Journalists Face Challenges at Pentagon Briefings Amid Iran War
An inside look at the chaotic Pentagon briefings during the U.S. surprise war with Iran, where war correspondents struggle with new security restrictions and limited access.
It is day 13 of America's surprise war with Iran - by sheer coincidence, it's Friday the 13th - and the reporter is delirious. They haven't had a coffee since waking up at 5AM, because they're not allowed to bring outside beverages into the Pentagon (the security screening cutoff was at 7AM for the 8AM briefing), and ever since Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth changed the rules last year, journalists are not allowed to go anywhere in the building without an escort, especially to wherever coffee is available.
The reporter, who has never covered a war, was assigned to sit in one of the good seats in the briefing room, watching Hegseth scold the war correspondents in attendance. Hegseth has taken a hardline approach, restricting media access and imposing new security measures that have made the Pentagon briefings increasingly challenging for journalists trying to cover the unfolding conflict.
Source: The Verge
