in the coming weeks and months as time permits.’ ”

For more on Weiss, Vanity Fair’s Joy Press has a new piece out: “Hollywood Was Happily Ignoring Bari Weiss — Until David Ellison Installed Her at CBS.” ([link removed])


** Can you imagine?
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Former President Barack Obama, shown here last December. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley, File)

In Tuesday’s newsletter, I mentioned how Marc Maron wrapped up 16 years of his “WTF” podcast with one final guest: former President Barack Obama.

Of course, some of the actions of the current administration came up, including how President Donald Trump has sent the National Guard into Obama’s former home of Chicago.

Obama then told Maron, “If I had sent in the National Guard into Texas and just said, 'You know what? A lot of problems in Dallas, a lot of crime there, and I don’t care what Gov. Abbott says, I'm going to kind of take over law enforcement, because I think things are out of control.’ It is mind-boggling to me how Fox News would have responded."

Obama talked about the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which prevents the use of the nation’s military for domestic law enforcement. He told Maron that the law says, “… don’t use our military on domestic soil unless there is an extraordinary emergency of some sort. When you see an administration suggest that ordinary street crime is an insurrection, or … terrorist act, that is a genuine effort to weaken how we have understood democracy.”

Obama is right. Conservative media would be going bonkers if he sent in federal troops to a place such as Texas. CNN’s Brian Stelter noted ([link removed]) , “Indeed, even unhinged rumors ([link removed]) about an Obama-era military training exercise in Texas caused a right-wing backlash cycle in 2015. Right-wing media once treated even imaginary federal overreach as tyranny, yet now shrug at Trump's very real actions.”


** Media tidbits
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* The Associated Press’ Mark Sherman with “Supreme Court rejects Alex Jones’ appeal of $1.4 billion defamation judgment in Sandy Hook shooting.” ([link removed])
* Give him credit for bravery. New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has agreed to go on Fox News. He is scheduled to be interviewed today on Martha MacCallum’s show, which airs at 3 p.m. Eastern. Mamdani is the favorite to win the race in New York City, but has been a target of criticism by many on the right, including Trump — who has called Mamdani a communist and threatened to cut federal funding to New York City after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently endorsed Mamdani. Trump repeated those threats Tuesday, saying, “We have a communist who’s 33 years old, doesn’t know a damn thing. Practically, he’s never worked a day in his life, and he’s sort of caught on, right? And I’m not going to send a lot of money to New York — I don’t have to.” For the record, Trump is talking about congressionally-appropriated funding.
* Axios’ Sara Fischer and Kerry Flynn with “Los Angeles Times looks to raise $500M for planned IPO.” ([link removed])
* In the latest episode of their “Mixed Signals” podcast, Semafor’s Ben Smith and Max Tani: “Can MS survive without NBC? Inside CEO Mark Lazarus’ efforts to save cable’s great brands.” ([link removed])
* Actress Cheryl Hines — wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services — appeared on Tuesday’s “The View” and co-host Sunny Hostin had the temerity to call out RFK’s oft-dangerous conspiracy theories, accusing him of “misinformation, a lot of chaos, a lot of confusion.” Hostin also called him the “least qualified” head of HHS in history. It led to a little back-and-forth with Hines. Mediaite’s Zachary Leeman has the details ([link removed]) .
* My colleague, Poynter senior vice president Kelly McBride, is leading an interesting new project: “Poynter launches public editor project to serve news audiences in Indianapolis.” ([link removed])
* The latest episode of the “WriteLane” podcast ([link removed]) , which features winners of the 2025 Poynter Journalism Prizes and is co-hosted by Maria Carrillo and Tampa Bay Times Pulitzer Prize-winning features writer Lane DeGregory, has a conversation with Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez.


** Hot type
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* This was sad to hear. The New York Times’ Ben Sisario with “D’Angelo, Acclaimed and Reclusive R&B Innovator, Dies at 51.” ([link removed])
* Washington Post pop music critic Chris Richards with “D’Angelo showed us what the 21st century should sound like.” ([link removed])
* And here’s a 2020 piece written by The Ringer’s Justin Sayles ([link removed]) on the 20th anniversary of D’Angelo’s groundbreaking album “Voodoo.”

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