Stars and Stripes editor says he has been fired for insubordination after doing interview

As well as its publisher and a reporter, the editor remarked, the Pentagon on Friday fired the editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes.

What happened

Erik Slavin, editor-in-chief of the military newspaper that is partly funded by the Pentagon but has a long legacy of editorial independence, informed The Associated Press that he and the others had received notices of separation.

Meanwhile, the moves come at a time when the Trump administration, in its second term, has been increasingly aggressive and combative toward the news media – including sharply curtailing Pentagon access for the press corps that covers the Defense Department. Trump or other parts of the executive branch have additionally, in policy and in the courts, grappled with The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press and The New York Times – along with using the FCC to target broadcast networks.

The bottom line

Taken together, the developments around stars and Stripes editor says he has been fired for insubordination after point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.