I’m guessing the way the deep state seduces journalists to their side is by letting them know ‘the truth’ and that only they are ‘adult’ enough to handle it - then they’re hooked. For example let’s say (hypothetically) that Austin was killed in Ukraine and the hospital story is a cover for the fact Austin was not suppose to be in Ukraine. And that David Ignatius knows - but can’t give a hint... Of course it’s more likely Ignatius woke up on the wrong side of the bed... and he’s just in a bad mood.
Fake News aside, I remember back in my Navy days when we learned that the Secretary Defense is an administrative job and so that position is not in the “chain of command” fore combat decisions.