Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Monday, August 31, 2026

The Pentagon has reportedly hired conservative military veterans with large social media followings to unspecified government positions. The Washington Post reported late Sunday that the Pentagon hired two conservative commentators -- Rob Maness, a retired Air Force colonel with more than 135,000 X followers, and Kurt Schlichter, a retired Army colonel with 620,000 X followers -- to work in Anthony Tata, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.

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More from the article ...

... The reports raise questions about transparency and Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's intentions in office.

The former Fox News co-host has made efforts to influence the public's perception of the Pentagon, including hiring right-wing press corps to cover the government department while ostracizing other news outlets, leading to lawsuits. ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-08-31 12:46 PM | Reply

So?

No different than Democrat/Progressive admins hiring every granola eating liberal in sight.

#2 | Posted by subliberal at 2026-08-31 01:38 PM | Reply

Really, which made-up government jobs did Biden hire "Influencers" into?

None, because you're lying, which is obviously normal for you.

search.brave.com

The premise that Biden staffed government jobs with influencers is incorrect. While the Biden administration and campaign extensively recruited social media influencers as unpaid partners to promote policy and reach young voters, these individuals were not hired into government positions.

Role: Influencers served as external content creators and amplifiers, not as White House employees or officials.
Access: They received special access, such as briefings at the White House, invitations to events, and direct communication with administration officials, but held no official government titles.
Contrast: This differs from a recent Pentagon report where retired military officers with large social media followings were placed in actual civilian government roles (e.g., "Special Government Employees") without disclosing their influencer status.

#3 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-08-31 01:42 PM | Reply

@#3

related?

US Treasury faces media backlash as NYT, Bloomberg journalists denied G20 access
www.firstpost.com

... The US Treasury Department has come under fire after denying press credentials to journalists from several major news organisations, including The New York Times (NYT), The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News, for the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, reported AFP.

The decision has led to a wave of criticism from news organisations and press freedom advocates, particularly as the two-day G20 meeting brings together senior economic policymakers to discuss issues with far-reaching implications for the global economy. ...


#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-08-31 01:48 PM | Reply

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