Ex-Pentagon Reporter Rips Hegseth's Lazy Use Of An Emoji' to Media Outlets Refusing to Sign His Pledge

"Hegseth is requiring all Pentagon reporters to sign the policy by Tuesday at 5 p.m. or lose access to the building within 24 hours. The policy's wording bans reporters from asking for or obtaining any information that is not explicitly authorized. In other words, reporters are not allowed to use leaked information. News organizations across the political spectrum are refusing to sign, Starr told Mediaite on Monday."

"So, the message Mr. Hegseth should take from this is his deliberate insults and deliberate mischaracterization of how press corps operates will be met with a press corps that simply and exquisitely does its job. Freedom of the press remains unbowed. Starr, who reported on national security for two decades for CNN, posted to X: Mr. Hegseth has responded with this lazy use of an emoji to several news organizations that issued statements they are not signing his new anti First Amendment press access policy."

The Pentagon requires all reporters to sign a revised press policy by Tuesday at 5 p.m. or lose access to the building within 24 hours. The policy's wording bans reporters from asking for or obtaining any information that is not explicitly authorized and prohibits use of leaked information. News organizations across the political spectrum have publicly refused to sign the policy. Critics characterize the policy as an attempt to force reporters to sign away First Amendment rights and pledge to continue reporting on troop movements and government spending despite insults and dismissive responses.

Read at www.mediaite.com