Pentagon unveils its assault on speech with demand journalists sign pledge to only gather expressly authorized info

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Scott Nover @ScottNover
NEW: The Pentagon told journalists it will require them to pledge they won’t gather any information — even unclassified — that hasn’t been expressly authorized for release, and will revoke the press credentials of those who do not obey. @washingtonpost

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/09/19/pentagon-hegseth-press-unauthorized-material/


Scott Nover @ScottNover 16h
Katie Fallow from @knightcolumbia said the new policy is part of “the Trump administration’s broader assault on free speech and press freedom.”

“A reporter who publishes only what the government ‘authorizes’ is doing something other than reporting,” she said.

Here's one part of the policy document that raised eyebrows.



Scott Nover @ScottNover 14h
“If the news about our military must first be approved by the government, then the public is no longer getting independent reporting,” said @MikeBalsamo1, the organization’s president. “It is getting only what officials want them to see. That should alarm every American.”



Scott Nover @ScottNover 14h
An ominous sight in the Pentagon today.

[cbabe]

1. Propaganda and the law

https://lawshun.com/article/does-the-usa-have-anti-propaganda-laws

Anti-Propaganda Laws: Usa's Legal Stance Explained
Last updated Sep 16, 2025

Posted by Keith Mack Keith Mack

…

The U.S. does have anti-propaganda laws, including the Smith-Mundt Act of 1948, which was amended in 2013. This amendment, signed by President Obama, lifted some restrictions on the domestic dissemination of government-funded media. However, it is still against the law for government-funded media to create programming and market their content to U.S. audiences.

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2. thanks

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