Top News:
Jill Goldsmith / Deadline:
Comcast's board approves the spinoff of Comcast's cable TV networks and their digital platforms to create Versant Media Group, trading as VSNT as of January 5 — The spinoff has been a year in the making and comes as the Philadelphia-based media giant is bidding to acquire the studio …
Discussion:
The Wrap and Business Wire
Tim Miller / The Bulwark:
An interview with Olivia Nuzzi about her affair with RFK Jr., her book, and more; Nuzzi says “I did something wrong, like those ethics rules exist for a reason” — The author at the center of two major scandals—one roiling journalism, the other implicating Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—speaks with Tim Miller.
Discussion:
Feed Me, Slate, Variety, Semafor, RADAR, NOTUS, Mediaite, @sarahjeong.bsky.social, Showbiz411, Daily Mail, Page Six, Fox News, New York Post, KVIA-TV, DNYUZ, @bulwarkonline, @anthonymemerson, @bulwarkonline, @timodc, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, Poynter, @moorehn, @peterawolf, @lizskalka, @nicksolheim, @a_picazo, @kennysmith.bsky.social, National Enquirer, @therickwilson, Us Weekly, @bulwarkonline, IJR, @msmilack75.bsky.social, The Independent, The Daily Beast, HotAir, New York Sun and Cele|bitchy
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Spotify releases Wrapped 2025, which adds features like Wrapped Party, its first live interactive experience, Top Song Quiz, Listening Age, and Wrapped Clubs — Spotify Wrapped is back. After last year's widely criticized flop that included an AI podcast as its highlight …
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, Spotify, Lawyer Monthly, TheTruthAboutCars, SheKnows, Android Central, The Verge, New York Times, PCMag, MobileSyrup, WPXI-TV, Billboard, Forbes, Axios, Mashable, Boston.com, BGR, WeRSM, The Tab, CNET, Trusted Reviews, GB News, Android Police, Beebom, Mirror, StyleCaster, Thurrott, Android Authority, MakeUseOf, Windows Central, Pocket-lint, KnowTechie and Tom's Guide, more at Techmeme »
RELATED:
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Spotify unveils 2025's top 50 most popular US podcasts, led by The Joe Rogan Experience for the fifth consecutive year; 24 of the top 50 now offer video content
Spotify unveils 2025's top 50 most popular US podcasts, led by The Joe Rogan Experience for the fifth consecutive year; 24 of the top 50 now offer video content
Discussion:
Inside Radio, @teroterotero, Deadline, @sherman4949, @iheartnoise.bsky.social, @fos, Jordan Newman on LinkedIn, HuffPost and Spotify, more at Techmeme »
Jeremy Barr / The Guardian:
Smartmatic v. Fox News: a Smartmatic lawyer says Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch authorized a plan for Fox News to embrace Trump's 2020 claims to win back viewers — In key hearing in defamation case, Fox counters that network simply covered allegations by Trump associates
Discussion:
NPR, @robertscotthorton.bsky.social, @laurenmeidasa.bsky.social, TVNewsCheck and The Wrap
RELATED:
James Whitbrook / Gizmodo:
After an online backlash, Amazon Prime Video removes AI-generated English and Spanish dubs that it had quietly rolled out in beta for several anime titles — As quickly as they arrived, many of Prime Video's controversial generated dubs have been removed from the streamer. — READING TIME 2 MINUTES
Discussion:
Ars Technica, @otakuspirited, @lawprofblawg.bsky.social, About Amazon, @vinlandworld, @gizmodo.com, The A.V. Club, @kennysmith.bsky.social, Engadget, @tenbinzan, @saltydkdan, @jwhitbrook.bsky.social, @real_kilometers, @zachtothefuller, Cord Cutters News, Inverse, Mashable, Polygon.com, Nerdist, Kotaku, Aftermath, DNYUZ and Comic Book, more at Techmeme »
Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
The Economist reports revenue up 4% YoY to £170.3M in the six months to September 2025 and pre-tax profit up 28% YoY to £19.7M; a 27% stake is up for sale — The Economist revealed revenue and profit growth for the six months to September as potential buyers expressed interest in a 27% stake in the business.
Discussion:
Talking Biz News
URL Media:
URL Media, a network of community publishers that serve BIPOC audiences, receives a three-year, $5M Knight Foundation grant as it works to expand partnerships — Three-Year Grant Fuels Critical Infrastructure and Network Growth from 37 to 100 Publisher Partners Plus 250 Creators …
Discussion:
S. Mitra Kalita on LinkedIn and Adweek
Jay Peters / The Verge:
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman says the company is “moving away” from r/popular, the default feed for new users, and will replace it with more personalized feeds — Reddit is also limiting how many popular communities one person can moderate, and pushing more personalized feeds.
Discussion:
spez on Reddit
Caitlin Huston / The Hollywood Reporter:
Along with Spotify, The Joe Rogan Experience also topped Apple and YouTube's podcast charts in 2025, dominating all major platforms for the first time — His podcast topped Spotify's 2025 global list, released Wednesday, as well as Apple and YouTube. — Joe Rogan is now dominating on all podcast platforms.
Discussion:
Daily Mail, Front Office Sports, Awful Announcing, Los Angeles Times, Axios, Business Insider, Inc.com, Glamour, Billboard, Music Ally and Barrett Media
Minho Kim / New York Times:
A November 25 notice to Congress: Kari Lake said the Trump administration plans to close VOA's six overseas news bureaus, saving $30M+, despite a judge's order — The push to close the offices appears to contradict a federal judge's order from April, which required Trump officials to resume operations at V.O.A.
Discussion:
@newsguy.bsky.social, @savevoa.bsky.social, @MikeElgan@mastodon.social, Joe.My.God. and TheDesk.net
Dan Milmo / The Guardian:
AI Forensics: 354 AI-focused TikTok accounts pushed 43K posts made with GenAI tools that hit 4.5B views, including posts with anti-immigrant and sexual material — Researchers uncovered 354 AI-focused accounts that had accumulated 4.5bn views in a month — By Dan Milmo, Global technology editor.
Dominick Mastrangelo / The Hill:
US Rep. Jamie Raskin demands CBS explain how it edited a recent Trump interview, saying Trump seems to be exercising “direct control” over editorial choices — Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) is demanding that CBS, and its parent company Paramount, provide more information about how it edited …
Discussion:
Deadline, The Wrap, House Committee …, TVNewsCheck, New York Sun, @jeremymbarr, Axios, NewsMax.com, NewsNation, Joe.My.God. and The Independent
