Top News:
Max Tani / @maxwelltani:
Memo: Notus plans to “dramatically expand” its coverage of national politics with a “new version of NOTUS under a new name” and will double staff from 50 to 100 — As we first reported in last night's @semafor media newsletter, NOTUS is rebranding/dramatically expanding. In a memo to staff this morning, the organization said it plans to “launch this new version of NOTUS under a new name” and double staff from 50 to 100. [image]
Discussion:
NOTUS, @chriswithans, @ericfingerhut, @rapidresponse47, @awakenedoutlaw, @moorehn, @cmarinucci, @isaac_schorr, @jamesebriggs, @deirdrekwalsh, @marcusaingram, @sam4tr, @peterbakernyt, @jeremymbarr, @gregbrooksoh, @alexsjacquez, @notusreports, @peterbakernyt, @edokeefe, @eggerdc, @samstein, @philipterzian, @maxwelltani, @jstein_wapo, @daniellamicaela, @drewharwell, @reesejgorman, @jhweissmann, @coleleiter, @seanjcooksey, @emmanuelfelton, @jeremymbarr, @kirk_bado, @alyssarosenberg, @joshkraushaar, @davelevinthal, @jeremymbarr, @taylorgiorno_, @cmclymer, @citizencohn, @andrewsolender, @milbank, @varadmehta, @reesejgorman and @alyssarosenberg
Discussion:
Kelly Poe / NOTUS: 'OK, That Wasn't Public' — Good afternoon. This is the Final NOTUS newsletter for March 16, 2026.
Chris / @chriswithans: You might ask yourself why these guys don't just buy the Washington Post. But the Post still has hundreds of unionized members who are massive liabilities. Better to start off fresh.....with an expansion of NOTUS, which is apparently what's happening here.
Eric Fingerhut / @ericfingerhut: It seems like NOTUS is building what the Washington Post should have tried to do to remake itself, instead of whatever it is the Post is actually doing.
@awakenedoutlaw: You nailed it, lady. That's exactly what DC is sorely missing. Another deep state rag to promote its crap narrative. 😆
Heidi N. Moore / @moorehn: Really encouraging that something like this can be started in this media environment. Hope it thrives 🙏
Carla ‘Bluechecked’ Marinucci / @cmarinucci: Great news for readers: @R_Allbritton is a true advocate for journalists and a solid news product. I worked for him at @POLITICO and can attest to his dedication to this important goal. Will be subscribing!
Isaac Schorr / @isaac_schorr: Not a great sign that this upstart's first move was to hire one of America's worst columnists.
James Briggs / @jamesebriggs: The clearest indication that the Washington Post screwed up from a business perspective is the speed at which other media outlets and investors are buying up its assets and seizing its territory.
Deirdre Walsh / @deirdrekwalsh: Exciting time to be at NOTUS - pumped to work with folks coming aboard — Hill team already crushing it - stay tuned! (and if you haven't already —sign up for newsletters - https://notus.org/ and listen to the pod “On NOTUS” - new episode dropped this morning!)
@marcusaingram: @maxwelltani @semafor We will hire lots of writers and reporters from WaPo and Politico, but they won't suck at their jobs as much as they do now.
Peter Baker / @peterbakernyt: A great get for Allbritton and the new media venture he is building. @Milbank is one of our generation's most penetrating writers and a must-read for anyone who cares about Washington and the world (and farms too, for that matter).
Greg Brooks / @gregbrooksoh: The NOTUS name works great written out, but it has caused a few confusions when using it in conversation.
Alex Jacquez / @alexsjacquez: Several of my best friends in the entire world are already at @NOTUSreports doing great things and sounds like more may be joining — I'm thrilled to have a hometown news org focused on doing the work.
@notusreports: Today, NOTUS shared ambitious plans to rebrand and expand. We have hired the following reporters, and more announcements are coming soon: @pw_cunningham @Sam4TR @reporterjoe @pkcapitol @MissyKhamvongsa @Milbank @JStein_WaPo @andrewvandam @alweaver22 Subscribe to follow along:
Peter Baker / @peterbakernyt: “It feels wonderful to align myself with a public-spirited media owner who uses his billions to support journalism above all else, who isn't afraid to hold the powerful to account and who cares deeply about the Washington community.”
