{
  "id": 2991483,
  "title": "Pentagon Spokesperson Admits There’s a Secret Blacklist of Journalists",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/pentagon-spokesperson-admits-theres-a-secret-blacklist-of-journalists",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T09:52:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Intercept",
    "slug": "the-intercept-theintercept",
    "url": "https://theintercept.com/2026/08/24/pentagon-military-journalist-blacklist-press-media/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Pentagon's public affairs office has admitted to possessing a secret blacklist of journalists, according to an official from CENTCOM public affairs. This revelation comes during a time of conflict and controversy, including a failed war in Iran, a cover-up of U.S. casualties, and repeated denials of questions about civilian deaths in Iran. CENTCOM official Richard Allee threatened the reporter for calling too often, saying they would be placed on the list of people to disregard. Allee refused to disclose which journalists were currently on the list, but emphasized that it is not a publicly publicized list. This admission follows a series of actions by the U.S. military, led by War Secretary Pete Hegseth, aimed at curtailing press freedom. These actions include outlawing \"unauthorized\" questions, imposing unconstitutional restrictions on journalists' access to the Pentagon, demonizing journalists, filing SLAPPs, and employing grand jury subpoenas and search warrants to intimidate reporters. Allee's revelation of the blacklist comes after a reporter was left on hold for over two hours and faced repeated refusals to answer questions about Iranian attacks, casualty counts, and medical evacuation flights. The Pentagon's press office denied the existence of a blacklist in response to additional questions. The Freedom of the Press Foundation has criticized the Pentagon's actions, calling them unconstitutional, and urging the command to stop blacklisting journalists and to disclose the list.",
  "summary": "When pressed about the Iran war, a CENTCOM press official threatened to put an Intercept reporter on a “list of people to disregard.” The post Pentagon Spokesperson Admits There’s a Secret Blacklist of Journalists appeared first on The Intercept .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Intercept",
        "title": "Pentagon Spokesperson Admits There’s a Secret Blacklist of Journalists",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/pentagon-spokesperson-admits-theres-a-secret-blacklist-of-journalists-2993431",
        "published": "2026-08-24T09:52:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}