Top News:
David McCabe / New York Times:
A new Florida law regulates how Twitter, YouTube, and others moderate speech, with fines for banning candidates; the law exempts companies that own theme parks — The new law, a direct response to Facebook and Twitter's suspension of former President Donald J. Trump, affects candidates for statewide offices.
Discussion:
@govrondesantis, Washington Post, Ad Age, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, @hannahgais, Wall Street Journal, CBS Miami, @radleybalko, @jaredlholt, @athertonkd, @johnpaczkowski, The Week, @mmasnick, @lexnfx, @devilstower, @fmanjoo, @aricohn, @hesherman, @samstein, @peterschorschfl, @cfarivar, @parkermolloy, TechCrunch, @govrondesantis, @nberlat, @scout_finch, @adamweinstein, @jeffreyasachs, @thetomzone, Gizmodo, The American Independent, Engadget, Insider, WKMG, Associated Press and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Ron DeSantis / @govrondesantis: Today, Floridians are being guaranteed protection against the Silicon Valley power grab on speech, thought, and content. We the people are standing up to tech totalitarianism with the signing of Florida's Big Tech Bill. https://www.facebook.com/...
Cat Zakrzewski / Washington Post: Florida governor signs bill barring social media companies from blocking political candidates
I-Hsien Sherwood / Ad Age: A year since the world met George Floyd, and Deutsche Bank's diversity dilemma: Tuesday Wake-Up Call
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis: Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Bill to Stop the Censorship of Floridians by Big Tech
Hannah Gais / @hannahgais: very excited for Facebook and Twitter's 26-acre theme parks https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
John D. McKinnon / Wall Street Journal: Florida's New Law Bars Twitter, Facebook and Others From Blocking Political Candidates
Radley Balko / @radleybalko: There are many things you could call policy that forces private companies to allow political leaders to use their platforms at any time, for any reason, with no moderation, no matter how repugnant or dangerous their message. But it is not “free speech.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Jared Holt / @jaredlholt: Lmfao it does what now? Sounds like someone got a call from an angry lobbyist, if I had my guess https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Kelsey D. Atherton / @athertonkd: twitter: the ride https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
John Paczkowski / @johnpaczkowski: “Big Tech is prohibited from de-platforming Floridian political candidates. The Florida Election Commission will impose fines of $250,000 per day on any social media company that de-platforms any candidate for statewide office” https://twitter.com/...
Catherine Garcia / The Week: Under new Florida law, social media companies can be fined for banning political candidates
Mike Masnick / @mmasnick: Today, Florida's governor signed a blatantly corrupt, unconstitutional censorial law that will waste a ton of taxpayer money in court only to lose, just to prove he's a big enough culture warrior. https://twitter.com/...
Alexei Oreskovic / @lexnfx: The solution for Facebook is obvious: a ZuckWorld theme park in Orlando. https://twitter.com/...
Mark Sumner / @devilstower: In other words, Florida signed up to spend a huge amount of taxpayer money defending a law that they absolutely no won't stand up in court. All for Trump. https://twitter.com/...
Farhad Manjoo / @fmanjoo: Can't wait for Googleland Tampa! https://www.nytimes.com/...
Ari Cohn / @aricohn: The only thing this guarantees Floridians is a hefty legal bill and an embarrassing loss in court. https://twitter.com/...
Howard Sherman / @hesherman: “It is the government telling private entities how to speak. In general, it's a gross misreading of the First Amendment.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Peter Schorsch / @peterschorschfl: Good luck, Floridians, suing the wealthiest, most powerful companies in the world. Trial lawyers, I'm sure, will be tackling each other for the chance to take you're case! https://twitter.com/...
Parker Molloy / @parkermolloy: Weird to brag about signing a law that pretty clearly violates the first amendment and will almost certainly be struck down, but I guess it's good PR for your inevitable run for president https://twitter.com/...
Devin Coldewey / TechCrunch: Florida's ban on bans will test First Amendment rights of social media companies
Ron DeSantis / @govrondesantis: Florida's Big Tech Bill gives every Floridian the power to fight back against deplatforming and allows any person to sue Big Tech companies for up to $100,000 in damages. Today, we level the playing field between celebrity and citizen on social media. https://www.flgov.com/...
Noah Berlatsky / @nberlat: yeah, forcing venues to publish political propaganda is pretty much exactly what the first amendment was intended to prevent. Florida is using the power of the state to force publisher's to take a particular editorial line. pretty clear first amendment violation. https://twitter.com/...
Jennifer Hayden / @scout_finch: Remember when Republicans used to claim they were for small government? They really seem to enjoy telling private companies what to do. https://twitter.com/...
Adam Weinstein / @adamweinstein: Nothing says “I am the Republican frontrunner for president” like using your government power to crush free enterprise and force it to carry your propaganda https://twitter.com/...
Jeffrey Sachs / @jeffreyasachs: What a thing to see so many state governments lurch so harshly against free speech. https://twitter.com/...
@thetomzone: why does this article not mention that the law raises constitutionality concerns until the 4th to last paragraph https://www.nytimes.com/...
Whitney Kimball / Gizmodo: There's No Way the Big Tech Law Florida Just Passed Is Legal
Oliver Willis / The American Independent: DeSantis gives shoutout to far-right activist as he signs bill to punish Twitter
Igor Bonifacic / Engadget: Florida governor signs state's social media ‘deplatforming’ bill into law
Insider: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis just signed a bill allowing people to sue big tech firms over alleged censorship - and the state to fine companies $250,000
Emilee Speck / WKMG: New Florida law requires social media companies to explain censorship or face fines
Brendan Farrington / Associated Press: Florida law seeks to rein in large social media companies
RELATED:
Gilad Edelman / Wired:
Florida's new Stop Social Media Censorship Act almost certainly violates the US Constitution and Section 230, and will likely be struck down in court — The Stop Social Media Censorship Act almost certainly violates both the US Constitution and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
Discussion:
Gilad Edelman / @giladedelman: “This is so obviously unconstitutional, you wouldn't even put it on an exam.” https://www.wired.com/...
@wired: Florida's new social media legislation is the first state law to regulate online content moderation. It's also likely to become the first such law to be struck down in court. “This is so obviously unconstitutional, you wouldn't even put it on an exam.” https://www.wired.com/...
David W. / @medic854: @GovRonDeSantis “This is so obviously unconstitutional, you wouldn't even put it on an law school exam”, Professor.... https://www.wired.com/...
Caitlin Kelly / @caitlin__kelly: “This law looks like a political freebie...You get to pander, and nothing bad happens, because there's no chance this will survive in court.” @GiladEdelman talked to some folks about Florida's new social media law and uh, they are not impressed! https://www.wired.com/...
