Trump admin orders military newspaper Stars and Stripes to shut down (in print since the Civil War)

[Mrs. Overall]

Last edited Fri Sep 4, 2020, 10:46 AM - Edit history (2)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/09/04/trump-and-stars-and-stripes-attacking-american-icon-column/5706859002/

The Pentagon has ordered Stars and Stripes to shut down for no good reason

Trump wants to pull funding from Stars and Stripes, a newspaper for American troops that began in the Civil War and has been serving our soldiers.

Even for those of us who are all too wearily familiar with President Donald Trump’s disdain for journalists, his administration’s latest attack on the free press is a bit of a jaw-dropper.

In a heretofore unpublicized recent memo, the Pentagon delivered an order to shutter Stars and Stripes, a newspaper that has been a lifeline and a voice for American troops since the Civil War. The memo orders the publisher of the news organization (which now publishes online as well as in print) to present a plan that “dissolves the Stars and Stripes” by Sept. 15 including "specific timeline for vacating government owned/leased space worldwide.”

“The last newspaper publication (in all forms) will be September 30, 2020,” writes Col. Paul Haverstick Jr., the memo’s author.

(on edit--citing only the article from USA Today (published Sept. 4th) and not Twitter commentary that might be misleading)

[empedocles]

1. Bizarro

[Dustlawyer]

87. But what about the history...

They want to complain about the removal of Confederate statues but not the history and the current benefit this paper provides?

[mcar]

2. What a petty little man

[Ninga]

3. *Crickets* from the current sitting GOP further enable his criminal behavior. It's long past time

they be called to account.

[RVN VET71]

92. I'll wait for what the Dems have to say.

Why shuttered? Why now? It cannot, absolutely cannot be because of cost concerns. This is DOD, where 1/2 of your taxes goes each year. The Stars and Stripes publication costs aren't even a footnote on a ledger sheet from that gargantuan money-gobbler.

So, House of Representatives, please find out WTF? Investigate it. Track the decision back to its source which, I have an odd feeling, will be someone somewhere in the White House

[BlueJac]

4. What a prick!

Vote the MF out.

[Laelth]

5. Really? Tell me this is just a trial balloon. n/t

-Laelth

[madaboutharry]

6. Trump going full Putin.

This can not stand and I think it will not.

Trump hates our soldiers because they make him feel like the coward that he is.

[CaptYossarian]

24. Does Pravda also come in English?

That might be where he's heading.

[obamanut2012]

66. yes

[jmowreader]

86. You know there were two papers in Soviet Russia

One was Pravda, which means The Truth.

The other was Izvestia, which means The News.

(Both are still in business.)

The man on the street knew that there was no Izvestia in Pravda and no Pravda in Izvestia.

[CaptYossarian]

94. Then what is Tass?

I've heard of that too.

I would imagine all of these to be Orwellian. The death of Democracy would be the death of truth.

[jmowreader]

97. Tass was radio and television

It means Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union.

[CaptYossarian]

98. Your knowledge is scaring me.

Did we meet on FB about four years ago? Just kidding.

Thanks.

[jmowreader]

99. I studied the Russians while in the Army

The weird thing is, I didn't really study the language. I couldn't walk into a restaurant and order a meal to save my life, but I could call a fire mission or identify all the switches on a BTR-60 dashboard.

Fun fact: the Russian word for the device on a vehicle that cranks over your engine is "starter."

[CaptYossarian]

100. Now I've met another DUer who should write a book.

Thanks for replying.

[PatSeg]

33. And now we know, he hates our soldiers

because he views them as "losers". What an ugly, petty little man he is.

[SheltieLover]

55. And Putin has ling been very jealous of our military!

[durablend]

57. The real question

If he's re-elected (gasp), does the "real" stars and stripes come down and get replaced by the flag of the Kremlin?

[Delarage]

7. His attacks

on American soldiers continues............

I'm glad Biden is meeting with Veteran members of Congress soon. This needs to be front-page news.

[JHB]

8. I'm sure this will go over well in conjunction with the "suckers& losers" stuff

[MineralMan]

9. Disgusting. The military newspapers like "Stars and Stripes"

were lifelines for overseas military members, who often had no other access to the news. Today, it's a little easier for most military members to see the news, in the age of the Internet, but people still rely on the "Stars and Stripes" to keep them informed.

Donald Trump hates all news publications and broadcasts. They sometimes show him in the light of truth. He cannot stand that.

When I was in the USAF, in the mid to late 60s, and stationed at a remote base in Turkey, the "Air Force Times" was a principal source of news for me. We all depended on it, since other reliable news was hard to come by.

