The Pentagon Kicks the Press Out … Again
3/27/202650 min
A judge ruled that the Pentagon’s recent restrictions on the press are unconstitutional. On this week’s On the Media, hear how Pete Hegseth’s ever-changing media policies have made it harder to cover military actions abroad. Plus, how a tenacious journalist used access to the Pentagon building to expose war crimes during the Vietnam War.
[01:00] Host Micah Loewinger sits down with Dan Lamothe, who covers the US military and Pentagon for the Washington Post, to talk about leaving the Pentagon press corps alongside reporters from major news outlets in October of last year, after refusing to sign onto stringent new rules on how they could do their reporting.
[09:45] Micah talks with Anna Merlan, senior reporter at Mother Jones, on the cast of right wing influencers and conspiracists now staffing the Pentagon press corps. Plus, Micah interviews content creator Cam Higby, a member of the new press corps, about why he agreed to the Pentagon’s restrictions on access.
[33:23] Micah speaks with Laura Poitras, a journalist and filmmaker whose past works include CitizenFour, All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, and Risk, to discuss her latest documentary, Cover-Up, which chronicles the life of investigative journalist Seymour Hersh and his ferocious drive to uncover government wrongdoing, and what today’s press corps can learn from him.
Further reading / watching:
- “Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all,” by Alex Horton and Ellen Nakashima
- “‘Signalgate’ report contradicts Hegseth’s claim of ‘total exoneration’,”by Dan Lamothe
- “Meet the New Pentagon Press Corps,” by Anna Merlan
- Cover-Up, directed and produced by Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMatt Gaetz· Soundbite0:00
You sit in your air-conditioned offices or up on Capitol Hill, and you nitpick, and you plant fake stories in The Washington Post.
Micah Loewinger· Host0:07
At a time of war and instability, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth loves to lob shots at the messenger. From WNYC in New York, this is On the Media. I'm Micah Loewinger. Just at the moment when we need the Pentagon press corps most, they've been replaced with right-wing influencers.
Anna Merlan· Guest0:25
They're pumped. Tim Pool said, you know, "We're not investigative reporters." So just essentially signaling right from the start that they didn't intend to do investigative journalism.
Micah Loewinger· Host0:34
Plus, a documentary about Seymour Hersh, whose lurking in the Pentagon hallways during the Vietnam War led to the scoop of a lifetime.
Seymour Hersh· Soundbite0:42
Instead of going to lunch with my colleagues, I would go find young officers. Eventually, Army guys just start saying, "Well, you know, it's murder incorporated there."
Micah Loewinger· Host0:53
It's all coming up after this. [upbeat music] On the Media is supported by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Well, with the Name Your Price tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try it at progressive.com. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Price and coverage match limited by state law. Not available in all states. From WNYC in New York, this is On the Media. Brooke Gladstone is out this week. I'm Micah Loewinger. Late