Stars and Stripes Forever

A version of this piece appeared in The Washington Post

In January, the Pentagon threatened to take editorial control of independent military newspaper Stars and Stripes. The directive said the publication would refocus its coverage on “warfighting” instead of “woke distractions.” The timing of the Pentagon’s new blueprint for Stars and Stripes is convenient, as the administration has launched conflicts in Venezuela and Iran and weighs a third in Cuba.

In 1946, fresh off the end of World War II, my grandfather Andy Rooney and his fellow war correspondent Bud Hutton wrote a book titled “The Story of the Stars and Stripes: A Paper for Joe.” It pains me to see the legacy of a newspaper my grandfather helped build — one born from America’s triumph over fascism — threatened by the whims of a president who seems to view criticism as treason.

Late in his career, Rooney became famous for his wry commentaries on “60 Minutes,” offering opinions on everything from desk clutter to doorknobs. But one thing he took very seriously was the importance of a free press.

I spent nearly a decade working at NPR, until the Trump administration successfully led a charge in Congress to defund public media. I know firsthand how essential independent journalism is to the functioning of a democratic society. The public cannot hold its leaders accountable if it cannot trust the information it receives. Bringing Stars and Stripes under direct government control would turn a trusted newsroom into a public-relations arm of the Pentagon.

My grandfather helped tell the story of Stars and Stripes. We should not allow this administration to write its final chapter.