US replaces Pentagon reporters with far-right conspiracy outlets
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The Pentagon replaces major outlets with far-right media after new restrictive policies drive mainstream reporters out.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listens as President Donald Trump speaks before a lunch with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Washington (AP)
The United States War Department is launching a "next generation of the Pentagon press corps" with 60 journalists from far-right outlets that have promoted conspiracy theories, following the walkout of reporters who refused restrictive new policies.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell posted the news on X without providing any names, but The Washington Post obtained a draft of the announcement, which stated that the new reporters were from outlets such as Lindell TV, the Gateway Pundit, and the National Pulse.
The Post reported that the list also includes Turning Point USA’s media brand Frontlines, influencer Tim Pool’s Timcast, and a Substack-based newsletter called Washington Reporter.
Parnell characterized the group as a broad spectrum of new media and independent journalists, asserting that these outlets have found a way to bypass what he called the lies of the mainstream media to deliver real news directly to the public.
He claimed their collective reach is more effective and balanced than the established media that chose to leave the Pentagon.
New press corps promoted conspiracy theories, lost lawsuits
The new press corps includes right-wing outlets that have promoted conspiracy theories, such as The Gateway Pundit, which spread false 2020 election information and settled a defamation lawsuit with two Georgia election workers it had falsely accused, ultimately admitting there was no fraud.
Similarly, Lindell, a media outlet that denied the election results, was ordered to pay $2.3 million to a voting machine company employee for defamation.
Conservative podcast host Tim Pool was among the influencers allegedly associated with a US content creation company that received nearly $10 million from Russian state media employees to publish videos favoring Moscow's interests and agenda. He claimed that they "were deceived and are victims."
Policy driving the news
The journalists who turned in their press credentials earlier this month did so after US War Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced a policy requiring them to agree not to obtain unauthorized material and restricting their access to certain areas unless accompanied by an official.
Prominent news outlets, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Atlantic, Fox News, and Newsmax, all refused to agree to the new rules.
“We believe the requirements are unnecessary and onerous and hope that the Pentagon will review the matter further,” Newsmax, one of the outlets that refused to accept the new rules, told Times reporter Erik Wemple.