Ed O'Keefe / @edokeefe: Dana is/was signature @washingtonpost. A classy and supportive colleague, a sharp reporter, and always an entertaining writer - whether or not you agree with his columns. I'm excited to see what he - and @notus - does next.
Sam Stein / @samstein: among other bits in here, @JStein_WaPo, appears to be leaving for this venture. and @pkcapitol too. and @Milbank ... wow.
@philipterzian: Dreams really do come true! By that, of course, I mean Mr @Milbank's providential departure into the realm of another online venture subsidized by the offspring of the Texas oligarch whose heavy hand debauched the old Evening Star.
Max Tani / @maxwelltani: Our story from last week on Robert Allbritton's plan to relaunch NOTUS, including trademarking the name the Washington Sun (he also previously attempted to buy the Washington Star, the name of the paper his father owned) https://www.semafor.com/...
Jeff Stein / @jstein_wapo: Some personal news: This is my last week at The Washington Post. I've loved so much of the last 9 years here, but my faith in the paper's current leadership is broken beyond repair. Incredibly excited to get to work with the newsroom below (I start in June) & join the [image]
Daniella Diaz / @daniellamicaela: It's wonderful to work for a company where management is eager to grow.
Drew Harwell / @drewharwell: Following, excited for and cheering on this team:
Reese Gorman / @reesejgorman: May we never forget
Jordan Weissmann / @jhweissmann: Extreme relief that this Allbritton project is going to involve local coverage.
Emmanuel Felton / @emmanuelfelton: I wonder how many of the departing reporters were invited to Bezos' lunch for the reporters the masthead cares about
Jeremy Barr / @jeremymbarr: NOTUS will also have a new name, per memo: “In the coming months, we'll launch this new version of NOTUS under a new name that better reflects the scope of the journalism we're producing. We're working through options now and will have more news on that soon.” Currently it
Alyssa Rosenberg / @alyssarosenberg: I am THRILLED to be on the same team as @Milbank again. One of the best possible bits of news I could get on my first day with the NOTUS/Allbritton Journalism Institute team.
Josh Kraushaar / @joshkraushaar: .@pkcapitol & @alweaver22 huge gets on the Hill:
Dave Levinthal / @davelevinthal: Welcome to @NOTUSreports and beyond, @Milbank.
Jeremy Barr / @jeremymbarr: A very big get for NOTUS, which I profiled in the spring of 2024: https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Taylor Giorno / @taylorgiorno_: Earnest post alert: Exciting things are happening @NOTUSreports! When I joined last year, I knew this was a place I could do good journalism and work with young reporters finding their way in D.C. It's been more rewarding than I ever imagined, and I can't wait for what's next ✨
Charlotte Clymer / @cmclymer: This is great news. I've been impressed with NOTUS over the past few years.
Jonathan Cohn / @citizencohn: Rooting hard for success here @NOTUSreports (name to be changed) already a must-read
Andrew Solender / @andrewsolender: holy shit, Paul Kane, Jeff Stein and Al Weaver. wtf is Robert Albritton cooking
Dana Milbank / @milbank: I am leaving the Washington Post to join a new journalistic venture backed by Politico founder Robert Allbritton that will be both the hometown publication the D.C. region sorely needs and a scrappy and fearless national news organization. I hope you'll join us. [image]
Varad Mehta / @varadmehta: Hiring this lunatic means it's already destined to fail and deservedly so.
Reese Gorman / @reesejgorman: So excited for this new era at NOTUS. Great to work for an outlet where leadership is invested in the product and determined to see the newsroom grow!
Alyssa Rosenberg / @alyssarosenberg: Pretty great first day.