Lindsey Ellefson / The Wrap:
Over 100 AP staff sign a letter saying they “strongly disapprove” with how Emily Wilder's firing was handled and call on AP to update social media policies — Over 100 Associated Press employees signed a letter to management Monday saying they “strongly disapprove” …
Discussion:
@kat__stafford, BuzzFeed News, @janinezacharia, CNN, @brianstelter, Columbia Journalism Review, @tasneemn, The Intercept, @froomkin, @dylanbyers, @jakemgrumbach, @alexgibneyfilm, @lizsly, @nycsouthpaw, @bruce_arthur, @jordanchariton, @davidfolkenflik, @ericboehlert, New York Post, @debrajsaunders, @econ_marshall, @karenattiah, @oliverdarcy, @omarjsakr, @omar_gaza, @juliareinstein, @dmrider, @ryanjreilly, @brianstelter, @froomkin, @w7voa, @feliciasonmez, @laurie_garrett, @thegarance, @dctello, @bcrodriguez, @dakekang, @jnicholsonindc, @chrisrugaber, @sameralatrush, @jayrosen_nyu, @elaheizadi, @jdakwar, @miriamelder, Mediaite and The Hill
Discussion:
Kat Stafford / @kat__stafford: A statement from @AP staff: We love the AP. We also want it to change. We hope the institution that we serve with bravery and tenacity every day will join us in charting a more equitable future. https://docs.google.com/...
Tasneem Nashrulla / BuzzFeed News: AP Staffers Demanded To Know Why Emily Wilder Was Fired After A Conservative “Smear Campaign” Over Her Pro-Palestinian Activism
@janinezacharia: Many have commented on the selective application of social media policies in @vv1lder's firing by @AP and have discussed the need for clearer guidelines and enforcement. I agree that would be helpful. But I want to explain how that isn't the core issue here. (1/12)
Brian Stelter / CNN: Associated Press employees want answers after reporter's firing
Brian Stelter / @brianstelter: When asked for comment about today's open letter, a corporate spokesperson said “The @AP looks forward to continuing the conversation with staff about AP's social media policy.”
Jon Allsop / Columbia Journalism Review: Emily Wilder, tradition, and the double standards around objectivity
Tasneem N / @tasneemn: AP spokesperson responds to the open letter signed by more than 100 AP staffers criticizing how the company fired Emily Wilder for violating its social media policy https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
Ken Klippenstein / The Intercept: AP, in Leaked Memos, Doing Damage Control With Staff: “You Will Have a Voice”
Dan Froomkin / @froomkin: The implication here that somehow @vv1lder presented a danger to the “business of fact-based journalism” is despicable and someone @AP is digging in deeper and needs to be stopped. https://twitter.com/...
Dylan Byers / @dylanbyers: Update: AP News leadership just sent email to staff outlining plans to address concerns about social media policy. Re: @vv1lder firing: “We can assure you that much of the coverage and commentary does not accurately portray a difficult decision that we did not make lightly.” https://twitter.com/...
Jake M. Grumbach / @jakemgrumbach: This is nice. The Emily Wilder firing is an especially hurtful one. A Jewish American woman tarred as antisemitic and fired at the behest of antiliberal Fortress Worlders and Christian End-Timers for doing the most Jewish thing of all: standing up for the downtrodden https://twitter.com/...
Liz Sly / @lizsly: Incisive thread by a former colleague on the trap @AP fell into when it fired Emily Wilder in the heat of the latest Gaza war. The firing revealed bias as much as the hiring did. “Beware of campaigns to redirect your attention from one newsworthy event to another.” https://twitter.com/...
Southpaw / @nycsouthpaw: I guess they didn't name her publicly, just curtly announced her departure to AP staff worldwide ensuring the news would leak. https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Bruce Arthur / @bruce_arthur: Whole thread. Every news organization needs a Gamergate editor, or just enough senior people who have read this. https://deadspin.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Jordan / @jordanchariton: Underneath the pushback against the AP for firing Emily Wilder is the reality that all of these corporate outlets pretend to be neutral when they are overwhelmingly biased toward corporations, capitalism, government officials, and the status quo https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ...
David Folkenflik / @davidfolkenflik: UPDATE: AP Executive Editor @SallyBuzbee tells NPR she had no role in dismissing @vv1lder: “By the time the situation came up, I had accepted The Post job and thus handed over day-to-day operations at AP, so I was not involved in the decision at all.” More on this at 4.24/6.24p
Eric Boehlert / @ericboehlert: AP staffers are pissed. what abt the Post newsroom? https://www.cnn.com/...
Samuel Chamberlain / New York Post: AP to revisit social media policies after rookie staffer's firing
Debra J. Saunders / @debrajsaunders: Bad journalism trend: Stories with link to conservative tweets but not original left-wing tweets that sparked brouhaha. AP Staffers Demanded To Know Why Emily Wilder Was Fired After Conservative “Smear Campaign” Over Her Pro-Palestinian Activism https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ... @TasneemN
Marshall Steinbaum / @econ_marshall: Good for the AP staffers for pushing back when panicked bosses sell out their workers to a social media mob. Having been there, it's very demoralizing. And bosses: your loyalty should be to your employees. I know that's a foreign concept in progressive nonprofits but try it. https://twitter.com/...
Karen Attiah / @karenattiah: A masterclass in how to write a lot of words, but say absolutely nothing. https://twitter.com/...
Oliver Darcy / @oliverdarcy: Associated Press employees have signed an open-letter asking for more info about @vv1lder's firing. “Wilder's ouster, and the newswire's lack of candor about its cause, has caused a rare uproar inside the storied news organization,” @brianstelter writes. https://www.cnn.com/...
Omar Sakr / @omarjsakr: This is how you do it. Stand up together and demand better. https://twitter.com/...
Omar Ghraieb / @omar_gaza: Change always comes from within, well done @AP staff for holding AP accountable & demanding change regarding biased policies towards #Palestine & Palestinians & pro Palestinians. https://twitter.com/...
Julia Reinstein / @juliareinstein: love to see this collective action from the AP staff https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ...
David Rider / @dmrider: “...we strongly disapprove of the way the AP has handled the firing of Emily Wilder and its dayslong silence internally. We demand more clarity from the company about why Wilder was fired. It remains unclear ...how she violated the social media policy while employed by the AP.” https://twitter.com/...
Ryan J. Reilly / @ryanjreilly: No self-respecting journalist would have accepted that statement at face value, and it was encouraging to see reporters push back internally too. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ...
Brian Stelter / @brianstelter: More than 100 employees at the Associated Press have signed an open letter calling for more transparency about the firing of @vv1lder. My latest >> https://www.cnn.com/...
Dan Froomkin / @froomkin: By the way, NICE JOB AVOIDING CONTROVERSY, @AP! And we still need to hear directly from @SallyBuzbee. https://twitter.com/...
Steve Herman / @w7voa: “We demand more clarity from the company about why Wilder was fired. It remains unclear — to Wilder herself as well as staff at large — how she violated the social media policy while employed by the AP.” - @AP staff open letter regarding the firing of @vv1lder. https://twitter.com/...
Felicia Sonmez / @feliciasonmez: Wow. Bravo to the @AP staffers across the country and globe who organized and signed this letter on @vv1lder's firing. “We need to know that the AP would stand behind and provide resources to journalists who are the subject of smear campaigns and online harassment.” https://twitter.com/...
Laurie Garrett / @laurie_garrett: AP reporter Emily Wilder came under attack from the @Stanford Young #Republicans Club for her personal statements about Palestinians, posted years ago. AP fired her, and the editor who did so is taking over the @washingtonpost . Now AP reporters worldwide are rallying to Wilder. https://twitter.com/...
Garance Franke-Ruta / @thegarance: Creating a playbook for supporting staff targeted by digital harassment campaigns is so important and something all news orgs that cover controversial subjects need to have in place. https://twitter.com/...
Darcy Costello / @dctello: “As journalists who cover contentious subjects, we are often the target of people unhappy with scrutiny. What happens when they orchestrate a smear campaign targeting another one of us?” https://twitter.com/...
