Top News:
Rosalind S. Helderman / Washington Post:
Longtime Steve Bannon backer Rebekah Mercer issues rebuke distancing family from Bannon, says she's committed to Breitbart News, where she holds minority stake — Stephen K. Bannon's main financial backer is formally cutting ties with the former Trump adviser.
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Jack Shafer / Politico:
Trump fell for Michael Wolff's skill of sucking up to sources before he tears them down, a decade after Wolff did the same to Murdoch — The president should have known better. Michael Wolff does not mess around. — President Donald Trump could have saved himself a lot of grief if he …
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Washington Post:
Lawyer Charles Harder demands that publisher Henry Holt and Co. cease and desist from publication of Michael Wolff's book on Trump — President Trump on Wednesday castigated his former chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon as a self-aggrandizing political charlatan who has “lost his mind,” …
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CNNMoney:
Publisher of Wolff book moves release date to Friday, starting at 9am ET, from previously scheduled Tuesday release date — The publisher of Michael Wolff's new book about President Trump is rushing it onto bookshelves. — “Due to unprecedented demand, we are moving the on-sale date …
Michael Wolff / British GQ:
Wolff book excerpt on the Ailes plans for a new conservative TV network and the media handlers closest to Trump, including Hope Hicks — Soon after the inauguration of Donald Trump on 20 January 2017, GQ columnist Michael Wolff was granted special access to the White House.
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Oliver Darcy / CNNMoney:
Source: “hard push” exists to convince Breitbart CEO Larry Solov and Susie Breitbart to fire Steve Bannon; WH press secretary says firing should be considered
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Mike Allen / Axios:
Michael Wolff has dozens of hours of tapes of interviews with Bannon and other White House insiders, making some quotes in his new book hard to refute
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John Santucci / ABC News:
Trump lawyer Charles Harder sends Steve Bannon a letter demanding he refrain from disparaging comments about Trump and his family, claims Bannon breached NDA
Discussion:
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Billboard:
Sources: Jimmy Iovine to leave Apple Music in August, a time believed to coincide with the full vesting of his Apple stock — His planned departure is likely timed to his shares fully vesting, sources tell Billboard. — Look for Jimmy Iovine to leave Apple Music in August.
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Tony Romm / Recode:
FCC releases final text of the order overturning net neutrality and statements from Pai, O'Rielly and Carr in support and Rosenworcel and Clyburn in opposition — It's long! — Roughly a month after the Federal Communications Commission voted to scrap the U.S. government's net neutrality rules …
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Sydney Ember / New York Times:
Newsroom employees at The Los Angeles Times were voting Thursday on forming a union that would represent about 380 staffers; results expected January 19 — Newsroom employees at The Los Angeles Times will cast ballots Thursday on whether to form a union, in what they believe …
Discussion:
@melbournecoal, @mattdpearce, @mattdpearce and Splinter
Juli Clover / MacRumors:
Spotify says it has 70M paying subscribers, up from 60M in late July 2017, as the company prepares for an IPO — Spotify today announced on Twitter that it has hit a new milestone, with the streaming music service reaching a total of 70 million paid subscribers.
Discussion:
@spotify, The Verge, Forbes, TechCrunch, Axios, Fast Company and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Catherine Shu / TechCrunch:
Google invests undisclosed sum in Chinese game streaming firm Chushou, as it seeks ways to enter Chinese market, which has blocked its search engine since 2012 — Google has added Chinese mobile game livestreaming platform Chushou to its list of investments in Asia.
Discussion:
Reuters, AndroidHeadlines.com, TechNode and Variety, more at Techmeme »
Christine Schmidt / Nieman Lab:
The Tech & Check Cooperative at Duke University Reporters' Lab will test automated fact-checking with real-time alerts during the State of the Union on Jan. 30 — Is automated fact-checking the “holy grail” for this corner of journalism? — Instead of watching the upcoming State …
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A.J. Katz / TVNewser:
Memo: Bloomberg Businessweek editor Megan Murphy is leaving, to be replaced by Joel Weber, editor of Markets magazine — Some changes are coming to Bloomberg Media this year, and a number of them are on the staffing front. — Bloomberg Businessweek editor Megan Murphy is departing the company.
Discussion:
Axios, Talking Biz News, Business Insider and @mattcampbel
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