RELATED:
Corbin Bolies / The Wrap:
Notus hires several Washington Post journalists, including columnist Dana Milbank and reporters Paul Kane and Jeff Stein, as well as Politico reporter Joe Gould — The hires come as news outlets seize upon the Jeff Bezos-owned paper's mass layoffs last month
Discussion:
Natalie Korach / Status: Bezos' Post Charm Offensive
Chris Roush / Talking Biz News: NOTUS hires Stein to cover economic policy
Catherine Shoard / The Guardian:
Warner Bros. won a record-tying 11 awards at the 98th Oscars, followed by Netflix with 7 and Apple, Disney, Focus, and Neon with 1 each; Paramount had none — Film studio - currently in acquisition talks with Paramount - earned 11 awards thanks to films by Ryan Coogler and Paul Thomas Anderson
Discussion:
New York Times, Deadline, Animation Magazine, Variety, The Ankler, Deadline, LateNighter, @variety, New Yorker, NextDraft, Bloomberg, TechCrunch, Deadline, @charliefreyre, Reuters, @thehorrorkid, @mavericksmovies, @popbase, @davidehrlich, Deadline, @janelleclouds, @jbillinson, @popbase, @theacademy, The Wrap, @mikebeauvais, @popbase, New York Times, @cyrilh44, The Hollywood Reporter, @deadline, Axios, The Hollywood Reporter, The American Bazaar, @inceptstellar, The Hollywood Reporter, @theacademy, @benmullin, @geoffkeighley, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Barron's Online, New York Times, @spenceralthouse, @nextbestpicture, @panasonicdx4500, @uhvaimorre, @theacademy, Variety, New York Times, @variety, Spyglass, Engadget, @qlxke_ and Yahoo Finance
Discussion:
Jacob Bernstein / New York Times: Sean Penn Wins Best Supporting Actor but Opts for Ukraine, Not the Oscars
Katie Campione / Deadline: ‘Kpop Demon Hunters’ Finishes Awards Sweep With Historic Animated Feature & Original Song Oscar Wins
Ramin Zahed / Animation Magazine: ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ and ‘The Girl Who Cried Pearls’ Win the Best Animated Feature and Short Oscars
Michael Schneider / Variety: Inside the Oscars: Execs Explain In Memoriam Omissions, Playing Off ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Winners and Bringing Back Conan O'Brien as Host
Richard Rushfield / The Ankler: A Brutal David Ellison Billboard Is Coming to the Oscars
Ted Johnson / Deadline: Oscars Amp Up The Politics: As Donald Trump Rages At The Media, Presenters And Winners Counter The “Chaotic, Frightening Times”
Matt Webb Mitovich / LateNighter: Disney Exec: Conan Has ‘Standing Offer’ to Continue Hosting Oscars
@variety: Javier Bardem says “no to war and free Palestine” at the #Oscars, earning a huge round of applause from everyone in the room. (via ABC/AMPAS) [video]
Michael Schulman / New Yorker: Were the 2026 Oscars a Swan Song for Warner Bros.?
Dave Pell / NextDraft: PTA Dues — Sinners, one battle after another, a Frankenstein's monster wreaking havoc …
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg: A look at Neon, one of the most successful indie studios of the last decade, which makes most of its money from licensing its films to streamers and TV networks
Dominic Patten / Deadline: Oscars TV Review: Hollywood's Big Night Finally Gets As Big As The Movies It Celebrates
Dawn Chmielewski / Reuters: Warner Bros' Oscar triumph a bittersweet moment as Paramount deal looms
Will Mavity / @mavericksmovies: Hilarious. Sean Penn doesn't campaign all season. Still wins. Doesn't have even show up #oscars
@popbase: All 7 times the #Oscars ended in a tie: Best Actor (1932): Wallace Beery and Fredric March Best Documentary Short Subject (1950): ‘A Chance to Live’ and ‘So Much for So Little’ Best Actress (1969): Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand Best Documentary Feature (1987): 'Artie [image]
David Ehrlich / @davidehrlich: immortal clip and the Oscars haven't even started yet
Destiny Jackson / Deadline: Jessie Buckley Celebrates ‘Hamnet’ Win On UK Mother's Day — Oscars Backstage
Janelle / @janelleclouds: Timothée is always a good sport. He spent this entire award season speaking highly about his fellow actors & applauding their films. This entire year people have been relentless with their hate campaign. They love to pretend like he's bitter while they bathe in their own misery.
