‘Out of his league’: Pete Hegseth’s new press policy puts his paranoia of full display

Freedom of the Press & First Amendment - The report highlights concerns that 97% of news stories are negative, impacting free speech [1] - The core issue revolves around the Pentagon's new policy restricting journalists, potentially punishing them for reporting unclassified information without authorization [1][12][13] - The policy is viewed as a violation of the First Amendment, with most news outlets refusing to sign on [1] - The Pentagon's actions are seen as cutting off the American public from information not pre-approved, limiting transparency [1] - The restrictions could lead to a lack of answers to vital questions about the Department of Defense's daily activities [2] Hypocrisy & Paranoia - The report suggests hypocrisy, as the official pushing the policy previously criticized liberals for seeking "safe spaces" [9] - Paranoia about leaks is cited as a potential motivation behind the policy [11] Potential Consequences & Historical Context - The policy may aim to expel news organizations, granting exclusive access to ideologically approved outlets [16][17] - The situation is compared to autocratic regimes where only one official news outlet is allowed [19] - Concerns are raised about the potential weakening of the relationship between the military and the civilian population [19] - The policy could lead the military in a new and dangerous direction, potentially unknown to the public [21]