After losing an appeal against CNN, Alan Dershowitz plans to ask the Supreme Court to overturn New York Times v. Sullivan, the 1964 case that protects journalists and others from weaponized lawsuits. edition.cnn.com/2025/08/29/b...
Media nerd. CNN chief media analyst. INSIDE THE HIVE podcast host. Author of "Network of Lies," "Hoax," and "Top of the Morning." Former Shorenstein fellow, NYT reporter and blogger.
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After losing an appeal against CNN, Alan Dershowitz plans to ask the Supreme Court to overturn New York Times v. Sullivan, the 1964 case that protects journalists and others from weaponized lawsuits. edition.cnn.com/2025/08/29/b...
New: I looked at 90 porn sites to test the new age-verification law rewriting the web. The ones following the rules, and scanning visitors' faces, are crumbling, while the lawbreakers are doubling or tripling their traffic. One of many unintended consequences for an experimental tech wapo.st/47QuttW
"The war on science began four centuries ago when the Roman Catholic Church outlawed books that reimagined the heavens. Subsequent regimes shot or jailed thousands of scientists. Today..." www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/s...
Mark Knoller knew everything. He was a one-of-a-kind White House correspondent and human encyclopedia. May his memory be an inspiration. www.cbsnews.com/news/mark-kn...
🔗 special weekend edition of the Reliable Sources digest, with the latest from the WSJ, the LA Times, Puck, Slate, 404 Media, The Guardian, and more: cnn.it/4mvYqnz
‘Fox keeps insisting Newsom’s SnarkPosting is a big fail, but the numbers would suggest otherwise. Since the beginning of August, the governor’s press office account has gained 250,000 followers and more than 225 million impressions.’ Via @lorraineali.bsky.social www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
Wittes, who has been chronicling Trump's acts of retribution on a near-daily basis, called the FBI action at Bolton's house "theatrical," noting that "doing it this way allows lots of pictures."
Today's Reliable Sources lead: One of the first indications of unusual activity at John Bolton's house this morning came from Lawfare editor @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org, who had the first camera — his cameraphone — on the scene outside. He went live on Substack... cnn.it/47NyWNQ
this is a story from 2 weeks ago, with none of the new reporting that @traceytully.bsky.social provided today
“it reminded me right away of, when you read in our history, about ‘degenerate art’ that the Nazis targeted. I was like, ‘There it is: another sign of where they want to take the country.’” www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
👂 I'm talking "South Park and Paramount on the latest episode of Vox's "Today, Explained" podcast 👂 www.vox.com/today-explai...
😔 Daily reading for pleasure "has plummeted 40% over the past 20 years, according to a new study published Wednesday in the journal iScience" www.cnn.com/2025/08/20/h...
"A pair of top House Democrats are launching an investigation into Paramount’s $7 billion merger with fellow media conglomerate Skydance and the circumstances that led to the deal’s approval by the Trump administration" thehill.com/homenews/med...
A shame no mention in this article of Trump's 2017 praise for the National Museum of African American History: “It’s a new, beautiful Smithsonian museum that serves as a shining example of African Americans’ incredible contributions to our culture, our society and our history.”
Historians and researchers are expressing "grave concern" about Trump's push to purge museums of information he dislikes. One group says a "chilling effect" can hurt the entire field www.cnn.com/2025/08/20/m...
It isn't just scholarly types who are contacting the American Historical Association with concerns about Trump's targeting of museums: "Many of them are parents who are concerned about the Smithsonian's future," Sarah Wiecksel says. "Others are frequent museum visitors." Here's my latest for CNN >>>
Sarah Weicksel, executive director of the American Historical Association, says her members are expressing "grave concern" about "ongoing political interference into the work of the Smithsonian and federal agencies, including the National Park Service, that interpret the American past."
The Trump White House has launched an official TikTok account — despite the TikTok sale-or-ban law and another looming deadline.
