'Nothing More Un-American': Mark Kelly Accuses Pete Hegseth of Trying to Intimidate Critics in the Military
Hegseth says Kelly’s video was seditious and announced proceedings that could reduce Kelly’s retired rank and pay.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates Yahoo News, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
The reporting is attributed to Mediaite, an established political news outlet, while Yahoo News republishes the article. The page identifies the author and source, but the article itself relies heavily on official statements and provides limited independent reporting.
- Source type — Political news reporting from an established outlet, though not a major newspaper of record.
- Author attribution — The article is attributed to a named author.
- Transparency — The page identifies Mediaite as the source through a first-appeared attribution.
- Editorial standards — The article presents statements from both Kelly and Hegseth, but offers little detail on the underlying proceedings.
The article gives statements from both Kelly and Hegseth and attributes a relevant report to CNN. It offers limited independent verification or context about the proceedings, and much of its substance comes from the two officials’ competing claims.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article includes the competing statements and a report that complicates Hegseth’s position. It gives Kelly substantially more space and provides little independent explanation of the military proceedings or their basis.
- Counterarguments presented — Hegseth’s explanation for the proceedings is included alongside Kelly’s criticism.
- Omitted context — The article gives little detail on the process, legal standards, or independent views about the action.
- Source diversity — The piece relies mainly on statements from the two officials, with a CNN report as additional context.
The article is framed around Kelly’s accusation that Hegseth is trying to intimidate critics, and includes a detail suggesting inconsistency in Hegseth’s position. It also gives Hegseth’s response, so the tilt is limited.
- Headline — The headline foregrounds Kelly’s accusation of intimidation.
- Source selection — Both officials’ statements appear, while a CNN report about Hegseth’s earlier remarks adds context critical of him.
- Language tone — The article largely attributes charged terms to Kelly and Hegseth rather than adopting them in its own voice.
Republished with credit
Republished from Mediaite, with credit to the original publisher.
1,074 stories · 64.7–65.0 · updated Oct 13, 2026
This is Mediaite's own score, and this article is credited to Mediaite. The host score in the Source Check is Yahoo News's.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth initiated proceedings that could reduce Sen. Mark Kelly’s retired military rank and pension over a video about illegal orders. Kelly called the action an attempt to intimidate critics and vowed to fight it.
Hegseth opened an investigation into Kelly over a video in which Kelly and other Democratic lawmakers urged military members not to follow potentially illegal orders from the Trump administration. On Monday, Hegseth announced proceedings that could reduce Kelly’s retired grade and pay, describing the video as “reckless and seditious.”
Kelly said his service and constitutional rights were being attacked, called Hegseth’s action an effort to intimidate retired service members, and said he would fight it. The article also cites CNN’s report that Hegseth made similar remarks about illegal orders in 2016.
Community verdict
12 VOTESCounts every outlet’s report of this story. See all 16
- Readers of left-leaning coverage: 50% good look
- Readers of right-leaning coverage: not enough votes yet
Votes cast on this page
Votes cast on this page: ▲ 0 · ◆ 0 · ▼ 0
People in this story
SWIPE →Secretary of Defense who initiated proceedings against Kelly
Senator responding to proceedings that could reduce his retired military rank and pension
Kelly's version of this story ↗President whose administration was referenced in the video and in Kelly’s criticism
Part of a bigger story
15 OUTLETSHegseth censured Sen. Mark Kelly and initiated proceedings that could reduce his retired rank or pay after a video about refusing unlawful orders. Left-leaning outlets cast the action as retaliation against Kelly or an attack on his speech. Center outlets mostly present Hegseth’s rationale and Kelly’s response, with some also questioning the process’s legality. Right-leaning outlets emphasize Hegseth’s stated case for disciplining Kelly over the video.
- ARTICLES
- 16
- OUTLETS
- 15
- AVG CRED
- 67
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