Barbara Rodriguez / @bcrodriguez: I started my career at @AP and care deeply about it. But the news organization needs to do better. I'm proud of my former colleagues for demanding more equitable policies from AP on its social media practices and how it plans to support staff targeted by harassment campaigns. https://twitter.com/...
Dake Kang / @dakekang: 1/ The AP has a strict social media policy. I generally support having one and believe it is necessary for us to do unbiased journalism. Though some of Wilder's posts from her college days would likely have violated the policy, this policy isn't and shouldn't be retrospective. https://twitter.com/...
Jonathan Nicholson / @jnicholsonindc: A) this is VERY un-AP, where the old bulls tell tales of being consigned to the overnight “lobster shift” for looking at the buro chief sideways; and b) needed if AP is to shed its rep for stodginess and compete for best talent. https://twitter.com/...
Chris Rugaber / @chrisrugaber: I signed this, my name fell off somehow. A letter on the firing of a young journalist last week. https://twitter.com/...
Samer Al-Atrush / @sameralatrush: “We are also concerned about the ramifications of this decision for newsroom morale and AP's credibility. Wilder was a young journalist, unnecessarily harmed by the AP's handling and announcement of its firing of her.” https://twitter.com/...
Jay Rosen / @jayrosen_nyu: The current policy is unsustainable. The employees know it. Any social media policy grounded in the attempt to manage “appearances” hands power to the culture warriors who want you dead, or injured. https://twitter.com/...
Elahe Izadi / @elaheizadi: Open letter signed by AP staff calls on AP to provide more clarity on why it fired Emily Wilder, and more. “Once we decide to play this game on the terms of those acting in bad faith, we can't win.” https://twitter.com/...
Jamil Dakwar / @jdakwar: Important letter that should be a wake-up call for other media organizations as well. If you want media freedom and independence to be protected you should support your journalists when they get smeared. Background in case you're just hearing about it: https://www.vanityfair.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Miriam Elder / @miriamelder: Sally Buzbee, current AP editor in chief and incoming WashPo EIC, did not respond to a request for comment 👀 https://www.vanityfair.com/...
Rudy Takala / Mediaite: AP Staffers Blast Reporter's Firing for Old Social Media Posts in Open Letter: It ‘Caused the Public to Question the Credibility of Our Reporting’
Thomas Moore / The Hill: Associated Press reporters protest firing of Emily Wilder
New York Times:
Nexta Telegram channel founder Roman Protasevich arrested as Belarus, under orders from Lukashenko, sends fighter jet and forces Ryanair flight to land in Minsk — The dissident, Roman Protasevich, co-founded a Telegram channel that is a popular opposition outlet in Belarus.
Discussion:
@ryanairpress, @lizsly, @maxseddon, The Guardian, The Atlantic, Nieman Lab, @franakviacorka, @thomasvlinge, Poynter, @gitanasnauseda, New York Times, Washington Post, @franakviacorka, @vonderleyen, Politico, @tsihanouskaya, DW.COM, @tcwittes, The Week, Forbes, New Republic, Insider, Letters from an American, @alfonslopeztena, @ischinger, Mediaite, @john_sipher, @theatlantic, @briankarem, @rebecca_vincent, @biannagolodryga, @blakehounshell, @jeffjarvis, @anthony, @lionelbarber, @maxseddon, @agnescallamard, @sarahemclaugh, @matinastevis, @sevaut, The Daily Beast, @primeministergr, @emilybell, @ingridasimonyte, @krisjaniskarins, @cdeloire, Bloomberg, @tadeuszgiczan, United States Senate Committee …, @kenroth, @anneapplebaum, Glenn Greenwald, @guyverhofstadt, @billbrowder, @chrismurphyct, @billbrowder, @kenroth, @jimsciutto, @nytgraphics, The Morning Dispatch, Financial Times, Foreign Policy, Politico, @mikebutcher, @reedbrody, @christopherjm, @simoncoveney, @ruskin147, @iyervval, @g_boccaletti, @brianklaas, @iyad_elbaghdadi, @juliaangwin, @stavridisj, @bopanc, @antontroian, @lotteleicht1, @carlzimmer, @thinink, @raydubicki, @arjunbasu, @cbcchrisbrown, @edgarsrinkevics, @flyingwithsara, @mathieuvonrohr, @mollyjongfast, @denismacshane, @charlesarthur, @nytimesworld, @ivohdaalder, @tashecon, @linkeviciusl, @lisanandy, @billbrowder, @vladdavidzon, @tadeuszgiczan, @lugaricano, @bryvkin, @radeksikorski, @josepborrellf, @glandsbergis, @josepborrellf, @ndkirschmann, @avindman, @davidcoltart, @evanchill, @sashachavkin, @kshahrooz, @wiczipedia, @donie, @erinburnett, @jesselynradack, @biannagolodryga, @phastidio, @maxseddon, @j_bertolotti, @ncweaver, @davmicrot, @michaeldweiss, @cjcmichel, @xsovietnews, @b_nishanov, @christopherjm, @repmeijer, @maxseddon, @dethveggie, @mitchprothero, @jamesrbuk, @christopherjm, @biannagolodryga, @danielrhamilton, @bobrae48, @andrewkimmel, @vloracitaku, @sovietsergey, @nycsouthpaw, @marcburleigh, @jason_kint, @henryjfoy, @asluhn, @tadeuszgiczan and United States Department …
Discussion:
@ryanairpress: Our FR4978 flight has landed safely in Vilnius at 19:25hrs UK time (21:25hrs local time). Here is Ryanair's statement on today's diversion to Minsk Airport 👇 https://twitter.com/...
Liz Sly / @lizsly: UPDATE: Ryanair has now amended its statement on the abduction of the Belarus journalist from its plane in Minsk. “Nothing untoward” has been changed to “an act of aviation piracy.” https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Max Seddon / @maxseddon: With a completely straight face, the Belarusian transport ministry claims: - the Ryanair “bomb threat” came from Hamas - Hamas didn't send it to the Vilnius airport, but Minsk, a totally different one not on the flight path - they demanded a ceasefire two days after it happened https://twitter.com/...
Anne Applebaum / The Atlantic: Other Regimes Will Hijack Planes Too
Joshua Benton / Nieman Lab: A “state hijacking” in Belarus shows how far its autocratic regime will go to stop dissident journalists
@franakviacorka: ❗❗Raman Pratasevich, obviously beaten, says Lukashenka's thugs treat him “correctly” and “lawfully”. He is in the Minsk Detention Center #1. Terrifying video. https://twitter.com/...
Thomas van Linge / @thomasvlinge: #Belarus: insta-stories by one of the passengers on board #FR4978. Protasevich apparently begged the @Ryanair crew not to hand him over. They told him “we have no choice, it's in Ryanair legal agreements” https://twitter.com/...
Tom Jones / Poynter: The Associated Press fired a reporter over social media use — and what it means for other news outlets
@gitanasnauseda: Unprecedented event! A civilian passenger plane flying to Vilnius was forcibly landed in #Minsk. Belarusian political activist & founder of @NEXTA_EN was on the plane. He is arrested. 🇧🇾 regime is behind the abhorrent action. I demand to free Roman Protasevič urgently!
