Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a memo this month cemented restrictions on when, where and how the military and Pentagon leaders can engage with the public, noting that past "external engagements have tended to canalize toward certain types of institutions."

Why it matters: It's the latest evidence of a Defense Department clampdown amid internal concern about leaks, palace intrigue and narrative control. • The Trump administration is obsessed with appearances. (Think about the president's "central casting" refrain and, more recently, his "Department of War" executive order.) • The memo arrived around the same time the Defense Department rolled out new media guidelines that require reporters to sign a pledge not to gather any information that hasn't been officially authorized for rel

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