Pentagon fires Stars and Stripes leaders who criticized defense department’s interference

The Pentagon fired the publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, and Middle East correspondent Lara Korte from Stars and Stripes on Friday. This action follows the Defense Department's efforts to reshape coverage and its characterization of the historically independent military news outlet as woke. The dismissals occurred after the editor-in-chief condemned hypothetical censorship in an interview. The DOD has previously criticized the publication, leading to the removal of these leaders who challenged department interference.