Pentagon’s New Press Rules: Officially Codifying 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' for War Crimes
The NYT's October 15, 2025 report details the Pentagon’s new press rules, which 'codify strict limitations on access and raise the prospect of punishment' for journalists seeking public interest information. This isn't a new development, but a formal embrace of a trend perfected over decades, particularly after the post-9/11 'embed' system turned reporters into stenographers. While the Times
frames this as a bureaucratic tweak, it reflects a pattern; consider the long-standing use of 'national security' to bury inconvenient truths, from the Gulf of Tonkin incident to drone strike civilian casualties consistently underreported by the military and unchallenged by mainstream outlets. One might wonder when the Pentagon will just issue pre-written 'news' releases and expect them published
verbatim, which, honestly, isn’t far from current practice for many major outlets. This isn't about protecting 'sources and methods,' but about controlling narratives and stifling accountability for endless wars and their devastating human cost. How many 'rules changes' does it take for a 'free press' to realize it's been domesticated?