Josh Billinson / @jbillinson: it can take a while [image]
@theacademy: Congratulations to Amy Madigan for winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for WEAPONS! #Oscars [image]
Drew Taylor / The Wrap: Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav Celebrates ‘Historic’ Oscar Night in Company-Wide Email: ‘Bold, Original Stories Shined Bright’
Mike Beauvais / @mikebeauvais: After 24 years, JUSTICE FOR WALLACE. [image]
@popbase: “Security is pretty tight tonight. I'm told there's concerns of attacks from both the opera and ballet communities.” Conan O'Brien at the #Oscars [video]
Kyle Buchanan / New York Times: ‘One Battle After Another’ Wins Best Picture After Season-Long Sweep
Lexi Carson / The Hollywood Reporter: Oscars: Timothée Chalamet's Best Actor Snub, Ballet-Opera Jokes and Date Night With Kylie Jenner
Maxwell Millington / Axios: The women of “Sinners,” “K-Pop Demon Hunters” make Oscars history
Chris Gardner / The Hollywood Reporter: ‘One Battle After Another,’ ‘Sinners’ Help Warner Bros. Tie Record for Most Oscar Wins by Studio
Nileena Sunil / The American Bazaar: Warner Bros. celebrates Oscar success amid looming Paramount deal
Daniel Fienberg / The Hollywood Reporter: Critic's Notebook: Conan O'Brien's Deft Hosting and Several Sincere Moments Help Save Technically Sloppy Oscars Telecast
@theacademy: Michael B. Jordan accepting the Best Actor Oscar for his performance as the Smokestack twins in SINNERS. #Oscars [video]
Ben Mullin / @benmullin: David Zaslav sends a celebratory note to Warner Bros. Discovery employees after the studio's big night ("One Battle After Another," “Sinners,” “Weapons.") [image]
Geoff Keighley / @geoffkeighley: So incredibly disappointed and heartbroken that the #Oscars and AMPAS chose not to include my father, David Keighley, and his immeasurable contributions to IMAX and cinema in the In Memoriam segment in the broadcast. I will never forget. [image]
Samantha Masunaga / Los Angeles Times: Warner Bros. nabs 11 Oscars, tying the record for most wins for a single studio
George Glover / Barron's Online: Warner Bros. Cleans Up at the Oscars. Why It Bodes Well for the Paramount Takeover.
Spencer Althouse / @spenceralthouse: Michael B. Jordan just thanked all six Black winners in the Best Actor and Best Actress categories during his own Best Actor speech: “I stand here because of the people that came before me. Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Will Smith. [video]
Matt Neglia / @nextbestpicture: I don't know how it came across at home but I could feel the room shaking when Michael B. Jordan won! One of the loudest ovations I've ever heard at one of these #Oscars [image]
@panasonicdx4500: the biggest takeaway you get from rewatching Sinners is that up until about the last two minutes Remmick is just having the time of his life out there
@theacademy: One Oscar after another. Congratulations to ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, this year's Best Picture winner! #Oscars [image]
Owen Gleiberman / Variety: The 2026 Oscars Review: A Tasteful and Overly Safe Show Sustained by Just Enough Suspense
@variety: Sean Penn becomes fourth male actor to win three #Oscars after taking the prize for best supporting actor. Presenter Kieran Culkin joked: “Sean Penn couldn't be here this evening or didn't want to, so I'll be accepting the award on his behalf.” Penn joins Daniel Day-Lewis, Jack [video]
M.G. Siegler / Spyglass: Warner Bros Wins the Oscars
Karissa Waddick / USA Today:
After Trump said some outlets wanted the US to “lose the War”, FCC Chair Carr threatened broadcasters, saying they can lose their licenses over war coverage — FCC Chair Brendan Carr said news broadcasters coverage of Iran war could impact their license renewal.