Today's Reliable Sources lead: Trump's "chilling effects" are coming for museums, and historians are responding by defending what they do >>> cnn.it/4oKVrcu
Public interest groups say these types of TV mega-mergers strangle competition and ultimately reduce the local news coverage that viewers depend on. Here's my full story:
Station owners are banking on FCC chair Brendan Carr raising the broadcast ownership cap, which Carr has called "arcane." An FCC rep said this morning, "We look forward to reviewing the application when it is filed with the FCC and assessing the public interest equities."
Tellingly, Nexstar's CEO started his statement this morning by praising "the initiatives being pursued by the Trump administration..."
Nexstar, which is already the biggest owner of US TV stations, is trying to get even bigger, acquiring Tegna in a $6.2 billion deal including debt. But this morning's announcement definitely isn't the last word on the matter...
In today's Reliable Sources: the latest on the Public Media Bridge Fund, Shari Redstone, Gavin Newsom, Steve Hartman, Jimmy Kimmel, Taylor Swift, "Frankenstein," Flow, and much more: cnn.it/4oPtPTJ
WH correspondent: "This display, especially in front of foreign leaders, is so embarrassing. Many of the questions aren’t designed to get answers, but to create another confrontation or make Trump look good. That's not journalism. High schoolers could do a better job than some of these people."
From CNN: "Zelensky meeting shows how the White House has remade the press corps to Trump’s liking." www.cnn.com/2025/08/18/m...
Newsmax is currently reacting to its $67 settlement with Dominion for airing election lies by urging businesses to leave Delaware because the court is against "free speech and free press," all while inviting viewers to visit its "Invest in Newsmax" website. www.the-independent.com/news/world/a...
The Trump White House has sought to reshape the press corps in its favor this year, and today showcased how well the effort has succeeded. Veteran WH correspondents privately grumbled as a MAGA online personality dominated a photo op with Trump and Zelensky. Analysis here:
Nearly five years after the pro-Trump campaign to overturn the results of the 2020 election, lawsuits by victims of the voter fraud lies are still having costly consequences for the liars. The latest example: Newsmax has agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems $67 million www.cnn.com/2025/08/18/m...
"While our name will be changing, who we are and what we do will not," MSNBC prez Rebecca Kutler says. "Our commitment to our work and our audiences will not waiver from what the brand promise has been for three decades." Details in today's Reliable Sources digest: cnn.it/4luYAdy
As the cable news channel MSNBC splits up with NBC News, it is also dropping the "NBC" from its name: Later this year, it will become MS NOW, which stands for My Source for News, Opinion, and the World. Here's my full story: www.cnn.com/2025/08/18/m...
hundreds of national guard troops stationed around union station, the white house and the capital to do...what exactly? www.nytimes.com/2025/08/16/u...
Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan cited evidence that the FTC probe was an act of retaliation against @mmfa.bsky.social. "Media Matters is likely to succeed in its First Amendment retaliation claim, which is all it needs at this stage," the judge wrote
A federal judge has blocked the Trump admin's investigation of a liberal advocacy group known for its campaigns against Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News and Elon Musk’s X —>
No questions at the Trump-Putin press conference — which means it wasn't a press conference at all — and which means Fox hosts will be the only ones to quiz Trump about the meeting tonight
Having Hannity on the sidelines of a high-stakes summit — for reassurance, for MAGA marketing, for whatever you'd call it — is a time-honored Trump tradition, as I detailed in today's Reliable Sources newsletter:
No matter what happens at Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin today, it will be Hannitized. Sean Hannity will be there right afterward to help Trump spin it positively. Today's interviews show Fox's central place in Trump's America and Trump's own media diet 👉🏼 cnn.it/45vWUdP
In this morning's Reliable Sources from @brianstelter.bsky.social: "No matter what happens at President Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin today, Trump will have Sean Hannity there right afterward to help him spin it positively."
it finally happened www.nytimes.com/live/2025/08...
