Daily Dip Truncated version

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A federal judge struck down the Pentagon’s press credentialing policy Friday, ruling it violates the First and Fifth Amendments. The policy, introduced in October, let the Pentagon revoke credentials from journalists who solicited “unauthorized” information, even if unclassified. Dozens of reporters from the NYT, Post, and AP walked out rather than sign. The Pentagon replaced them with pro-Trump influencers including Laura Loomer and Matt Gaetz.

The key line: The judge wrote he saw no distinction between the Post’s tip line and Loomer’s, “other than that The Washington Post’s motto is ‘Democracy Dies in Darkness,’ while Ms. Loomer’s apparently is willingness to ‘serve the commander in chief.’”

The ruling orders the Pentagon to restore press passes and comes during active war in Iran, with the judge writing that access to independent reporting has never been more critical.

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