Discussion:
@brendancarrfcc, New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, TheDesk.net, Washington Post, Washington Examiner, The Hill, The Guardian, Newser, @crampell.bsky.social, @aclu.org, CNBC, Gizmodo, Reason, MS NOW, Variety, PR Daily, @drrjv@vmst.io, Poynter, France 24, @jeremymbarr, The Wrap, Ars Technica, @merkley.senate.gov, @jcollins.bsky.social, Alex Curley on LinkedIn, IJR, @sykescharlie, @jamesgoodwin.bsky.social, @lincolnsquare.media, New York Post, Michael Cohen, Radio Ink, Reuters, Mediaite, @corybooker.com, Deadline, Salon, WTTG-TV, Axios, @scanlon.house.gov, Mother Jones, @politicalamericans …, @michieknowsmost24.bsky.social, @jbpoersch.bsky.social, @bennet.senate.gov, The Independent, The Gateway Pundit, @senwarren, Stephanie Stewart on LinkedIn, The Week, @nancylevinestearns …, Zack Cooper on LinkedIn, NewsMax.com, TV Tech, @rbreich.bsky.social, The Post Millennial, @aram@aoir.social, Scripps News, @therealmuffy.bsky.social, @mitchellepner.bsky.social, CBS News, CNN, @micah_erfan, Fortune, @aaronterr1, Straight Arrow News, @hissgoescobra, @captmarkkelly, @brendancarrfcc, International Business Times, @cagovernor, Barrett Media, @brianstelter, @matthewkeyslive, @keitholbermann, @keitholbermann, @rascality.bsky.social, @villaverde4nc, @tedlieu, The Asia Business Daily, @brianschatz, @michaelnaphys.bsky.social, @jonathancohn.bsky.social, Saywhat Politics, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Business Insider, @thetnholler.bsky.social, @johnrafferty.bsky.social, @zacheverson.com, @riderbabe52.bsky.social, @portlandken.bsky.social, @cdarwin@c.im, Matthew Keys on LinkedIn, @brianharrod.bsky.social, @kimmasters.bsky.social, @kenbazinet.bsky.social, Deadline, Paste, @watchyourrepssc.bsky.social, @chrismurphyct.bsky.social, The Guardian, @thegeoffey.bsky.social, @lauren@mastodon …, @mack2114.bsky.social, @eliothiggins.bsky.social, @eliothiggins.bsky.social, @mastodonmigration …, Al Jazeera, @dalbak.bsky.social, @adamserwer.bsky.social, @meidastouch.com, @millcitywriter@threads.com, @masnick.com and @adamsteinbaugh.bsky.social
Discussion:
Brendan Carr / @brendancarrfcc: Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions - also known as the fake news - have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up. The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they
Ashley Ahn / New York Times: F.C.C. Chair Threatens to Revoke Broadcasters' Licenses Over War Coverage
McKinley Franklin / The Hollywood Reporter: FCC Chair Brendan Carr Says Broadcasters Must “Correct Course” Amid Iran War Coverage Criticism or “They Will Lose Their Licenses”
Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net: FCC Commissioner Gomez says Carr's threats against broadcasters are baseless
Samantha-Jo Roth / Washington Examiner: FCC chair's broadcast license warning sparks GOP concern ahead of midterm elections
Dominick Mastrangelo / The Hill: FCC chair invites bipartisan backlash as MAGA battle with press intensifies
Edward Helmore / The Guardian: Republican rebukes FCC chair's threats to revoke broadcast licenses over Iran war
Catherine Rampell / @crampell.bsky.social: FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatens broadcast licenses over Iran War coverage [image]
@aclu.org: The Trump administration can't bully media companies into not reporting about this unpopular and illegal war on Iran. — The First Amendment is clear: The government can't decide how journalists report.
Greg Iacurci / CNBC: Democrats blast FCC Chair Carr's broadcast license threats as anti-First Amendment, ‘totalitarian’
Steve Benen / MS NOW: Team Trump gives away the game with its crusade against media coverage of the Iran war
Todd Spangler / Variety: For Trump's FCC Chairman, Trolling Liberals Is the Point of His Threat to Pull Licenses of TV Networks That Air ‘Fake News’ About Iran War
Courtney Blackann / PR Daily: The Scoop: FCC Chair threatens media could lose licenses over Iran war coverage
@drrjv@vmst.io: Call it what it is, Censorship. Brendan Carr can go f_ck himself 🤬 — #FCC Chair Threatens to Revoke Broadcasters' Licenses Over Iran War Coverage — “#BrendanCarr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, threatened on Saturday to revoke broadcasters' licenses over their coverage of the war with Iran …
Tom Jones / Poynter: Trump and his FCC chair are barking at the press. Even without a bite, the threat matters.
