Stars and Stripes at a Crossroads | Raleigh News

Raleigh News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 20, 2026 · 1m

Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer Jr. is stepping down amid escalating tensions with the Pentagon, which seeks to refocus the paper exclusively on military issues—eschewing broader news in favor of “warfighter” reporting. The move follows the firing of the paper’s ombudsman, a key safeguard for editorial independence, and comes as the Defense Department tightens control over media access, including controversial classified press office policies. Lederer warns that pushing toward digital-only could alienate troops, and he’s reportedly blindsided by a new deputy installed without his…