Jessica Yellin: "Millions of people still care about truth. They are seeking facts on social media from credible voices they can trust. They just aren't always sure where to find them or from whom. I know because I interact with these people every day..." www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
Mario Guevara has been detained for 60 days today, every day sending a chilling message to Mario, his family, & anyone wanting to speak out about issues affecting our communities. A coalition of local, natl, global press freedom orgs are sounding the alarm. Join us: www.freepress.net/news/press-f...
Only follow Taylor Swift thru the comments of my former students so this dive by @brianstelter.bsky.social on her album release announcement (& podcasting) is fascinating. (As a Boomer i love that she announced it with an old-fashioned album.) view.newsletters.cnn.com/messages/175...
In this morning's Reliable Sources: the latest from "New Heights," David Ellison, Mehdi Hasan, "Extra," The Economist, "Baby Shark," and much more cnn.it/45i7xlF
In all my live shots today, I pointed out that the Smithsonian is NOT a part of the executive branch. It is not a Trump agency.
The White House "review" of museums is going to cast a shadow over the Smithsonian for months to come...
New from 404 Media: the Trump administration has outlined a plan to throw out all of an agency's FOIA requests made a ~year ago if people don't actively contact them. Experts say “insane,” “ludicrous,” a “attempt to close out as many FOIA requests as possible.” www.404media.co/trump-admini...
From @brianstelter.bsky.social and Reliable Sources. Read Jay Rosen’s words here: “nullify the real.”
Deny the data. Disrupt the data collectors. And demand a different result. That is what we're seeing from some federal officials. It's a common theme in several of this week's biggest stories, and it has big implications for news coverage. That's the Reliable Sources lead today >>> cnn.it/46ONzAe
I cannot emphasize enough that the playbook being used against mRNA vaccines (and vaccines in general) is IDENTICAL to the playbook used to restrict voting rights after the 2020 election: actively sow public distrust, then cite the distrust you sowed as an independent reason for your desired policy
BREAKING WSJ: The Trump White House plans to conduct a far-reaching review of Smithsonian museum exhibitions, materials and operations ahead of America's 250th anniversary to ensure the museums align with "Trump's interpretation of American history." www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
.... @brianstelter.bsky.social brought this quote over from Instagram.
In DC, with his "crime crackdown," Trump is getting the pictures he wants. One of my points in today's Reliable Sources digest: Trump cares deeply about what Fox shows him; what Fox shows his base; and he wants viewers far from DC to SEE something being done... cnn.it/3JdlQ2j
Al Jazeera English's bright red on-screen banner could not be clearer. "ISRAEL MURDERS JOURNALISTS," it has said, for the better part of twelve hours. Full coverage in today's Reliable Sources digest: cnn.it/4mH071j
The David Ellison interview with @brianstelter.bsky.social served as the foundation for this column. The first of many I'll write over at Multicast.
A special Saturday edition of Reliable Sources 📬: With 💯 weekend reads An 🍎 shot and chaser And an "unwritten rule" cnn.it/3UR0fPE
Trump deriding DC, from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, reminds me of the Fox hosts who routinely trash New York City from a comfy studio in the heart of midtown Manhattan. More in today's Reliable Sources digest: cnn.it/4fMKPpD
Trump's TV-watching habits and his crime wave hype are connected. "I could show you a chart comparing DC to other locations, and you're not going to want to see what it looks like," he said Wednesday. "It was just up on television, actually; they were showing it."
For example, the Fox News website story about the federal show of force in DC asserts "a concerning surge in violent crime" with no mention of the recent FBI data showing the opposite of a surge – a staggering DROP, as conveyed by this Axios story:
But irresponsible media megaphones are engaging in argument by anecdote. They're citing highly visible crimes — like the recent assault of a former DOGE worker in an attempted carjacking — to justify Trump's desire to exert more control in DC.
Trump is increasing federal law enforcement in DC while fear-mongering about crime being "totally out of control." Responsible news outlets keep pointing out, as the PBS NewsHour did here, that "violent crime in Washington, DC, last year hit a 30-year low..."
