Althouse: "It is unclear whether one particular photo — or the sum total of the day’s shots — led to consternation among Hegseth’s staff."

March 11, 2026

"It is unclear whether one particular photo — or the sum total of the day’s shots — led to consternation among Hegseth’s staff."

From "Pentagon bars press photographers over ‘unflattering’ Hegseth photos/Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s staff took issue with images taken in a rare briefing last week and decided to shut out photographers from two subsequent news conferences" (WaPo).

44 comments:

Jupiter said...: I am sure it would be a fascinating pack of lies, if it weren't pay-walled. Fortunately, it is pay-walled.; 3/11/26, 1:27 PM
exhelodrvr1 said...: A rare briefing?; 3/11/26, 1:29 PM
Jaq said...: Picture him as a South Park character, and the image won't go away.

Hegseth, except for the low IQ, would fit right in in the Russian Revolution.

"Everything that is done in the interests of the proletarian revolution is moral; everything that is against it is immoral." —Lenin

If Pete "Bible Study" Hegseth were saying it. The only thing that would be different would be the cause, not the sentiment.

I got that quote from a book I am reading, BTW, the autobiography of a Ukrainian born assassin for Stalin, who was Georgian, BTW, the book is called "Special Tasks" He is the guy who organized Trotsky's killing. Hegseth would fit right in.; 3/11/26, 1:30 PM
Leland said...: Reminds me when Obama only allowed his own photographer to do photos.; 3/11/26, 1:35 PM
Jaq said...: "Everything that is done in the interests of the proletarian revolution is moral; everything that is against it is immoral." —Lenin

Of course this quote begs the question, how does anybody know for certain what is "in the interests" of the "glorious revolution"? Maybe they are making a huge forking mistake, and maybe the thing that is actually in the interests of the revolution would have been not to choose Stalin as their leader, and Lenin warned against it, and he ended up dead, and Stalin ended up the leader.

This is why I hate when people misuse "begs the question," because it's an important principle of rational debate as it stands.; 3/11/26, 1:36 PM
narciso said...: Hes been giving a briefing every other day; 3/11/26, 1:37 PM
Aggie said...: "...after they published photos of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that his staff deemed “unflattering,” according to two people familiar with the decision who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation...."

Just in case you thought there might be something to it.

It's paywalled, but archived here:
https://archive.ph/XXS37#selection-331.1-331.219

If true, it would be a bad look, for sure - but I'm thinking it's more like somebody is angry that the leaks have stopped and they're left with printing stuff like this. In the past, this would have been a 'holding statement', waiting for the leak.; 3/11/26, 1:38 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: If Trump cares about that, (no nicknames) Pete is going to doubly care about it.

Trump detractors are so single-mindedly focused on Trump, they don't have time for nicknaming Pete? What is going on there?

Maybe they are leery of dumping on an alcoholic?; 3/11/26, 1:38 PM
narciso said...: The last pentagon chief was missing for two weeks and no one cared; 3/11/26, 1:42 PM
Winston said...: Who or what twisted Jaq? Any ideas?; 3/11/26, 1:58 PM
Lance said...: The solution to bad photography is not less photography, but rather more photography.; 3/11/26, 2:11 PM
boatbuilder said...: Aggie--from the WaPo article, it sounds like there are a limited number of seats and places for reporters, and photographers get second billing. It also sounds like all of those "principled" journalists who turned in their credentials are now having to endure the inconvenience of not having seats in the front row. Bummer.

Why do they need more than one or two photographers to depict an official delivering a briefing? It's not like he's going to show up in a designer dress (not in this administration, anyway).; 3/11/26, 2:13 PM
boatbuilder said...: "It is unclear..." means that we really don't know, but that has never stopped us before...; 3/11/26, 2:14 PM
john mosby said...: If these guys are publishing the worst pics they can - mid-blink or something - they are putting out enemy propaganda. And it is a privilege to be let into the Pentagon. And there is nothing in the Constitution or laws that says the Secdef has to give pressers. So if you misuse a privilege that is connected to something the Secretary doesn't even have to do in the first place, to hell with you. The press don't have special rights of access that the general public don't. Rather, the general public has freedom to publish. CC, JSM; 3/11/26, 2:29 PM
TeaBagHag said...: Kegsbreath has a nickname; 3/11/26, 2:30 PM
chuck said...: Consternation? Sounds more like FAFO.; 3/11/26, 2:40 PM
Original Mike said...: "Hegseth, except for the low IQ, would fit right in in the Russian Revolution."

What is Hegseth's IQ?; 3/11/26, 2:51 PM
Immanuel Rant said...: Didn't the WaPo just fire all their photographers?

I mean, I am pretty sure all their White House Photog's were fired, but didn't they go on to literally fire every one? Why are they then mad?

Oh, and finally anonymous sources "familiar" with the decision, again?; 3/11/26, 2:51 PM
The judge said...: Winston said “Who or what twisted Jaq?””

