Pentagon fires Stars and Stripes leadership for defending editorial independence

The Pentagon fired Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and reporter Lara Korte for insubordination on Friday. Slavin said he was fired for stating in a CBS interview that censorship of news for service members would be a red line. Korte said she was fired for saying she worked for Stars and Stripes, not the Pentagon. Lederer had announced retirement but was terminated immediately. The firings follow the publication's reporting on crew conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The Pentagon has been moving to exert editorial control over the outlet, which is legally mandated to be independent.