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'I'm never going to back down': Mark Kelly pushes back against Hegseth's intensifying crusade

Kelly said he would keep speaking out after Hegseth announced a censure that could lead to his demotion.

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Host credibilityYahoo News74/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 11, 2026

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Republished from MS NOW, with credit to the original publisher.

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99 stories · 74–76 · updated Oct 12, 2026

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Yahoo Newsvia MS NOW
Jan 6, 2026
tl;dr

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a censure and possible demotion for Sen. Mark Kelly after Kelly urged service members to reject illegal orders. Kelly said he would continue speaking out, while Republican senators Susan Collins and Thom Tillis criticized Hegseth’s move.

Community verdict

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Mark Kelly D · AZ · SEN

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Mark Kelly
D · AZ · SEN

Arizona senator facing disciplinary action from the Defense Department

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Pete Hegseth
R · Secretary of Defense

Defense secretary pursuing disciplinary action against Sen. Mark Kelly

Hegseth's version of this story ↗
Susan M. Collins
R · ME · SEN

Maine senator who criticized Hegseth’s announcement

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose administration Hegseth serves

Thom Tillis
R · NC · SEN

North Carolina senator who called Hegseth’s announcement “ridiculous”

ALSO MENTIONED  John Phelan, Secretary of the Navy addressed by Kelly’s lawyer

Part of a bigger story

40 OUTLETS
Hegseth Censures Mark Kelly and Seeks Potential Rank Reduction

Hegseth censured Kelly and began proceedings that could reduce his retired military rank and pay after Kelly joined a video urging service members to refuse unlawful orders. Left-leaning outlets frame the possible rank and pay reductions as punishment for Kelly’s speech. Center outlets largely recount the censure and possible consequences alongside Kelly’s objections and legal questions. Right-leaning outlets more often present the action as accountability for Kelly’s call to refuse orders, though some report the dispute descriptively.

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