New York Times sues Pentagon over new reporting restrictions
New York Times filed a lawsuit against Pentagon on Thursday, accusing the Defense Department of violating the constitutional rights of journalists with its new restrictions on reporting.
Restrictions that came into force in October require journalists sign a pledge that they will not receive unauthorized materials and restrict access to certain areas unless accompanied by an official – a sharp departure from previous rules. In a summary of the documents, the New York Times called the policy “precisely the kind of scheme to limit freedom of speech and the press that the Supreme Court and the D.C. Circuit have found to violate First Amendment“
Among the American publications that refused to sign the contract.
The lawsuit says New York Times is asking the U.S. District Court in Washington to issue an order blocking the Pentagon from enforcing its press policy. The New York Times “will vigorously defend against violations of these rights, as we have long done in every administration that opposes oversight and accountability,” the company said in a statement.
Key events
My colleague, Jakub Krupa follows the latest events in Europe in our dedicated live blog.
Earlier, he said that the French President Emmanuel Macron warned European leaders that “There is a possibility that the United States will betray Ukraine on territory without clarity on security guarantees,” according to a German magazine Mirror reportedciting a leaked memo from a recent conversation between European leaders.
The magazine claimed that Macron was talking about a tense moment in the upcoming negotiations. “great danger” for President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky with the Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz adding that the Ukrainian leader – also on the call – needed to be “very careful.”
“They play games with you and with us” Mertz was reported to have spoken in what the magazine believed was a reference to Steve Witkoff's recent mission to Moscow.
Donald Trump will meet the President of Rwanda Paul Kagameas well as the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Felix Tshisekedito the White House today.
Following the trilateral meeting (which is currently closed to the press), the three leaders will head to the Donald Trump Institute of Peace, recently renamed after the US president, to sign a peace agreement aimed at easing the conflict in eastern Congo.
Later, Trump and the first lady will attend the lighting of the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse in Washington.
A new Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics survey looks at the tight race for California governor, in which more than 95 candidates have currently submitted documents confirming their intention to run.
Survey found this republican Chad Biancorepublican Steve Hiltondemocrat Eric Swalwell (12%) and Democrat Katie Porter currently leading in June 2026 primaries. Of those surveyed, 13% said they were voting for Bianco, 12% for Hilton, 12% for Swalwell and 11% for Porter. Overall, 31% of voters were undecided.
The voices were divided under the influence Gavin Newsome and his support: 33% said supporting Newsom would make them more likely to vote for the candidate, 33% said supporting him would make them less likely to support the candidate, and 35% said it would make no difference.
Newsom's job approval rating currently stands at 47%, while 39% disapprove of the job he is doing as governor, according to the poll.
The law came into force on Texas which will allow individuals in the state sue abortion pill providers in other states. Supporters say it's a way to enforce abortion restrictions in Texas. Opponents are concerned about the methods applicants can use to find evidence.
In this special issue Politics Weekly of AmericaGuardian US reproductive health and justice reporter Carter Sherman talks to people who use, provide and advocate for abortion pills, and those fighting against them in Texas.
With the Minister of Defense Pete Hegsethalready in the hot seat due to the boat strike on September 2 And inspector general report on his use of the messaging app Signal in March, Wall Street Journal reports what Hegseth asked Admla Alvin Halsey to resign after he raised concerns about the legality of attacks in the Caribbean.
Hegseth had announced in October that Halsey would step down as head of U.S. Southern Command less than a year after taking that post. The position, which oversees operations in Central America, South America and the Caribbean, typically lasts three years.
The rift between Hegseth and Halsey began just days after Donald Trump was sworn in at the office, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing former officials. But the situation intensified after Halsey expressed concern about the “murky legal basis of the boat strike campaign.”
Trump administration insists that the strikes are legal under the rules of war and that the US is engaged in armed conflict with human traffickers – an argument that has been widely rejected by most legal experts. The Pentagon's own manual on the laws of war says it is prohibited to attack anyone who is “wounded, sick or shipwrecked,” hence the controversy over the second follow-up strike on Sept. 2, which killed survivors after the first strike failed to kill everyone on board.
To read more about the legal arguments surrounding the September 2 strike, click on the article below:
New York Times sues Pentagon over new reporting restrictions
New York Times filed a lawsuit against Pentagon on Thursday, accusing the Defense Department of violating the constitutional rights of journalists with its new restrictions on reporting.
Restrictions that came into force in October require journalists sign a pledge that they will not receive unauthorized materials and restrict access to certain areas unless accompanied by an official – a sharp departure from previous rules. In a summary of the documents, the New York Times called the policy “precisely the kind of scheme to limit freedom of speech and the press that the Supreme Court and the D.C. Circuit have found to violate First Amendment“
Among the American publications that refused to sign the contract.
The lawsuit says New York Times is asking the U.S. District Court in Washington to issue an order blocking the Pentagon from enforcing its press policy. The New York Times “will vigorously defend against violations of these rights, as we have long done in every administration that opposes oversight and accountability,” the company said in a statement.
Hegseth is under scrutiny over drug boat strikes and Signalgate
Hello and thank you for joining us on US politics live blog. I'm Vivian Ho and I'll be bringing you the latest news over the next few hours.
Frank “Mitch” BradleyA U.S. Navy admiral who reportedly gave the order to open fire on survivors of an attack on a suspected drug ship is expected to give a classified briefing to congressional lawmakers overseeing national security on Capitol Hill on Thursday, the Associated Press reported. reports.
Trump administration officials defended the subsequent strike on September 2, arguing that the goal was to ensure complete destruction of the boat — essentially mirrors the language of a secret Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) memo that purportedly said the U.S. is permitted to use lethal force against unflagged ships carrying cocaine because cartels use the proceeds to finance violence.
However, questions continue to grow over the legality of the attack, especially regarding the reasons for the second strike and what the defense minister is ordering. Pete Hegsethgave.
“This is an incredibly serious matter. This is about the safety of our troops. This is an incident that could expose members of our armed forces to legal consequences,” the Senate Democratic leader said. Chuck SchumerThis was stated in a speech on Wednesday. “And yet, the American public and Congress are still not hearing the basic facts.”
Hegseth, who found himself in hot water after a Department of Defense report concluded that he violated department policy when he shared classified information in a Signal chat in March, he tried to downplay his involvement in the strike. Democratic Senator Mark Warner A Republican senator also called for his resignation. Lisa Murkowski said Hegseth does not have her support.
The briefing goes like this New York Times filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon, accusing the Defense Department of violating the First Amendment with its new reporting restrictions.
In other developments:
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The Trump administration's immigration crackdown continues as federal agents hit New Orleans on Wednesday, spreading fear among the region's Latino community and prompting businesses to close. Grigory BovinoThe Border Patrol chief who has become the face of the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts was seen leading a group of masked agents through the historic French Quarter as one woman heckled the agents.
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The operation in New Orleans went like this Donald Trump continued his xenophobic attacks on Somali immigrants, telling reporters on Wednesday that “these Somalis need to get out of here. They have destroyed our country” and that congressman Ilhan Omar must be “thrown to hell.”
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In other immigration news Amnesty International A report released Thursday said detainees in Florida immigration detention “Alligator Alcatraz»face “horrific human rights violations.”
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Department of Veterans Affairs (Virginia) is also in the process of creating a new internal database of non-US citizens who are “employed or associated” with a government department, a confidential memo leaked to the Guardian. revealed.
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Trump also announced on Wednesday that he was ending the Biden era. federal fuel economy standards.