My guess is would be an umbilical cord.; 3/11/26, 2:59 PM
Mason G said...: "And there is nothing in the Constitution or laws that says the Secdef has to give pressers."

"We demand access in order to obtain material to highlight whatever we can find or, at our discretion, just make up that allows us to present you to the public in the most unflattering light."; 3/11/26, 3:12 PM
William said...: Oh no! The WashPo said something critical of someone in the Trump Administration.

Oh, and by the way, fish gotta swim.; 3/11/26, 3:12 PM
Joe Bar said...: Didn't they just fire all their White House photographers?; 3/11/26, 3:17 PM
Joe Bar said...: "I'm thinking it's more like somebody is angry that the leaks have stopped and they're left with printing stuff like this."

That rings true.; 3/11/26, 3:19 PM
Mr. T. said...: Oh what is this???

The Wash compost lied:

https://twitchy.com/justmindy/2026/03/11/wapo-photographer-banned-from-pentagon-briefing-n2425909

Shocking (said no one ever); 3/11/26, 3:22 PM
Koot Katmandu said...: Yep Pay wall - WP not for me.; 3/11/26, 3:56 PM
Mark said...: What a snowflake.; 3/11/26, 4:13 PM
FullMoon said...: "Winston said “Who or what twisted Jaq?””
Delayed side effects from multiple covid vax?
Supporter of Russia vs. Ukraine and Russia and Iran are partners?; 3/11/26, 4:17 PM
Jim at said...: Who or what twisted Jaq? Any ideas?

Covid started eating his brain six years ago, and hasn't let up since.; 3/11/26, 4:24 PM
Big Mike said...: Jim at said...

Covid started eating [Jaq’s] brain six years ago, and hasn't let up since

@Jim at, assumes without evidence that Jaq has a brain.; 3/11/26, 4:37 PM
Big Mike said...: I thought the US military seemed to be doing very well in the Iran conflict, but this effort on the part of the Post to gin up a fuss over nothing confirms that our military is doing even better than I had a right to hope for. The left, and I include Althouse herself, is dead set against the United States winning a military conflict, and doubly or triply so when it’s during a Republican administration. So anything they can do to handicap a Republican administration, they will do so.

Peace through dead terrorists!; 3/11/26, 4:48 PM
planetgeo said...: Winston: "Who or what twisted Jaq? Any ideas?"

Jaq gave us a big clue recently when he mentioned that his significant other has a flaming hatred of Trump. Pretty obvious that Jaq's desperate to keep that lockbox open.; 3/11/26, 5:00 PM
Begonia said...: I thought Jaq was a lady? Jaqueline? y'all thought I was a guy too, even though my username is obviously female!; 3/11/26, 5:16 PM
pacwest said...: Dr Weevil happened to Jaq. Sad to see because he could argue a point at one time. Now it just name calling like the regular left, although he did spice it up a bit with the obscure evil villan instead of the generic Hitler.

If you think there is something logically wrong with Trump or one of the people executing his decisions then tell us what that thing is. Clear and to the point. Don't be a stupid shit.

I accept that DJT is high risk high reward and believe the risks he is taking with his policies are acceptable if not outright necessary in most instances. Calling him names won't change my opinion.; 3/11/26, 5:47 PM
Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas said...: Once again, the fragile, insecure flower is in tears.; 3/11/26, 6:00 PM
Douglas B. Levene said...: What's with vanity and the Cabinet these days? First, Noem. Now, Hegseth. Don't these people know that all that matters is the job they were hired to do?; 3/11/26, 6:04 PM
Mason G said...: "If you think there is something logically wrong with Trump or one of the people executing his decisions then tell us what that thing is."

If they do that (opposing the deportation of illegal alien rapists and murderers or defunding the police, for example), it makes them look like the bad guys to normal people.

So they go with the name calling and hope they're not recognized for the absolute shit policies they want to force on the country.; 3/11/26, 6:09 PM
Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas said...: Hegseth has lost the Iran war. But he has won the rhetorical war about the naming of his department.; 3/11/26, 6:24 PM
pacwest said...: @Special Guy
What makes you think the conflict is lost?

Please don't call me a fragile flower, you might make me cry.; 3/11/26, 7:08 PM
Mason G said...: pacwest said...
@Special Guy...

More like "Special Ed".; 3/11/26, 7:15 PM
Jim at said...: @Jim at, assumes without evidence that Jaq has a brain.

I was being generous. I defer to others who actually read his crap.; 3/11/26, 7:22 PM
Jim at said...: I thought Jaq was a lady?

Jaq = Tim in Vermont; 3/11/26, 7:23 PM
MikeD said...: Well, if anyone followed the "news" they'd know;
"The Washington Post laid off roughly a third of its workforce yesterday, including every single one of its staff photographers, PetaPixel understands."
Every Single One!; 3/11/26, 7:30 PM
narciso said...: So who was taking the picture?; 3/11/26, 7:32 PM
Big Mike said...: I was being generous. I defer to others who actually read his crap.

@Jim at, thank you. It’s a struggle.; 3/11/26, 7:36 PM