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A major row has erupted between the US defense department and the journalists that cover its work after a memo was issued last month requiring journalists to accept a new set of reporting restrictions or face being barred from America鈥檚 military headquarters.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth鈥檚 new policy would require journalists to sign an agreement stating they will only publish information 鈥渆xplicitly authorised鈥� by the defense department. News outlets were nearly unanimous in rejecting the restrictions, prompting a major walkout from the Pentagon as journalists from all but one news organisation handed in their press passes.

The move reignites the Trump administration鈥檚 long-running feud with the press and its freedom to report on the White House. In today鈥檚 episode, we look at why the memo has been issued, and implications for freedom of the press and future reporting.

And, we speak to Newsmax鈥檚 James Rosen about why his news organisation refused to sign up to the new rules and the impact on wider reporting of the Trump administration.

HOSTS:
鈥� Sarah Smith, North America Editor
鈥� Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
鈥� Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations correspondent

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This episode was made by Purvee Pattni with Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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