Washington Post: E.U. agrees to impose sanctions on Belarus, bars E.U. airlines from country's airspace, after authorities forced down a Ryanair jet
@franakviacorka: BREAKING! The regime landed @Ryanair plane, which was flying from Athens to Vilnius,in order to arrest the famous Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich. In Belarus, he faces the death penalty. Belarus has seized a plane,put passengers in danger, in order to repress an opponent https://twitter.com/...
Ursula von der Leyen / @vonderleyen: It is utterly unacceptable to force @Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius to land in Minsk. ALL passengers must be able to continue their travel to Vilnius immediately and their safety ensured. Any violation of international air transport rules must bear consequences.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya / @tsihanouskaya: The regime forced the landing @Ryanair plane in Minsk to arrest journalist and activist Raman Pratasevich. He faces the death penalty in Belarus. We demand immediate release of Raman, @ICAO investigation, and sanctions against Belarus. https://twitter.com/...
Tamara Cofman Wittes / @tcwittes: This is horrifying. https://twitter.com/...
Catherine Garcia / The Week: EU to impose sanctions on Belarus following forced landing of plane
Carlie Porterfield / Forbes: Belarus Intercepts Ryanair Flight And Detains Journalist, Sparking International Outrage
Erin Snodgrass / Insider: Belarusian journalist reportedly pleaded with crew before being detained in Minsk: 'Don't do this. They will kill me.'
Heather Cox Richardson / Letters from an American: May 24, 2021 — On Sunday, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus forced a commercial airliner …
Alfons Lpez Tena / @alfonslopeztena: The Belarus plane hijacking belongs alongside Russian assassinations, Saudi Arabia's brutal murder of Kashoggi, Iranian and Chinese kidnappings and killings of their citizens abroad. Transnational repression is now a part of what modern autocracies do https://www.theatlantic.com/ ...
Wolfgang Ischinger / @ischinger: The @MunSecConf calls it „Westlessness", @DMiliband the „age of impunity". If we do not now demonstrate that impunity has a steep price tag, we and our democratic way of life will end up among the victims @anneapplebaum @JosepBorrellF @SecBlinken @vonderleyen @MiguelBergerAA https://twitter.com/...
Marisa Sarnoff / Mediaite: What's Happening With the Dissident Journalist Detained in Belarus, and How Is Putin Involved?
John Sipher / @john_sipher: State-sponsored terrorism. No government officials from Belarus should get any kind of visas to visit the West. https://www.theatlantic.com/ ...
@theatlantic: “In autocratic capitals all over the world, dictators and their flunkies are also watching to see how the West reacts—whether Lukashenko gets away with it and whether ... this new tool of oppression will become available to them too,” @anneapplebaum writes: https://on.theatln.tc/53fLSOe
Brian J. Karem / @briankarem: When you don't impose sanctions against MBS and Saudi Arabia for murdering a journalist, you give every other despot on the planet the go ahead . . . and this is the fallout. https://twitter.com/...
Rebecca Vincent / @rebecca_vincent: I've noticed this in other mainstream reporting too. Roman Protasevich is a journalist. This is an attack on journalism. Now is the time for solidarity to show that this will not be tolerated, in Belarus or anywhere - otherwise international travel becomes unsafe for all. https://twitter.com/...
Bianna Golodryga / @biannagolodryga: Belarus release a video of Roman Protasevich claiming that he is in good health and being treated lawfully. He also acknowledges he was at the protests and is cooperating with the govt. This has all the hallmarks of a forced confession and I can only imagine how fearful he is. https://twitter.com/...
@blakehounshell: Here's what it was like aboard the hijacked plane to Minsk https://www.politico.eu/...
Jeff Jarvis / @jeffjarvis: The mother of Roman Protasevich to @derspiegel: “I ask the world community to influence this insane regime. As a mother, I ask, I implore you.” https://twitter.com/...
@anthony: Belarus secret service agents also believed to be on the diverted plane, says Ryanair's Michael O'Leary, calls it a state-sponsored hijacking https://www.wsj.com/...
Lionel Barber / @lionelbarber: A brazen act of air piracy which demands a response, starting with demands for the freeing of the targeted dissident blogger. Failure to act by EU will render all journalists and critics of Belarus fair game for the regime https://www.ft.com/...
Max Seddon / @maxseddon: Even by the standards of Belarus' crackdown, this story is nuts. Lukashenko personally forced an EU plane flying between EU capitals to land just so Belarus could arrest a dissident. A huge test for EU foreign policy. with @JamesShotter and @rmilneNordic https://www.ft.com/...
Agnes Callamard / @agnescallamard: Forcing a plane to land, on false pretense (a bomb threat), so that a journalist could be arbitrarily arrested: this is how far #Belarus is prepared to go in its repression. https://www.ft.com/...
Sarah McLaughlin / @sarahemclaugh: Mrs. Lincoln took part in a night at the theater. Following a delay, she departed the theater safely after the performance. https://twitter.com/...
Matina Stevis-Gridneff / @matinastevis: Paul Rusesabagina, a Belgian national & Rwandan dissident accused of “terrorism” by Rwandan govt, was lured on to a Greek-operated private plane bound for Burundi. He was forcibly taken to Kigali, jailed instead. Lawlessness in the skies has precedent for EU citizens too.
Seva / @sevaut: I see people claiming that Lukashenko is acting on Putin's orders and folks, Lukashenko does not need anyone's orders to do insane idiotic things
Julia Davis / The Daily Beast: Top Kremlin Pundits Celebrate Mid-Air Takedown of Journo Facing Execution
Prime Minister GR / @primeministergr: The forced landing of a commercial plane to detain a journalist is an unprecedented, shocking act. We demand all passengers' immediate release. Tomorrow's #EUCO must address the need to step up pressure on Belarus. Enough is enough.
Emily Bell / @emilybell: Listening to the BBC reports about Protasevich this morning, they are using the phrase ‘prominent opposition activist’ , but not ‘journalist’ which is how the NYT, and others, are describing him https://www.nytimes.com/...
@ingridasimonyte: Passengers and crew of Ryanair flight en route from Athens to Vilnius have been put in danger - when forcibly landed in Minsk. We demand that the plane and passengers be allowed to fly to Vilnius immediately!
@krisjaniskarins: Concerning reports about forced landing of @Ryanair flight in Minsk and safety of all the passengers. We call for independent international investigation of this incident and immediate release of Belarusian opposition activist Roman Protasevich arrested on this flight.
Christophe Deloire / @cdeloire: What happened may seem extravagant, in reality it is extremely serious. Hijacking a plane to arrest a journalist is pushing state treachery to the extreme. We expect from the international community sanctions commensurate with this perfidy. #PressFreedom #Belarus https://twitter.com/...
Tadeusz Giczan / @tadeuszgiczan: What we know so far: KGB operatives boarded the plane in Athens this morning together with Roman Protasevich (he noticed dodgy-looking ppl taking pics of him at the gate). Then when the plane has entered Belarus airspace KGB officers initiated a fight with the Ryanair crew (1/2)
Senator Bob Menendez / United States Senate Committee …: Chairman Menendez and European Allies Condemn Lukashenka Regime for Intercepting Civilian Flight to Arrest Journalist
Kenneth Roth / @kenroth: The Belarus pretext — to address a security threat rather than to arrest a dissident — isn't even credible for its forced down of the Ryanair jet. The jet was already nearer its destination in Vilnius than it was to Minsk where it was forced to land. https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Anne Applebaum / @anneapplebaum: The Belarus government has forced down a commercial airplane flying over its territory in order to arrest a passenger - an opposition journalist. This is state-sponsored hijacking. https://twitter.com/...