[getagrip_already]

39. stars and stripes carries a lot of news specific to serving troops not covered on internet...

Things like filing deadlines, how to get help with pshych issues, how to get financial support, advocacy groups, etc, etc, etc.

This is (soon to be was) a very focused publication which consolidated information not readily available in the real world.

It's just a vengeful move.

[Roland99]

10. Because our troops and veterans can't read about his failures anywhere else??

PETTY TYRANT!!

[Dennis Donovan]

11. Kick and recommend

[JohnnyRingo]

12. I don't want to believe this.

It just seems too much, even for Trump, to actually shut down the press.

Even if he demands it, I don't believe he has the ability to back it up. One way or another, the paper will be published. Newspapers are like that.

On edit:

The memo ordering the publication’s dissolution claims the administration has the authority to make this move under the president’s fiscal year 2021 defense department budget request. It zeroed out the $15.5 million annual subsidy for Stars and Stripes. But Congress, which under the Constitution has the power to make decisions about how the public’s money is spent, has not yet approved the president’s request.

In fact, the version the House approved earlier this summer explicitly overruled the decision to pull the plug on Stars and Stripes, restoring funding for the paper.

So it's up to congress to decide if this will happen. Fat chance.

Trump may want to...
Trump may try to...
But Trump will not shut down Stars & Stripes.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

19. that is why the headline to this post is so misleading.

It makes people think that anything he says has to happen. It still doesn't work that way. Yet!

[getagrip_already]

41. his minions just do it... whether or not it's legal..

Look at the post office.

They have taken the attitude "what are you going to do about it"?

By the time this gets to a federal court, the infrastructure will be gone, the staff laid off or reassigned, and computers wiped.

What are you going to do about it?

[KPN]

81. When the Senate went full support for him pre and

during impeachment, all of us knew that this would be the result: a brazen posture set in a “what are you going to do about it” mindset held not just by t-FatAss-Rump and his family but by the entire administration as well as today’s GOP.

I believe they feel this way about stealing or the election any way they can in November. They are definitely thinking “what are you going to do about it?” and think they have nothing to lose, everything (and they mean everything) to gain.

[exboyfil]

48. If they can take fund earmarked for other purposes for the wall

You can sure bet that no one is going to stop him from doing this if he is resolved to do it.

It appears the federal budget is merely a suggestion for the executive branch now.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

96. he has been stopped a few times that I'm aware of

regarding moving money around for the wall

[paleotn]

54. Stars and Stripes is the only press he can shut down....

Right now that is.

[Fla Dem]

62. The evicting of all Star and Stripes operations from government properties may be enforceable.

Which in essence will shut it down.

"The memo orders the publisher of the news organization (which now publishes online as well as in print) to present a plan that “dissolves the Stars and Stripes” by Sept. 15 including "specific timeline for vacating government owned/leased space worldwide.”

[demmiblue]

22. Good to know. Thank you. n/t

[honest.abe]

30. That's a relief!

Thanks for the clarification.

[Auggie]

63. "Congress ... has not yet approved the president's request"

Just wanted this front and center. Stars and Stripes isn't dead yet.

[benfranklin1776]

75. And they damn well shouldn't.

Indeed, they need to pass a bill immediately barring such an eviction which is effectively a shut down. Make every alleged supporter of our troops in the Rethuglican Party go on record as standing with the troops or with the traitor in chief.

[still_one]

13. Predictable, and also provides confirmation of the Atlantic Article regarding how trump feels about

the economy

[dalton99a]

14. .

[CaptYossarian]

27. I've seen poodles do that with legs.

[Ilsa]

40. OMG! You are sharp on a Friday morning!

I love it!

[CaptYossarian]

93. Thanks.

[secondwind]

78. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[Efilroft Sul]

44. Somebody please check that flag for STDs and corona.

[lastlib]

69. The American flag has joined the #MeToo movement as a victim of sexual assault.....

U.S. Flag Code states that the flag should not touch anything beneath it. Shitgibbon is certainly beneath it.

[erronis]

95. Prime place to catch some of lil Donnie's DNA - if he has any.

[greenjar_01]

15. Does this mean Ann-Margret's not coming?

[KewlKat]

16. Can an UNOFFICIAL Stars and Stripes be published and distributed to the troops?

We could do a go fund me to get a movement going for a version to continue. The crook in our WH is anti-everything except hate and bigotry.

[SamKnause]

17. Couldn't a private citizen fund the paper ???

[greenjar_01]

26. Why would we need a private citizen to fund a public good like Stars and Stripes?

Let's not speak their disgusting language.

