Stars and Stripes Editor-in-Chief, Publisher, and Reporter Fired for Insubordination
The Pentagon has dismissed the editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes, Erik Slavin, along with publisher Max Lederer and reporter Lara Korte, for insubordination. This action follows their public opposition to potential military interference and censorship by the Defense Department in…
Detroit, MI, August 21, 2026 —
The Pentagon has dismissed Erik Slavin, the editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes, the U.S. military’s independent newspaper, along with publisher Max Lederer and reporter Lara Korte. The firings were reportedly due to insubordination.
The action comes after Slavin, Lederer, and Korte publicly voiced their opposition to what they perceived as potential military interference and censorship by the Department of Defense in the operations of Stars and Stripes. The newspaper has a historical precedent of maintaining editorial independence.
This development is occurring within a wider context of what is described as increased assertiveness by the administration toward the media. The specific details surrounding the insubordination charge were not provided, nor were further specifics on the alleged interference or censorship attempts.
Story summarized from the original created by Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press on www.clickondetroit.com, see more information here.