Glenn Greenwald: As Anger Toward Belarus Mounts, Recall the 2013 Forced Landing of Bolivia's Plane to Find Snowden
Guy Verhofstadt / @guyverhofstadt: This is big ! International community must condemn this hostile act & demand his immediate release. Time for EU to step up sanctions ! https://twitter.com/...
Bill Browder / @billbrowder: Ryanair's statement fails to mention that 6 people didn't continue on to Vilnius: Roman Protasevich, the Belarusian opposition journalist and his girlfriend who were detained, and four mysterious Russians who decided to end their trip on Minsk. https://twitter.com/...
Chris Murphy / @chrismurphyct: Just a run of the mill unscheduled 7 hour layover in Minsk for a journalist kidnapping. Sorry for the inconvenience! Apply online for a voucher! https://twitter.com/...
Bill Browder / @billbrowder: Correction: the Belarusian opposition journalist arrested on the commandeered Ryanair flight faces the death penalty! https://twitter.com/...
Kenneth Roth / @kenroth: A new low for Belarus President Lukashenko: his forces endanger a commercial jet flying over its territory to force it down and arrest a dissident journalist on board. https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Jim Sciutto / @jimsciutto: And the costs are clearly survivable. If Russia can poison and then jail its main opposition leader (and throw others out windows), Belarus calculates it can hijack a plane to arrest its own. And the cycle goes on. https://twitter.com/...
NYT Graphics / @nytgraphics: Belarus sent a fighter jet to intercept a European airliner traveling through its airspace and ordered the plane to land, where a prominent opposition journalist aboard was seized, provoking international outrage. https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Shawn Pogatchnik / Politico: Ryanair CEO calls Belarus landing a ‘state-sponsored hijacking’
Mike Butcher / @mikebutcher: The head of Russia Today: “I have never envied Lukashenko. But now i do. A beautiful performance by Bat'ka” - translates like “Daddy” #Protasevich https://twitter.com/...
@reedbrody: Reminds me of when the US forced down the plane of #Bolivia president Evo Morales in #Austria in its hunt for whistleblower #EdwardSnowden @snowden. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
Christopher Miller / @christopherjm: Reaction from the Belarusian opposition leader in exile who'd have likely won last year's presidential election if it hadn't been rigged. She's asking for an international response, including further sanctions against Lukasheno's regime. https://twitter.com/...
Simon Coveney / @simoncoveney: It is utterly unacceptable. This is an Irish Airline with EU citizens on board, forced to land in Minsk, while travelling between EU cities. A strong an united response from EU needed. EU inaction or indecision will be taken as weakness by Belarus. @dfatirl https://twitter.com/...
Rory Cellan-Jones / @ruskin147: Terrifying thread https://twitter.com/...
Abhijit Iyer-Mitra / @iyervval: Not unprecedented- in 2010 Iranians did the same to an Emirati plane from Dubai to Bishkek capturing & executing AbdolMalek Rigi. ZERO action against Iran. Notice despite the fury nobody is citing the exact law that prevents a first freedom flight from being forced to land https://twitter.com/...
Giulio Boccaletti / @g_boccaletti: This is insane. A civilian passenger plane of a European airline forcibly landed. No one is safe if @EU_Commission tolerates a dictator and autocrat at its gates hijacking a plane. It must respond. https://twitter.com/...
Brian Klaas / @brianklaas: This is a crucial point. What happened in Belarus is being watched closely by authoritarian despots around the world. Can you get away with forcing down a civilian aircraft with a fighter jet to arrest someone? The West needs to ensure that the answer is a resounding “No.” https://twitter.com/...
@iyad_elbaghdadi: This is an extremely dangerous precedent for all journalists, activists, and journalists in the entire world. If this is allowed to pass without serious - and I mean *serious* - consequence, then it's no less dangerous than the precedent set by the 2018 Khashoggi murder
Julia Angwin / @juliaangwin: This is horrifying and will transform the threat models for journalism - and global air travel - if it goes unchallenged. https://twitter.com/...
@stavridisj: This is beyond outrageous. The international community must take decisive action to demonstrate that this behavior utterly unacceptable. The alternative is to surrender international air travel to the whim of dictators. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Bojan Pancevski / @bopanc: A Ryanair airliner flying between two EU/Nato countries was hijacked and escorted by warplane on the personal order of Belarus's dictator to kidnap a dissident. How will Europe respond? https://www.nytimes.com/...
Anton Troianovski / @antontroian: A Russian MP's reaction to the Ryanair forced landing today: “A brilliant special operation.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Lotte Leicht / @lotteleicht1: Incredible. #Lukashenko's thuggish regime force a commercial plane -en route from one #EU state to another EU state- to land in #Belarus .. for the purpose of arresting a critical journalist on board the airliner. End impunity. #JusticeMatters. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Carl Zimmer / @carlzimmer: Belarus Forces Down Plane Carrying Dissident and Seizes Him https://www.nytimes.com/...
Thin / @thinink: What the actual eff? This is going to embolden the world's dictators even more... https://www.nytimes.com/...
Ray Dubicki / @raydubicki: Not that you needed more to pay attention to, but keep an eye on Belarus. Forcing down a civilian flight with a sham terrorist attack in order to arrest a journalist is bad stuff. https://twitter.com/...
Arjun Basu / @arjunbasu: Wow. This is nuts. https://twitter.com/...
Chris Brown / @cbcchrisbrown: This is an incredible story that's unfolding ... https://twitter.com/...
@edgarsrinkevics: This is completely unacceptable and contrary to the international law. Plane and ALL passangers must be released immediately and should continue to their destination. International reaction must be strong and effective https://twitter.com/...
Sara Nelson / @flyingwithsara: Deeply concerning reports coming out of a Belarus that the government there essentially hijacked a Ryan Air flight, forced it to land and then arrested a journalist onboard https://twitter.com/...
Mathieu von Rohr / @mathieuvonrohr: #Ryanair leave out of their statement that one of their customers was kidnapped in #Minsk by state authorities https://twitter.com/...
Molly Jong-Fast / @mollyjongfast: This is fucked up https://twitter.com/...
Denis MacShane / @denismacshane: Well said https://twitter.com/...
Charles Arthur / @charlesarthur: Fine while Lukashenko was just imprisoning people inside his country. Now he's detaining overflying jets? Things are going to change. Of course, have to hope this isn't Gavrilo Princip's sandwich. https://twitter.com/...
@nytimesworld: Belarus said its president gave an “unequivocal order” to make the plane, carrying Roman Protasevich, do a U-turn and land. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Ivo Daalder / @ivohdaalder: Outrageous actions by Belarus to force down civilian plane flying from Athens to Vilnius requires strong, concerted action by US and EU, including new sanctions and banning flights from Belarus. https://twitter.com/...
Timothy Ash / @tashecon: No plane is safe flying over Belarus airspace after this. https://twitter.com/...
Linas Linkevicius / @linkeviciusl: It just turned out that Pratasevich was detained at #Minsk airport. All this reckless and lawless ‘operation’ by 🇧🇾 special services deserves strong response, not just condemnation. One can't use airspace controlled by regime criminals. https://twitter.com/...