Rachael Griffiths / France 24: Trump administration threatens media over negative coverage of Middle East war
Jeremy Barr / @jeremymbarr: In a new statement, FCC commissioner @AGomezFCC again calls for broadcasters — and the public — to stop “falling for” Brendan Carr's license revocation threats (without using his name). Gomez: “We cannot give this FCC more power than it has. Broadcasters, journalists, and the [image]
Corbin Bolies / The Wrap: Trump Endorses FCC Chair's Threat to Revoke Network Licenses Over Iran Coverage: ‘Corrupt and Highly Unpatriotic’
Senator Jeff Merkley / @merkley.senate.gov: Pure authoritarian government: using licenses to silence the press. We must stop Trumpism. Let's save our Republic!
Jon Collins / @jcollins.bsky.social: Creeley: “When the government demands the press become a state mouthpiece under the threat of punishment, something has gone very wrong.” — www.washingtonpost.com/business/ 202...
Alex Curley / Alex Curley on LinkedIn: Reminder that the FCC's investigation into public broadcasting is still ongoing: — https://lnkd.in/...
Charlie Sykes / @sykescharlie: Totally normal and not at all demented or deranged. Trump demands death penalty for reporters in unhinged war rant https://www.thedailybeast.com/ ...
James Goodwin / @jamesgoodwin.bsky.social: *Very Smart People* like me know that FCC can only take licenses away from broadcasters. www.washingtonpost.com/business/ 202...
Lincoln Square / @lincolnsquare.media: Trump backed up Carr's threat to revoke broadcast licenses over news coverage of the war in Iran, calling coverage, “Corrupt and Highly Unpatriotic” www.washingtonpost.com/business/ 202... [image]
Chris Bradford / New York Post: Trump ‘thrilled’ by FCC chair Brendan Carr's threat to revoke broadcast licenses over Iran war coverage
Cameron Coats / Radio Ink: Markey Wants Carr Out Over FCC ‘Threats’ Tied to Iran Coverage
David Shepardson / Reuters: FCC could speed up broadcast license reviews, says agency head Carr
David Gilmour / Mediaite: ‘Stop Posing for the President!’ Joe Scarborough Slams FCC Chair for ‘Embarrassing’ Threats Over Media's ‘Tough’ Iran Questions
Cory Booker / @corybooker.com: The FCC Chair who spent years fashioning himself as a crusader for free speech is now openly threatening to revoke broadcasters' licenses over their coverage of the war with Iran. — This is state-sponsored censorship. Pure and simple. And straight out of the dictators' playbook.
Natalie Oganesyan / Deadline: Jane Fonda's Committee For The First Amendment Issues Response To FCC Chair Threats Against Broadcasters' Iran War Coverage
CK Smith / Salon: FCC warns broadcasters over Iran War coverage
Heather Miller / WTTG-TV: FCC chair threatens TV networks over Iran war coverage
Avery Lotz / Axios: Trump officials target media over Iran war reporting
Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon / @scanlon.house.gov: The freedom of the press to report upon - and criticize - government is the foundation of a free society. — If the President doesn't want the press to report on bad news or reckless decisions, he shouldn't make them. — www.washingtonpost.com/business/ 202...
@politicalamericans.bsky.social: America is a full-blown fascist regime. — MAGA did this. — The South did this because they never stopped fighting the Civil War. — What a tragedy. — www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/w...
Michie / @michieknowsmost24.bsky.social: Fun fact cable news like CNN AND MSNOW ARE ON CABLE, they don't need his licenses lol — 😂 — More dumb shit republicans come up with! — www.usatoday.com/story/news/ p...
JB Poersch / @jbpoersch.bsky.social: Its a long list of Trump dirtbags; but Carr is probably bottom 5. He's turned the FCC into a MAGA playland. www.usatoday.com/story/news/ p...
Michael Bennet / @bennet.senate.gov: Trump and Carr are threatening to revoke licenses to broadcast networks because they don't like their coverage of Trump's unauthorized war. — This is a direct attack on the free press in the United States. It cannot be allowed to stand. — www.washingtonpost.com/business/ 202...
Katie Hawkinson / The Independent: Trump's FCC chair faces backlash after threatening broadcasters over Iran war coverage: ‘Flagrantly anti First Amendment’
Jim Hᴏft / The Gateway Pundit: Trump's FCC Chairman Vows to Strip Licenses from ‘Fake News Media’ Peddling Iran War Propaganda
Elizabeth Warren / @senwarren: Constitutional law 101: it's illegal for the government to censor free speech it just doesn't like about Trump's Iran war. This threat is straight out of the authoritarian playbook.
