On Tuesday, TMZ published a story with a dramatic all-caps headline, “PETE HEGSETH BLEW BILLION$ ON FRUIT BASKETS, LOBSTER,” that was accompanied by a manufactured photo of the Secretary of War surrounded by a bunch of plastic lobsters. The initial story was followed by several other “news” organizations repeating the claims.

If you’ve never covered the military, or served in the military, or if you don’t have any family or friends in the military, this would appear to be a shocking story.