Lisa Nandy / @lisanandy: Intercepting a civilian airliner to detain a journalist is appalling, dangerous, and illegal. It imperils the freedoms of the air and freedom of speech. The Belarus government must face serious consequences. https://twitter.com/...
Bill Browder / @billbrowder: Truly shocking and unprecedented: Ryanair flight carrying Belarusian journalist critical of the regime forced to land in Minsk. The journalist was subsequently arrested and faces 15 years in prison. A true nightmare. This is why I'll never fly over Russia. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Vladislav Davidzon / @vladdavidzon: French, Belgian, Greek, Romanian and almost a hundred Lithuanian citizens have been taken hostage after Belarus hijacks plane in midair to capture a political opponent. https://twitter.com/...
Tadeusz Giczan / @tadeuszgiczan: MiG-29 of the Belarusian Air Force has returned to the airbase in Baranovichi after successfully intercepting Ryanair Athens-Vilnius flight and forcing it to land in Minsk. The plane with 171 passengers on board still hasn't been released. https://twitter.com/...
Luis Garicano / @lugaricano: Dear Mme @vonderleyen This kidnapping shows that the dictators-first Putin, then Erdogan, now Alexandr Lukashenko have discovered there is nothing behind our “we condemn” and our “we strongly condemn”. Let's save ourselves the words now, and take action. https://twitter.com/...
Boris Ryvkin / @bryvkin: von der Leyen to Lukashenko: all passengers must be able to continue their travel to Vilnius immediately! Lukashenko to von der Leyen (who he regards as utterly impotent): have a carrot. https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Radek Sikorski Mep / @radeksikorski: This is a dangerous precedent for travellers everywhere. I shall be tabling a resolution @Europarl_EN to expel Belorus from @ICAO and impose other sanctions until Mr Pratasevicz is freed and the guilty of this outrageous act of state terrorism are punished. https://twitter.com/...
Josep Borrell Fontelles / @josepborrellf: We hold the government of Belarus responsable for the security of all passengers and the aircraft. ALL passengers must be able to continue their travel immediately. (2/2)
Gabrielius Landsbergis / @glandsbergis: Disturbing news regarding @Ryanair plane from Athens to Vilnius forced landing in Minsk. Working with international partners to secure safe passage back to Vilnius for all passengers.
Josep Borrell Fontelles / @josepborrellf: Closely following developments around today's @Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius, which was forced to land in Minsk over an alleged security threat. This is totally inadmissible. (1/2)
ND Kirsch / @ndkirschmann: Whelp, definitely NOT taking Ryanair this summer. Seriously, how does this happen? The EU and US need to slap (more) sanctions on these clowns. https://twitter.com/...
Alexander S. Vindman / @avindman: Good thread on events in Belarus. Yes, the Gov. of Belarus forcing down a Ryanair flight to detain an opponent is a Human Right violation. Yes, this was a terror act. It is also violation on international norms with grave implications for vital US national interests. https://twitter.com/...
David Coltart / @davidcoltart: Belarus President Scrambles Jet to Force Down Plane Carrying Dissident . Tyrants are the same the world over. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Evan Hill / @evanchill: Belarus appears to have staged a snatch operation to force a commercial aircraft flying over its airspace to land in order to arrest 26-year-old opposition journalist Roman Protasevich. https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Sasha Chavkin / @sashachavkin: Brazen assault on press freedom and the rule of law. Dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus scrambles military jets to force down an international flight carrying an opposition journalist, who was arrested upon landing https://www.nytimes.com/...
Nina Jankowicz / @wiczipedia: Absolutely unacceptable behavior from Belarus. Protasevich and NEXTA have played an integral role in informing citizens during the past year or protest; he should be freed, and the EU & US must act to discourage this wanton disregard for int'l norms. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Donie O'Sullivan / @donie: This is incredibly messed up: A leading opposition figure has said the Belarusian regime “forced the landing of the plane in Minsk to arrest journalist and activist Raman Pratasevich. https://www.cnn.com/...
Erin Burnett / @erinburnett: See Anne's full thread about how this went down - KBG on board forced plane down https://twitter.com/...
@jesselynradack: Remember when the U.S. asked European countries to force down the plane of Bolivian President Morales bc they thought @Snowden was aboard?? https://www.nytimes.com/...
Bianna Golodryga / @biannagolodryga: Strong statement. Question is, what will be the consequences? https://twitter.com/...
Mario Seminerio / @phastidio: Waiting for the consequences, then https://twitter.com/...
Max Seddon / @maxseddon: Strong statement on Roman Protasevich's detention in Belarus from the head of the EU commission. But the bloc's options are pretty limited. “We will be super concerned and demand his release,” one diplomat told me. “But the EU can't do much, sad as it is.” https://twitter.com/...
Jacopo Bertolotti / @j_bertolotti: Immediate sanctions on Lukashenko and his cronies. Thank you @EUCouncil https://twitter.com/...
Nicholas Weaver / @ncweaver: One problem that the EU and US face on this: The EU and US did this to the President of Bolivia because we thought Snowden was on the plane, albeit not with a bomb threat. https://en.wikipedia.org/... https://twitter.com/...
David Rothschild / @davmicrot: “Belarus security service, still known as KGB” https://twitter.com/...
Michael Weiss / @michaeldweiss: Belarusian KGB hijacked a plane headed to Vilnius with a fake bomb threat to arrest a journalist wanted by Lukashenko. Extraordinary. https://www.rferl.org/...
@cjcmichel: Needless to say, unless there's massive pushback against this from the West, we're going to see repeats of this new tactic in Russia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, etc. https://twitter.com/...
X Soviet / @xsovietnews: It's now reported that a Belarusian fighter jet was scrambled to escort the Ryanair flight to Minsk so that journalist Roman Protasevich could be arrested. “On the orders of the commander-in-chief.” https://twitter.com/...
Bakhti Nishanov / @b_nishanov: The regime has gone absolutely rogue https://twitter.com/...
Christopher Miller / @christopherjm: Here's the president of Lithuania reacting to today's absolutely mad events. The Ryan Air fight was headed to his capital of Vilnius. The Irish airline had flown through EU airspace before crossing into Belarusian airspace. https://twitter.com/...
Rep. Peter Meijer / @repmeijer: The authoritarian Belarusian regime just forced down a civilian Ryanair plane flying from Greece to Lithuania to arrest a political activist who criticized the dictator Lukashenko. This is an egregious violation that deserves condemnation and stronger sanctions against Belarus. https://twitter.com/...
Max Seddon / @maxseddon: The president of Lithuania, where the plane reportedly carrying activist Roman Protasevich was headed, is calling for his release https://twitter.com/...
Deth Veggie / @dethveggie: https://www.bbc.com/... How is this not hijacking? This is incredibly messed up. https://twitter.com/...
Mitchell Prothero / @mitchprothero: Official: Belarus conducted an operation on a Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania to force the plane down in Minsk so they could arrest a dissident journalist on board. i'm having a difficult time processing how illegal this is under various international laws and treaties https://twitter.com/...
James Ball / @jamesrbuk: This action *must* have consequences, or else the reach of dictatorships to suppress free speech will extend even further than it does already. https://twitter.com/...
