Stars news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
A federal judge ruled Friday the Pentagon can proceed with firing three Stars and Stripes journalists.
The case tests whether government-funded military news can keep editorial independence.
Background
Stars and Stripes is a federally funded but editorially independent military news organization that has published since the Civil War. In July, CBS News aired a segment on accusations of editorial interference at the paper, featuring editor-in-chief Slavin and journalist Korte. The Pentagon issued termination notices on Aug. 21 to three journalists, and publisher Lederer, who had approved the CBS interview and refused to fire them, was also served a termination notice. The journalists sued, arguing First Amendment retaliation; the judge found they had not shown they were speaking as private citizens.
How it unfolded
- July 2026CBS News airs a segment on accusations of editorial interference at Stars and Stripes, featuring Slavin and Korte; Korte says she works for Stars and Stripes, not the Pentagon or any administration.
- Aug 21, 2026The Pentagon issues termination notices to three Stars and Stripes journalists.
- Sep 4, 2026A federal judge in Washington declines to immediately block the Pentagon's move to fire the three journalists, ruling they had not shown First Amendment retaliation.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The judge found the fired journalists had not shown they were speaking as private citizens, noting Slavin sought prior approval for the CBS interview and regularly gives interviews as editor-in-chief.
- Support
- The journalists' side argued government employees do not lose their First Amendment free speech rights and that they were not acting within their ordinary job duties.
Still unverified
The judge appeared skeptical of the journalists' arguments that they were fired for coverage of worsening conditions on a Navy warship, per the New York Times; the ruling is described as an opening victory and further proceedings are pending.