
The Monocle Daily Why the Pentagon's new press rules have been rejected by news outlets
23 snips
Oct 14, 2025 Phil Clark, a Professor of International Politics, and Marion Mesmer, a Senior Research Fellow in International Security, delve into the Pentagon's newly rejected press rules, discussing the implications for journalism. They analyze how this loss of access may lead to more rigorous reporting. Andrew Hussey, author of 'Fractured France', explores the deep political and cultural divisions in contemporary France, tying them to historical contexts and examining the future political landscape post-Macron.
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Escalation Claims Are Largely Rhetorical
- Russian rhetoric inflates escalation risks, including false nuclear claims about Tomahawks.
- Mesmer confirmed Tomahawks lost nuclear capability years ago and such threats are misleading.
US Position On Ukraine Has Grown Clearer
- US stance appears to harden in support of Ukraine, with Trump seeming less swayed by Russian flattery.
- Phil Clark said this marks a clarity in US policy and a shift from previous diplomatic embarrassment.
Russia Sees US Institutional Weakness
- Russia evaluates US strength by institutional capacity, not spectacle.
- Marion argued hollowed-out diplomacy and missing appointees signal weakness to Moscow, limiting US leverage.