Christopher Miller / @christopherjm: Unbelievably brazen move by Belarusian dictator Lukashenko to fake a bomb threat, scramble a jet, & force a @Ryanair flight to land in Minsk to arrest @nexta_tv founder @pr0tez, who helped organized last years protests against Lukashenko. Protasevich could face the death penalty. https://twitter.com/...
Bianna Golodryga / @biannagolodryga: 🚨An authoritarian regime forced the landing of a plane en route to Lithuania to arrest a journalist. This is outrageous and requires immediate response from the EU. Beyond just a harsh statement. https://twitter.com/...
Daniel Hamilton / @danielrhamilton: It doesn't just require a response on the part of the EU, @biannagolodryga; it requires coordinated action on the part of the *entire* international community to exclude Belarus from the global banking system, end debt financing and to impose ban on dual-use exports. https://twitter.com/...
Bob Rae / @bobrae48: This is the world we are in - the authoritarian world ! https://twitter.com/...
Andrew Kimmel / @andrewkimmel: Belarus secret police hijacked a commercial airliner to arrest a journalist. https://twitter.com/...
@vloracitaku: This is absolutely unacceptable. The way how EU will respond to this act of aggression will determine whether such despicable actions conducted by states will become a norm in the future. https://twitter.com/...
Southpaw / @nycsouthpaw: The Belarusian govt reportedly forced a plane down in order to arrest a journalist on board. https://twitter.com/...
Marc Burleigh / @marcburleigh: Latvia's PM on the @Ryanair plane forced to land in #Belarus https://twitter.com/...
Jason Kint / @jason_kint: And this context is spot on. It's a risk calculation and any failure to respond appropriately for press freedoms and international law only increases risk to press and democracy globally. https://twitter.com/...
Henry Foy / @henryjfoy: Belarus media reporting that a @Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius, while over Belarus airspace was ordered to land in Minsk, where a journalist critical of the Lukashenko regime was taken from the plane and detained. Some reports say a fighter jet was also used https://twitter.com/...
Alec Luhn / @asluhn: Roman Protasevich of the Nexta Telegram channel, which exposed Belarus police brutality, has been arrested after his Athens-Vilnius flight made a surprise landing in Minsk due to a “bomb threat” https://meduza.io/... https://twitter.com/...
Tadeusz Giczan / @tadeuszgiczan: insisting there's an IED onboard. Eventually the crew was forced to send out SOS (literally moments before the plane would've left Belarus airspace). MiG-29 took off and escorted it to Minsk. Security services entered the plane and arrested Protasevich. (2/2)
RELATED:
Tim Lister / CNN:
Profile of Roman Protasevich, who now works for Telegram channel Belamova after its founder was imprisoned by Belarus in 2020, as he faces the death penalty
Discussion:
Cheryl Teh / Insider: Who is Alexander Lukashenko? A closer look at the dictator who has maintained an iron grip on Belarus for over 2 decades.
@cnni: Just 26 years old, Roman Protasevich is one of a new generation of Belarusian political activists who was catapulted to prominence by the surge in public opposition to the long and repressive rule of President Alexander Lukashenko https://www.cnn.com/...
Sergei Kuznetsov / Politico: Why the Belarusian journalist was snatched from the Ryanair flight
Financial Times:
A look at the media activism of Belarusian Telegram channels like Nexta, which not only reported on last year's protests but also helped coordinate them
Discussion:
The Uprising, @brianstelter, @mattgarrahan, @maxseddon, @khalafroula, @valentinapop and Al Jazeera
Discussion:
Brian Stelter / @brianstelter: “Many Belarusian activists realised ten years ago that activism was not enough to win, and that in journalism you can do much more. At the same time, journalism cannot win alone. And this hybrid type of media activist appeared and Roman was one of them.” https://www.ft.com/...
Matthew Garrahan / @mattgarrahan: Superb profile of Roman Protasevich, the “hybrid media activist” who so riled the Lukashenko regime, by @JamesShotter and @maxseddon Includes these comments from Protasevich's father, Dimitry. It's hard to imagine what he's going through tonight https://www.ft.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Max Seddon / @maxseddon: .@JamesShotter and I profiled Roman Protasevich: “My son was always someone who had a strong reaction against lies,” his father Dmitry Protasevich told the FT. “The whole problem is that the authorities are scared of even the tiniest freedom of speech” https://www.ft.com/...
Roula Khalaf / @khalafroula: “The goal is pretty obvious: to show that going forward, if you value your life you can't do anything of the sort in Belarus ever again.” How Roman Protasevich became one of Lukashenko's prized targets https://www.ft.com/...
Valentina Pop / @valentinapop: “My son was always someone who had a strong reaction against lies. That's why he became a journalist,” his father, Dmitry Protasevich, told the FT. https://www.ft.com/... via @JamesShotter @maxseddon
Mansur Mirovalev / Al Jazeera: Why Belarus risked the wrath of the world to arrest an activist
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Amazon is nearing a deal to buy MGM Holdings for almost $9B, which could be announced as early as this week — Deal for the ‘Rocky’ and ‘James Bond’ studio would mark tech company's second largest-ever acquisition — Amazon.com Inc. is nearing a deal to buy the Hollywood studio MGM Holdings …
Discussion:
The Desk, @jbflint, Forbes, Al Jazeera, @danprimack, @alexjamesfitz, ScreenRant, @jbflint, @jbenton, @jacobdotgov, @jbenton, @sherman4949, The Information, @spoonen, @mbgelman, @isaacstonefish, @claireatki, Heroic Hollywood, Vox, Breitbart, Gizmodo, CNBC, Observer, Hollywood Reporter, The Streamable, Cord Cutters News and Media Play News
Discussion:
Matthew Keys / The Desk: Amazon deal to buy MGM could be announced this week
Carlie Porterfield / Forbes: Amazon Reportedly Close To Buying MGM For Nearly $9 Billion
Dan Primack / @danprimack: Amazon talks with MGM confirm something a top Amazon corp dev exec told me just before the pandemic, when I asked if antitrust concerns would slow big acquisitions: (paraphrased) “We'll keep doing big deals until one actually gets blocked, instead of just political rhetoric.”
Alex Fitzpatrick / @alexjamesfitz: man the bond market is outta control https://twitter.com/...
Hope Rosenblatt / ScreenRant: Amazon Reportedly Nears $9 Billion Deal To Buy MGM | Screen Rant
Joe Flint / @jbflint: MGM board briefed on Amazon deal. Sale likely unveiled later this week. https://www.wsj.com/... via @WSJ
Joshua Benton / @jbenton: Nation's 20th-Century Visual Heritage Finds New Life as Marginal Upsell Incentive for 2-Day Shipping https://www.wsj.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Joshua Benton / @jbenton: Eventually, the Bezos comes for us all https://www.wsj.com/...
Alex Sherman / @sherman4949: Good on @theinformation for the initial scoop on this one — I can add an Amazon/MGM deal is expected as soon as tomorrow between $8.5b-$9b. https://www.cnbc.com/...
Sanjay Poonen / @spoonen: Bold move by @Amazon - via @WSJ - “Nears Deal to Buy Hollywood Studio MGM.... Deal for the ‘Rocky’ and ‘James Bond’ studio would mark tech company's second largest-ever acquisition” - https://www.wsj.com/...
Micah Gelman / @mbgelman: Gonna get ownership of all that ‘The Apprentice’ raw footage https://twitter.com/...
