Command Post: Hegseth’s Takeover of Military Newspaper (w/ Jacqueline Smith)

This episode of The Bulwark's Command Post examines the abrupt removal of Jacqueline Smith, the ombudsman for Stars and Stripes, amid growing concerns over the Pentagon's increasing control over military media. Smith, who served as the 13th ombudsman since 2021, was terminated without warning or explanation just days after publishing a critical column questioning Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's influence on the paper. Her dismissal follows a series of actions by the Pentagon, including a March 9 memo from Deputy Secretary Steve Feinberg that banned Stars and Stripes from using wire services like AP and NYT—raising alarms about censorship and the erosion of editorial independence. The episode features retired Lieutenant General Mark Hurtling, who shares his personal experience with Stars and Stripes as a vital source of news and morale for troops overseas, emphasizing its role as a free press rather than a government messaging tool. The conversation underscores a broader threat to press freedom within the military, with implications for transparency, accountability, and trust between service members and leadership.