One response to “Saturday’s Forum”

1. 

   Scott

   August 22, 2026 at 9:04 am

   https://outsidethebeltway.com/thursdays-forum-298/#comment-3034510

   The conversation Jen and I had on Thursday about the Stars and Stripes is now exploded to a national conversation:

   Pentagon dismisses Stars and Stripes leadership after editor, reporter oppose military interference

   The Pentagon on Friday fired the editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes and a top reporter for insubordination after they spoke publicly against any interference by the Defense Department in the military news outlet that has a long history of editorial independence. It was the latest move by an administration that has grown increasingly aggressive toward the news media.

   The newspaper’s publisher, who announced his impending retirement days ago, was also dismissed.

   Erik Slavin, editor-in-chief of the military newspaper that is partly funded by the Pentagon, told The Associated Press he was dismissed for insubordination after an interview he gave that objected to potential censorship by the U.S. military. He received a notice of separation, as did publisher Max Lederer — who had just announced his upcoming retirement — and Middle East reporter Lara Korte, Slavin said.

   This is a Pentagon who’se feelings are easily hurt and want to hide the facts. Especially from the boss Trump. So he won’t yell at them and blame them for his incompetence.

   Anyway. Here is another article sure to piss off Hegseth and his merry band of idiots.

   Navy families evacuated from Bahrain face ‘uncharted territory’ amid bureaucratic confusion

   Nearly six months after the U.S. Navy evacuated 1,300 family members from Bahrain at the start of the Iran war, officials are saying the evacuees cannot return for the foreseeable future and should find new homes elsewhere. The evacuation has left families in limbo and forced military officials to improvise solutions for support programs that were never designed to sustain a displacement lasting this long. Some evacuees say they have spent tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket for basic living expenses. Others are sleeping on the floors of temporary housing, while their cars and furniture are stranded in Bahrain or aboard ships unable to leave the region. Many say the prolonged displacement has taken an emotional toll and worry about its long-term effects on their families’ financial and emotional well-being.

   Stars and Stripes. It was pleasure knowing you.