Isaac Stone Fish / @isaacstonefish: It's amazing to say this, but Amazon's purchase of Hollywood studio MGM could potentially lead to a studio releasing a major film that is critical of Beijing. https://www.wsj.com/...
Claire Atkinson / @claireatki: The great 2021 media rethink: AT&T spins WarnerMedia, MGM sells to Amazon, Wanda gets out of AMC, Televisa/Univision merger. And then there's the SPACs/IPOs. Good time to be a media banker, lawyer. What's next Aryeh?
Ryden Scarnato / Heroic Hollywood: Amazon Nearing Deal For ‘James Bond’ & ‘Rocky’ With MGM Acquisition
Peter Kafka / Vox: Why Amazon is paying $9 billion for MGM and James Bond
James Whitbrook / Gizmodo: Jeff Bezos, a Real-Life Bond Villain, May Own James Bond Very Soon
Alex Sherman / CNBC: Amazon nears deal to buy MGM Studios for nearly $9 billion
Brandon Katz / Observer: Amazon May Be Overpaying for MGM, But Does It Even Matter?
Derek Walborn / The Streamable: Reports: Amazon Close to Landing Lucrative MGM Deal
Jess Barnes / Cord Cutters News: Amazon and MGM Are Close to Making a Deal
Erik Gruenwedel / Media Play News: Report: Amazon, MGM Acquisition Deal Imminent
Aymann Ismail / Slate:
Some journalists covering Israel and Palestinians say they've faced doubts on their reporting, including from senior editors who treat IDF statements as facts — Some journalists covering Israel and Palestine say an “illusive concept of impartiality” led them to face persistent doubts and skewed editing for years.
Diksha Madhok / CNN:
How Indian journalists have struggled to report the devastation of rising COVID-19 cases, often under hostile pressure from Modi's government — New Delhi (CNN Business)Om Gaur is in the middle of the most heart-wrenching story of his career as a journalist.
Brooks Barnes / New York Times:
To satisfy streaming services' hunger for IP, studios are again focusing on adapting big game franchises for movies and TV, with Sony adapting 10 PS games — After decades of game-to-film flops, a new effort, led by Sony, aims to adapt big PlayStation and Xbox franchises for movies and TV.
Discussion:
Daniel Alvarez / ScreenRant: Sony Exec Explains Plan To Turn PlayStation Franchises Into Movies
Hoai-Tran Bui / /Film: Sony is Doubling Down on Video Game Adaptations, Teaming Up Its Gaming and Film Divisions
Dom Peppiatt / VG247: No God of War film or TV series in the works, says Sony
Jeremy Barr / Washington Post:
Profile of MSNBC Pres. Rashida Jones, a “digital native” millennial who hopes MSNBC's focus on streaming will help it cultivate a new generation of news junkies — Rashida Jones, the first Black woman to run a major cable news channel, hopes streaming will cultivate the next generation of news junkies.
Discussion:
@rolandsmartin, @brooklynmarie, @david_darmofal, @jeremymbarr, @jeremymbarr, @jeremymbarr and TVNewser
Discussion:
@rolandsmartin: My biggest takeaway of this @washingtonpost profile of @MSNBC President Rashida @RJonesNews? Streaming news shows can't just look and sound like traditional TV. If that's the case, why do them? https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Brooke Binkowski / @brooklynmarie: I know for a fact what will bring in the under-40 viewership: A commitment to solid news reporting on global issues around social justice and climate change through an intersectional lens and actively going after disinformation campaigns https://twitter.com/...
David Darmofal / @david_darmofal: An interesting story on @MSNBC. Glad to see the mention of @ZerlinaShow. I'd love to see @ZerlinaMaxwell also have a show on @MSNBC. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Jeremy Barr / @jeremymbarr: I also got into the demographics of cable news. So far in 2021, the median age for MSNBC viewers is 68 years old. Same for Fox News. The CNN median age is 64 so far this year. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Jeremy Barr / @jeremymbarr: Rather than being forced to launch new shows on streaming platforms like Peacock, Jones said that MSNBC talent is coming to management with ideas for new shows they might want to do. There will be news coming about a Nicolle Wallace streaming vehicle. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
New York Times:
Sources: in October 2016, shortly before the AT&T-Time Warner acquisition, Disney's Bob Iger called Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes about a possible deal — What if Time Warner had gotten a fateful phone call earlier in 2016? — What could have been — After its $100 billion deal …
Discussion:
Matthew Keys / The Desk: Disney pitched Time Warner merger in 2016
New York Times: Interviews with 18 people reveal details of the Discovery-WarnerMedia deal, including stock structure change and an awkward talk with WarnerMedia's Jason Kilar
Frank Pallotta / @frankpallotta: A DC vs. Marvel movie would've made like $3 billion. https://twitter.com/...
Modest Proposal / @modestproposal1: I guess Iger agreed https://twitter.com/...
Edmund Lee / @edmundlee: Time Warner (now @WarnerMedia) could have been owned by @Disney if a phone call in October 2016 had come just a few weeks earlier. Me and @andrewrsorkin in this morning's @dealbook: https://www.nytimes.com/...
Mike Bird / @birdyword: Sort of blows me away that this is how absolutely colossal mergers happen. I guess it shouldn't be surprising, it just feels like the companies are imperfect substitutes and well... They cost tens of billions of dollars! https://twitter.com/...
Andrew Ross Sorkin / @andrewrsorkin: Revealed: Disney's Bob Iger tried to buy Time Warner right before it announced a deal with AT&T... https://www.nytimes.com/...
Anupreeta Das / @preetatweets: This tick-tock of the AT&T-Discovery deal by @koblin, @grynbaum, @edmundlee and @LaurenSHirsch is so vivid and rich in detail. And there's a fantastic pic of Steve McQueen. Inside the Discovery-AT&T Deal: Cute Emails, a Big Loan and Now, a Media Giant https://www.nytimes.com/...
Taylor Hatmaker / TechCrunch:
Beacons, which lets creators link out to their personal mobile landing pages from their TikTok or Instagram profiles, raises $6M seed funding led by a16z — Mobile landing page builder Beacons has raised a $6 million seed round to expand its vision for empowering creators to make money beyond …
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Sensor Tower makes its first acquisition with deal for market intelligence company, Pathmatics, and gets a growth investment from Riverwood Capital — Mobile app market intelligence firm Sensor Tower has made its first acquisition. The company this morning announced it's acquiring Pathmatics …
Discussion:
Greg Rosen / @grosenberries: Super excited to announce that we (@Pathmatics) have been acquired by @SensorTower ! An incredible milestone on an 8+ year journey for me that started holed up in a tiny shared office with @gabegottlieb and Tom Lorimor. Watch out world for what's next ;) https://techcrunch.com/...
Jacob Kastrenakes / The Verge:
Twitch launches a category for “Pools, Hot Tubs, and Beaches” streams, letting creators continue to stream them while letting advertisers and viewers avoid them — ‘Being found to be sexy by others is not against our rules’ — Twitch is launching a dedicated category …
Discussion:
Ryan Broderick / Garbage Day: It's All Kicking Off At Adrian's Kickback
Joseph Maring / ScreenRant: Why Twitch Has Added A ‘Pools, Hot Tubs, and Beaches’ Category
Stephen E. Arnold / Beyond Search: iBabyRainbow Next: Another Amazon Twitch Pace Setter?
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