[SamKnause]

29. Because it is being defunded.

WTF are you talking about disgusting language ???

[greenjar_01]

31. That everything should be privatized

The point is to fight for the public funding, not default immediately to private funding.

[SamKnause]

35. I am not in favor of everything being privatized.

If this asshole shuts it down it would be great if a citizen or citizens kept the funding in place

and continued the publication.

[gristy]

18. Confirmation in USA Today

Confirmation in USA Today, though in the opinion section for some reason

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/09/04/trump-and-stars-and-stripes-attacking-american-icon-column/5706859002/

The Pentagon has ordered Stars and Stripes to shut down for no good reason
Trump wants to pull funding from Stars and Stripes, a newspaper for American troops that began in the Civil War and has been serving our soldiers.

Kathy Kiely Opinion contributor

Even for those of us who are all too wearily familiar with President Donald Trump’s disdain for journalists, his administration’s latest attack on the free press is a bit of a jaw-dropper.

In a heretofore unpublicized recent memo, the Pentagon delivered an order to shutter Stars and Stripes, a newspaper that has been a lifeline and a voice for American troops since the Civil War. The memo orders the publisher of the news organization (which now publishes online as well as in print) to present a plan that “dissolves the Stars and Stripes” by Sept. 15 including "specific timeline for vacating government owned/leased space worldwide.”

[dalton99a]

23. +1

[barbtries]

20. that fucking motherfucker.

he was unable to control what they printed so he shut them down.

[johnp3907]

21. Welcome to Stalinville!

[Alacritous Crier]

25. Disgusting!

Stars and Stripes was so important to me and my shipmates when I was in the navy.


GOTV!

[keithbvadu2]

28. It saves money to be used for his wall.

It saves money to be used for his wall.

[spanone]

32. dictators do what they do....eliminate the opposition

FUCK TRUMP

[scarytomcat]

34. armed service radio will be next?

not right wing talk radio they got "patriots" just the ones from the left (are there any?)

[ashredux]

36. What an Asshole...

[Chili]

37. how completely & utterly stupid

If that article last night wasn't enough, he's going to do THIS. He has dumped and offended every group who voted to elect him - the military community was the only traditional group left. Oh, except those who wear swastikas and white hoods. Those he can never lose. Thank goodness for the rest of us, that group is only 35% of the population. But armed forces? What a petty moron.

[jcgoldie]

38. WWPD

What would Putin do?

[benld74]

42. Pushback from bipartisan Congress critters

At least some GOP read.
House budget specifically had S&S funded
He’s trying to stop military from finding out the crap hes doing to their country
He is the orange POS

[Liberal In Texas]

43. Another thing that will have to be fixed after the gang of thugs is booted out of power.

They really are trying to destroy the country.

[SCantiGOP]

45. This story is not accurate

The decision to defund the publication on Sept 30 was made months ago by DOD and announced in February.
It has nothing to do with current polling.

Please check your sources and confirm accuracy before posting. We all look bad and damage our credibility if we repost stuff like this.

[Leith]

46. He is trying to shut down the press

one newspaper today, perhaps a broadcast network tomorrow (he has already complained about fox propaganda channel of all things).

Let that sink in.

[sarge43]

47. Smooth move, Moron. That will generate more votes for Joe Biden.

Stars and Stripes is the working class home town newspaper. Plus, it could and did snark on military life, refreshing change from the 'official' bs.

My favorite S&S cartoon from back in the Neolithic: Roman war galley, two tribunes watching a galley slave being booted overboard. Caption: "I love these enlisted men's retirement ceremonies."

[yellowcanine]

49. Yeah, that's not going to happen. Huge backlash is coming.

[getagrip_already]

50. S&S is completely controlled by DoD.. it will be gone regardless of congress

They are trying to the same to VOA, but that is a little more difficult. Still, they are ripping it to pieces.

Congress won't be able to stop this. By the time they get a federal court to look at it, S&S won't exist any longer. Staff will be gone. Infrastructure gone. Computer systems gone. Nothing left to work with.

It's also unlikely any federal court will interfere with the workings of the dod communications of this nature. The constitution is clear on who controls the military.

[Ilsa]

51. Cut Dotard's golf trips by 10%. The savings cover publication of S&S!

Copied from a tweet:
THIS is Trump in a nutshell.

Trump golf trips so far $140 million. Benefit literally no other American except Trump.

Stars And Stripes costs $15.5 million to print per year. Is read by essentially all active military.