Crime is falling but many people believe it's rising – a very clear illustration of partisan media and algorithmic media's power to warp people's perceptions of the world around them 🧵
Hugely important topic in media criticism Via @brianstelter.bsky.social: The Financial Times recently dubbed it "the great crime paradox:" Violent crime rates are falling, both in the US and the UK, "but a growing share of people think levels are rising." view.newsletters.cnn.com/messages/175...
Today's Reliable Sources has it all: Ms. Rachel, Gina Carano, OpenAI, Greg Gutfeld, TikTok, Michael Bay, Instagram Map, "The Paper," and more >> cnn.it/4fMKPpD
Talking about CBS News, David Ellison refers to "70%" of the country ranging "from center left to center right" as a potential audience. "We want to obviously speak to the biggest audience possible," he says. His overall message about CBS News: "Judge us by the work."
Paramount president Jeff Shell says the CBS News ombudsman (a condition of FCC approval) is "a transparency vehicle, not an oversight vehicle," meaning "we're not being overseen by the FCC or anybody else." He points out the ombudsman is an "internal process."
"We're focused on the future," Ellison says, dodging a question about the PSA's. When directly asked by Variety's Todd Spangler – "Do you have a deal with Donald Trump?" – Ellison said "we are not going to politicize anything today" and pivoted.
Right now David Ellison and his key lieutenants are holding a press conference at Paramount HQ. Media reporters are asking about Trump's claim that Ellison agreed to run PSAs for Trump-aligned causes on CBS and other Paramount-owned channels. Ellison is refusing to comment/confirm.
Ellison’s first act as CEO was also symbolic: He visited the offices of Paramount’s CBS News division, which was dragged through the mud by President Trump during the merger review process. He complimented the employees in the newsroom and took a tour of the "60 Minutes" offices.
The Redstone family, which built the company into a cable-era giant that lagged in the streaming era, has handed off to the son of billionaire Oracle founder Larry Ellison. David Ellison, who is now CEO of the combined company, used the word "tech" ten times in an intro letter today.
Control of Paramount, the legendary but troubled TV and movie maker, has officially shifted to Silicon Valley scion David Ellison, following a protracted and politically tainted merger process. It's a moment full of symbolism...
Busy morning of media news! Here's Reliable Sources with the latest on Disney, "South Park," Howard Stern, Sam Altman, Ghost, "The Art of the Steal," and much more 🔗 cnn.it/47j1QFs
NYT editorial board: "Countries that fudge statistics are basically lying to themselves, and they suffer the consequences." www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/o...
Four?!!
The courts have slowed Lake down — for instance, a judge has ordered the government to pay Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty through the rest of the fiscal year. But whether sped up or in slow motion, the result is the same: a retreat from US-funded broadcasting around the 🌍. /end
But the plan, according to Lake, is to cease broadcasting altogether. She continues to deride VOA during live shots on MAGA media shows. "Our goal," she said recently, "is to shut the entire agency down as per the instructions of President Trump."
Trump's executive order silencing VOA in March directed Kari Lake and co. to strip it down to its "statutory minimum." That's why there is still a smattering of local language content — for example, Persian news for audiences in Iran.
The government has to respond to the judge by August 13. But that "required by law" reference is really the key. Yes, Congress passed laws establishing VOA and creating a journalistic firewall and funding its operations. But Congress isn't doing anything to defend its creation.
VOA's future is still being litigated, and last week sidelined staffers won another motion; a judge "excoriated Trump officials for failing to show that they had been abiding by his ruling" to restore programming, saying VOA "was required by law to continue broadcasting," per the NYT.
This week's development: Michael Abramowitz, the sidelined director of VOA, "has been fired after refusing to accept what he called an 'illegal' reassignment to run a broadcasting station in North Carolina."
