Top News:


Twitter/X threatens to sue Center for Countering Digital Hate, alleging the nonprofit made “troubling and baseless claims” to hurt Twitter and its ad business — The Center for Countering Digital Hate said it had received a letter from X, Twitter's parent company …


The campaign for the US presidency is playing out across an unprecedented, fragmented new media landscape, confusing voters and political observers alike — The News — Did you catch Ron DeSantis's interview with Shawn Ryan? How about Tim Scott's latest hit on Faithwire, or Joe Biden's chat with Will Arnett and Jason Bateman?
Discussion:
@jbillinson, @notjessewalker, @maxwelltani, @kylewilsontharp, @jayrosen_nyu and @semaforben


Sources: Disney hired Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, two ex-executives seen as potential successors to Bob Iger during his first stint as CEO, as advisers to Iger — Disney has hired two former executives who were seen as potential successors to Bob Iger during his first stint as the company's chief executive …
Discussion:
NBC 7 San Diego, @mattbelloni, Puck and TIME


Study: just 2% of Spotify “super listeners” drive an average of 18% of all monthly streams for an artist, with the number rising to 30% for the biggest artists — MBW's Stat Of The Week is a series in which we highlight a data point that deserves the attention of the global music industry.
Discussion:
@carnage4life@mas.to, @joelmathis.bsky.social and Billboard, more at Techmeme »


A look at potential mediators in the Hollywood strikes: CA Gov. Gavin Newsom, considered the main choice, LA Mayor Karen Bass, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff — Names that have been floated as potential mediators include Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and even Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff …


Q&A with Media 2070's director Collette Watson on shifting cultural conditions three years after its launch, advocating for media reparations, and more — In 2020, a group of Black staffers at Free Press—a nonprofit that advocates for diverse, independent media ownership and equitable access …


A profile of Mike Masnick, who founded Techdirt in 1998, considered by lawmakers, CEOs, and activists as an essential guide for what's happening in tech — Mike Masnick, who founded Techdirt in 1998, writes for an influential audience of lawmakers, C.E.O.s and activists.
Discussion:
@emptywheel.bsky.social, @evacide@hachyderm.io, @davidkaye.bsky.social, @jeffjarvis, @oneunderscore__, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, @jess_miers, @ruchowdh, @triketora, @kashhill, @daveleebbg, @zittrain, @mathewi, @winter, @rob_sheridan, @thestalwart, @film_girl, @tomgara, Pixel Envy, Mike Masnick on LinkedIn, @msbrumfield.bsky.social, @MagentaRocks@mastodon.coffee, @metacurity@infosec.exchange, The Verge, @joshsternberg.bsky.social, @dreamword@mastodon.social, @SarahOestreich@mstdn.social, @gshans.bsky.social and @klonick.bsky.social


A US district judge dismisses Trump's defamation suit against CNN for using the term “Big Lie”; Trump's lawyers said the phrase linked him with Adolf Hitler — A federal judge dismissed Donald Trump's $475 million defamation lawsuit against CNN, litigation centered on references …
Discussion:
storage.courtlistener.com, CNN, Associated Press, Benzinga, @katiephang, @matthewschafer, @nateraymond, @mollyjongfast, @kyledcheney, @kyledcheney, @ajdelgado13, @kbandersen, @kyledcheney, Boing Boing, Politico, Newser, The A.V. Club, @joelmathis.bsky.social, The Wrap, Mother Jones, Vanity Fair, National Review, The Daily Beast and The Hill


Twitter/X reinstates Kanye West's account, suspended in December 2022, and says he won't be eligible to monetize it, and ads won't appear next to his posts — West won't be eligible to monetize his account, and ads won't appear next to his posts — X, the social-media platform formerly known …
Discussion:
Variety, @rmac18, Poynter, @jamesfourm, @jgreenblattadl, Complete Music Update, @keithedwards@threads.net, CNN, Mashable, @stevanzetti, TechCrunch, @faineg, @themaxburns, Vanity Fair, Deadline, @mehdirhasan, @parkerortolani, The Wrap, Benzinga, RTÉ, UPROXX, Rolling Stone, @rmac18, @rmac18, @sauthoff.bsky.social, Al Jazeera, Insider, ET Canada, New York Daily News, CBS News, Washington Post, The Advertiser, Metro.co.uk, NBC News, The Hill, d2331 and Mediaite, more at Techmeme »


SAG-AFTRA defends its “interim agreement” approach that lets indie productions proceed, as some actors push back, saying the agreement would prolong the strike — The letter to members comes as actors like Sarah Silverman have spoken out against working during the strike
Discussion:
Screen Rant, Vanity Fair, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Puck and Variety


Despite TikTok prohibiting branded content promoting alcohol, some creators say they're sponsored by alcohol brands, and they drink excessively to promote them — While the app has strict rules prohibiting branded content promoting alcohol, creators are still allegedly making money drinking to excess — and at least one has died.


Maoyan: cinemas in China increased showings of Barbie from 9,673 on July 21 to ~36,000 on July 27, in a market dominated by patriotic and male-led action films — Cinemas increase showings of Greta Gerwig blockbuster in market dominated by action films and patriotic tales
Discussion:
@letahong, @cszabla, @curtisschin, @pekingmike, The Mary Sue, CNN and Insider