Trump? Cut 10% of your golf, let the Stars & Stripes live

[Botany]

52. I doubt this will happen but Trump will lose even more of the military's vote with this stunt

n/t

[33taw]

53. I think this was defunded in Feb.

[link:https://www.stripes.com/news/us/dod-budget-proposal-cuts-all-funding-to-stars-and-stripes-lawmakers-others-back-news-organization-1.618500|

[TimeToGo]

56. I think you're right

Still, prob not a good idea to de-fund -- but I don't think we can say it was in response to that polling or anything from right now.

[33taw]

71. Totally agree. WE should not be defunding this at all.

[Mrs. Overall]

60. Edited the content to cite only the USA Today article that was published this morning.

[Fla Dem]

58. OMG, he has just committed political suicide.

[AirmensMom]

68. Not necessarily.

The cult is alive and well in the military. I doubt there's much he can do to lose many of them.

[sl8]

59. Note that this is an opinion piece, not a news article. n/t

[Fla Dem]

72. Yes, it is an op-ed, but she is opining about an action the Trump administration has ordered.

"In a heretofore unpublicized recent memo, the Pentagon delivered an order to shutter Stars and Stripes, a newspaper that has been a lifeline and a voice for American troops since the Civil War. The memo orders the publisher of the news organization (which now publishes online as well as in print) to present a plan that “dissolves the Stars and Stripes” by Sept. 15 including "specific timeline for vacating government owned/leased space worldwide.”

[lpbk2713]

61. They will be back in January

And there will be a special message for Trump to tell him to go fuck himself.

[IronLionZion]

64. What did they print that he didn't like?

His mistreatment of the military? Russian bounties? Failure to contain COVID?

[duforsure]

65. Because he hates the Military!

The free press and he can't get them to serve and praise only him. Look for Generals to be replaced with others that will. Then onto dismantling the FBI , then renaming it for himself and stack it with only trump loyalists so they can undermine and destroy all evidence , and stop any other investigations against him.

[Cousin Dupree]

67. Why?

[c-rational]

70. This is unfathomable. It is akin to having a crazed pilot at the controls of an airplane and all

passengers or people who can enter the cockpit acquiescing. Truly insane that a single man can be this destructive.

[Submariner]

73. Easy picking fruit for Biden

He will announce that he will re-open the paper if Trump makes it disappear. Keep shooting yourself in the head donny.

[ooky]

76. Donnie Bodybags has given Joe a veritable fruit smorgasbord. nt

[marble falls]

74. That will not go over well at all.

[Evolve Dammit]

77. He has to control the message. All of them.

[backtoblue]

79. Here is the link to Stars and Stripes

https://www.stripes.com/news/us/bipartisan-group-of-senators-urges-esper-to-keep-funding-stars-and-stripes-1.643650


https://www.stripes.com/news/us/dod-budget-proposal-cuts-all-funding-to-stars-and-stripes-lawmakers-others-back-news-organization-1.618500



Edit: got the date wrong on the first link.

[muriel_volestrangler]

82. Your second link is from Wed, Sept 2, not March

It's the lead picture in it that's from March. That is what, just this week, revealed that the DoD is ordering Stars & Stripes to shut this month, despite the February proposal not being passed in a budget yet (the Dem House budget kept the funding going).

[backtoblue]

85. Ty

Ill change the second one's date.

[PatrickforO]

80. LMAO. Oh, man, this is really going to do the trick in winning the hearts and minds

of our military! Bold strategy.

[LAS14]

83. Whether or not congress can put the kibosh on this, I hope there's an amazing...

... outcry in social and main stream media. Rachel should do a good job if she puts it on her schedule.

[LAS14]

84. He probably wants to shift the budget money to a new White House Guard... like ..

... the Iranian Palace Guard.

[Mustellus]

88. There are still.....

The Army Times, https://www.armytimes.com/ , the Navy Times, https://www.navytimes.com/ , the Air Force Times, etc, still exist.

These are independent, and they aren't pulling any punches. Losing the Stars and Stripes... will just drive our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines to independent, hard hitting alternatives.

[TygrBright]

89. Oh yeah. This will win him the military vote bigly! NOT.... n/t

[Lonestarblue]

90. Congress needs to threaten cuts to next year's Pentagon budget if this is not reversed.

Both houses of Congress needs to act, and some Republicans, especially those with military bases in their districts, might get on board. Mitch McConnell especially needs to hear from soldiers at Fort Knox and Fort Campbell who rely on a newspaper addressed to their needs.

[SpaceNeedle]

91. I hope Bloomberg, Bezos and Steyer buy it and publish it anyway