Does the Media Understand Plain English?

The Military Times family of publications (Army Times, Navy Times, etc.) recently ran an article with the headline: "Hegseth Blasts Troops in Rare Gathering of Military Brass." There's just one problem—anyone who actually listened to the speech knows this headline is misleading.

I won't rehash why Secretary Hegseth assembled those flag officers and senior non-commissioned officers (I've already covered that in a previous post: Why did Secretary Hegseth give his speech this way?). However, the article's framing of a "Rare Gathering of Military Brass" appears designed to echo narratives pushed by outlets like MSNBC and CNN, attempting to draw comparisons between the Secretary, Trump, and authoritarian leaders. It seems they're all working from the same talking points.

Here's what actually happened: Secretary Hegseth did not disparage the men and women who serve our country with pride and dedication. Instead, he directly challenged the senior leaders in that room—the officers responsible for those service members—telling them in no uncertain terms that they have failed in their leadership duties. To borrow an expression from my Navy colleagues: they need to "shape up or ship out."

The Executive Editor of Sightline Media Group (the parent company of Military Times) is Jon Simkins (jon.simkins@mco.com). Shame on you, Jon.

During my military service, I regularly read Army Times, though I always considered Stars and Stripes the superior publication. Back then, Army Times—or 'The Times' as we called it—was genuinely informative, well-researched, and respectful toward enlisted personnel. It maintained editorial independence and didn't echo anti-military rhetoric. However, that was decades ago. Today's publication has shifted dramatically in its editorial stance and no longer seems to prioritize the interests of the service members it was created to serve.

"Prove Me Wrong."