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Directors Anthony and Joe Russo say they're building a high-tech studio aiming to help artists use AI as a creative tool to make films, shows, and video games — The ‘Avengers’ directors are building a high-tech studio to help artists use AI to make films, shows and videogames with potentially smaller budgets
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire, Forbes, Decider and Mirror


Trump signs an EO seeking to dismantle seven federal agencies, including VOA parent USAGM, which is congressionally chartered as an independent agency — The order targeting the agencies, largely obscure entities that address issues like labor mediation and homelessness prevention, appeared to test the bounds of the president's power.
Discussion:
NPR, The Wrap, TVNewsCheck, CBS News, Reuters, Mother Jones, Politico, The Independent, USA Today, @katzish.bsky.social, @mediaevan.bsky.social and Committee to Protect …


An analysis of popular podcasts, streams, and other long-form audio and video content with political leanings indicates that right-leaning outlets dominate — A new Media Matters analysis found 9 out of the 10 top online shows assessed are right-leaning
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@TonyStark@progressivecafe …, @johnlcorbett.bsky.social, @kamalanation.bsky.social, @taylorlorenz@threads.net, @thebreakdownab.bsky.social, @liselhintz.bsky.social, @peter-butler.bsky.social, @parkermolloy.com, @socialmedialab.ca, @volts.wtf, @caulfieldtim.bsky.social, @followtheh.bsky.social, @atherton.bsky.social, @ositanwanevu.bsky.social, @mariabustillos.bsky.social, @ryanlcooper.com, @mariabustillos.bsky.social, @ohhkaygo.bsky.social, @ohhkaygo.bsky.social and @mmfa.bsky.social


An investigation into the unsolved 1977 murder of The Sunday Times foreign correspondent David Holden in Egypt suggests he doubled as a KGB spy and had CIA ties — Experienced and road-worn, with slicked-back brown hair and china-blue eyes, David Holden was 53 when he landed in Cairo on a warm night not long before Christmas, 1977.


Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick sues G/O Media over March 2024 articles in Gizmodo and Kotaku accusing him of workplace harassment, discrimination — Robert Kotick accused the media company of knowingly lying about since-dismissed workplace sex harassment and discrimination charges.
Discussion:
Aftermath, @adelaidejewel.bsky.social and @goblin-goon.bsky.social, more at Techmeme »


The real threat of AI models training on open-access material is that they may bleed free repositories dry by draining resources and not providing attribution — Listen to me read this post here (not an AI-generated voice!), subscribe to the feed in your podcast app, or download the recording for later.


President Donald Trump criticized multiple media outlets during a speech at the DOJ, calling the press' coverage of judges and other topics “totally illegal” — Want to avoid video ads? Subscribe to — President Donald Trump ripped the media on Friday, as is typical …
Discussion:
CNN, Politico, @wajahatali, @pgranfield, @rothschildmd, @atrupar, @atrupar, @rothschildmd, @mattgertz, Breitbart, @beyerstein, @thetnholler, @sykescharlie, HuffPost, Raw Story, Associated Press, The Independent, NBC News, RedState, @petemontdc.com, The Hill, Rolling Stone, PoliticusUSA and NewsNation


Streamers court YouTubers for new shows or spinoffs; sources: Amazon made $100M+ in profit on Beast Games and Netflix held talks with Dude Perfect for a series — Disney, Peacock and others pursue YouTube stars for new shows; Amazon's ‘Beast Games’ boasts profit and gears up for more seasons


The Guardian, City AM, GB News, and Newsquest appear to have introduced “consent or pay” models in recent months, joining Mail Online, Mirror, and more — The Guardian has become the latest UK news publisher to begin requiring readers to pay for website access if they do not agree to being tracked by third-party cookies.


John Feinstein, a Washington Post sportswriter who wrote more than 40 books including A Season on the Brink, about basketball coach Bob Knight, has died at 69 — He had a long affiliation with The Washington Post and wrote books including “A Season on the Brink,” about Indiana University men's basketball coach Bob Knight.
Discussion:
Awful Announcing, Compliance Podcast Network, Defector, Poynter, New York Times, Fox News, Associated Press, TMZ.com, Deadline, Washington Monthly, KSDK-TV, @knoxrob1.bsky.social, The Hollywood Reporter, @tommytomlinson.bsky.social, @lukerussert.bsky.social, @sallyjenx.bsky.social, New York Daily News, Awful Announcing, New York Post, Barrett Media, @sethemerson.bsky.social, @bfquinn.bsky.social, @petegain.es, @lukedecock.bsky.social, @norlander.bsky.social, @jadande.bsky.social, PBS NewsHour and r/Journalism


Filing: Newsmax paid $40M in 2024 to settle the Smartmatic defamation lawsuit over false claims that the voting machine company helped rig the 2020 US election — Newsmax Media has agreed to pay $40 million to settle allegations it defamed Smartmatic by reporting false claims …
Discussion:
CNN, The Desk, @mickwest, @rosselderwrites, @jayshams, @jeremymbarr, The National Pulse, NBC News, Mediaite, The Guardian, The Hill, Barrett Media, Newser, The Indian Express, The Independent, Deadline, Lawyer Monthly, The Verge, Axios, The Wrap, CNBC, TVNewsCheck and @mikescarcella.bsky.social


CNBC is expanding its CNBC Sport brand by adding a weekly TV series, live events, and launching a series of long-form CNBC Sport-branded productions — CNBC Sport, launched by reporter Alex Sherman, will add a weekly TV series and launch a series of long-form docs (starting with a Steph Curry special) in the coming weeks.