President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are demanding “more patriotic” coverage of the widening war in Iran. On this week’s On the Media, hear how the Pentagon is cracking down on its publication, Stars and Stripes. Plus, fake AI images of the Iran war are proliferating, and they're getting more convincing.
[01:00] Host Micah Loewinger breaks down the calls from the Trump administration for the media to produce “patriotic” coverage of the war in Iran. Plus, a closer look at the reporting by legacy outlets with journalist<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:mceaj3dcniophnhvxgviwrzi" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Minnah Arshad</a>.  Arshad analyzed The New York Times’ early coverage of the war, and found that Iranian victims were underrepresented. Next, Micah sits down with scholar<a href="https://www.witness.org/portfolio_page/mahsa-alimardani/" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Mahsa Alimardani</a> to discuss fake AI images of the Iran conflict, and how AI detection tools are being used to discredit authentic footage.
[22:30] Micah speaks with <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/people/samantha-gross/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Samantha Gross</a>, the director of the Energy Security and Climate Initiative at the Brookings Institution, to dissect the developing energy crisis being caused by the disruption of oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz.
[37:54] Host Brooke Gladstone talks to Erik Slavin, Editor-in-Chief of Stars and Stripes, the independent, award-winning newspaper that has served the military for roughly a century, about the Pentagon’s plan to crack down on their reporting and refocus their content away from “woke distractions.”
 Further reading / watching:
<ul>
 <li>“<a href="https://zeteo.com/p/how-media-manufactures-war-consent-iran-new-york-times-first-draft" rel="noopener noreferrer">First Draft: How the Media Manufactures Consent for War</a>,” by Minnah Arshad and Andrew Perez</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.techpolicy.press/how-ai-content-detection-is-being-weaponized-in-the-iran-war/" rel="noopener noreferrer">How AI Content Detection is Being Weaponized in the Iran War</a>,” by Shirin Anlen and Mahsa Alimardani</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/03/ai-imagery-iran-war/686347/" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Fake Images of a Real Strike on a School</a>,” by Mahsa Alimardani</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/why-irans-disruption-of-the-strait-of-hormuz-matters/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Why Iran’s disruption of the Strait of Hormuz matters</a>,” by Samantha Gross, Caitlin Talmadge, and Melanie W. Sisson</li>
 <li>“<a href="https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2026-01-15/pentagon-refocus-stars-and-stripes-content-20415816.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pentagon says it will ‘refocus’ Stars and Stripes content</a>,” by Corey Dickstein</li>
</ul>
On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (<a href="https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm">https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm</a>). Follow our show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/onthemedia/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/onthemedia">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OnTheMedia">Facebook</a> @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.

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