At the start of Trump's second term, Voice of America was broadcasting to the world in 49 languages. Now it's down to 4, with a skeleton staff, and barely producing any content at all. While court battles over VOA's fate continue, Trump's shut-it-down effort has succeeded. 🧵
Over 90 pages of "Alligator Alcatraz" files disappeared as I was looking at them and reporting on the situation. Our public records requests are getting stonewalled. A slew of experts told me this all seems to be illegal. talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/th...
Happy book pub day @vermontgmg.bsky.social! I just picked up a copy of his oral history of the atomic bomb www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-De...
At this point 50% of my FB feed is comprised of entirely made up shit like this. I'm a historian who studies politics and media, so it's easy for me to be a critical consumer of this schlock. But for the average consumer, this sort of social media is like putting a stick blender in one's brain.
Maddow says 'dictatorship' is here New York Post hires for Cali edition Devin Nunes' NBC lawsuit is no more Do Meta's community notes work? We need a new word for 'exodus' + much more in today's media digest: cnn.it/4foQAtk
Fox News shows mentioned Sydney Sweeney and her jeans ad 766 times in the span of a week. Jeffrey Epstein's name came up 53 times that same week, per @andrewkirell.bsky.social in today's Reliable Sources cnn.it/4foQAtk
pay very close attention to Wikipedia to find a way out of the AI slop internet www.404media.co/wikipedia-ed...
MAGA influencers are raving about Trump walking on a roof: "An American original" "🤣 Once in a lifetime president." "79 years old and climbing on roofs! LOL!" "Another classic 🤣"
Once a judge approves the agreement, Murdoch will give Trump's legal team a "sworn declaration describing his current health condition" within three days. "Murdoch has further agreed to provide regularly scheduled updates to the plaintiff regarding his health," the filing says.
The WSJ hasn't even filed its motion to dismiss Trump's suit yet! That's typically step one. Depositions are many steps later. So, under the terms of last night's joint stipulation, everything is on hold until the judge rules on that motion. But Team Trump did "win" something...
Perhaps for Team Trump, it's appealing to say that Murdoch played ball. (Now the lawyers can tell their client that they "won" something.) But their proposal to depose Murdoch immediately was always a stunt, meant to embarrass the 94-year-mogul by claiming he is in poor health.
Trump and Rupert Murdoch "struck an agreement late Monday delaying Murdoch's deposition in the president's billion-dollar libel lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and its owners," CNN's Hannah Rabinowitz reports, citing a court filing. Here's my analysis 👇🏼
Rachel @maddow.msnbc.com last night: "We do now live in a country that has an authoritarian leader in charge. We have a consolidating dictatorship in our country."
That’s good. But I’ll believe it when I see it. Will sunlight help with the BLS?
An excellent quick overview of Trumpwellian censorship and its implications:
National Review: "Trump is shooting the messenger of bad economic news, not unlike when China discontinues inconvenient data series that make the Communist Party look bad..." www.nationalreview.com/2025/08/trum...
Just the other day, WaPo reported on the Smithsonian removing Trump from an impeachment exhibit. The whiff of scandal was so overwhelming that the museum issued a statement over the weekend denying any White House pressure and pledging to update the exhibit in the coming weeks. Sunlight mattered.
Books, removed from military academies. Names of civil rights leaders, erased from ships. History lessons, purged from museums. Transcripts, deleted from websites. But I see ample evidence that press attention and public pressure DOES make a difference 👇🏼
Trump's abrupt firing of the labor statistics chief is one of the most dramatic examples yet. But his push for control has been evident all throughout his second term — and the individual headlines should be analyzed as part of a pattern. Otherwise, memories fade...
Climate change reports, deleted. DEI initiatives, banned. Local TV and radio stations, defunded. The list goes on and on. President Trump and his government appointees keep asserting more control over ideas and information. My latest analysis for CNN:
White House critics: Trump is basing pardon decisions on whether criminals are aligned with him personally. Trump: Yep, pretty much. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...