Stephanie Stewart / Stephanie Stewart on LinkedIn: The 4th pillar of Democracy is free press. Censorship of the news is akin to communism. Restricting information and knowledge is the path to the destruction of our country. …
Nancy Levine Stearns / @nancylevinestearns.bsky.social: 🚨 Project 2025 manifesto, Brendan Carr wrote: — “The FCC should promote freedom of speech... support a diversity of viewpoints... and represent good stewardship of taxpayer dollars.” — NYT: F.C.C. Chair Threatens to Revoke Broadcasters' Licenses Over War Coverage — www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/w...
Zack Cooper / Zack Cooper on LinkedIn: This cannot be normalized. — The Chair of the F.C.C. threatened to revoke broadcasters' licenses over their war coverage. …
Brian Freeman / NewsMax.com: FCC Chair: Broadcast Licenses Aren't a ‘Property Right’
George Winslow / TV Tech: [Updated] Carr Threatens Broadcast Licenses Over Iran War Coverage
Robert Reich / @rbreich.bsky.social: If you saw this happening in another country, what would you call it? www.usatoday.com/story/news/ p...
Roberto Wakerell-Cruz / The Post Millennial: FCC Chair threatens broadcast networks' licenses over war coverage
Aram Sinnreich / @aram@aoir.social: Of course this is completely unconstitutional and any rational judge would find it violates the First Amendment. — But also it's an appalling betrayal of the “public interest” at the heart of the FCC's mandate from Congress, and that needs to be called out. — https://www.nytimes.com/...
Scripps News: FCC chairman warns broadcasters could lose their license over ‘fake’ Iran war coverage
@therealmuffy.bsky.social: I've got to wonder, what could the govt actually do against a broadcaster who broadcasts anyway after having their license revoked? I'd truly love a network to be punished for telling us the truth, and then simply say GFY to the govt & keep broadcasting. It's time. — www.usatoday.com/story/news/ p...
Mitchell Epner / @mitchellepner.bsky.social: The Trump Regime has unrelentingly assaulted the rights of Americans under the First Amendment. This is the latest attack. I would be surprised if it is the last. — Everyone who supported Trump for his claimed “free speech restoration” was hoodwinked. — GIFT LINK — www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/w...
Willie James / CBS News: FCC Chair Brendan Carr says broadcast licenses are not a “property right,” as Trump bemoans coverage of Iran war
Brian Stelter / CNN: FCC chair threatens TV networks amid Iran war coverage — but his warning rings hollow
Micah / @micah_erfan: @BrendanCarrFCC Brendan Carr, I would like to introduce you to this eloquently stated point by none other than Brendan Carr. [image]
Maria Paula Mijares Torres / Fortune: FCC's Carr threatens TV broadcast licenses over news coverage
Aaron Terr / @aaronterr1: @BrendanCarrFCC Constitutional Law 102: The “public interest” does not include retaliating against news outlets because the president doesn't like their reporting. That does violate the First Amendment. The “'public interest' standard necessarily invites reference to First Amendment
John Jackson / @hissgoescobra: @BrendanCarrFCC @brianstelter “Nothing in this Act shall be understood or construed to give the Commission the power of censorship...” Communications Act of 1934, which your case relies on. We call that RFR. Licenses are required, duh, that doesn't say they can be denied using viewpoint discrimination. 🤡
Captain Mark Kelly / @captmarkkelly: When our nation is at war it is critical that the press is free to report without government interference. It is literally in the Constitution. This is overreach by the FCC because this Administration doesn't like the microscope and doesn't want to be held accountable.
Brendan Carr / @brendancarrfcc: Constitutional law 101: “No one has a First Amendment right to a license or to monopolize a radio frequency; to deny a station license because ‘the public interest’ requires it ‘is not a denial of free speech.’” Supreme Court in Red Lion quoting NBC v. United States, 319 U. S.
Aiza Moraña / International Business Times: Trump Admin Warns Broadcasters: Back Iran War Narrative or Lose Your Media Licence
Governor Gavin Newsom / @cagovernor: If Trump doesn't like your coverage of the war, his FCC will pull your broadcast license. That is flagrantly unconstitutional.
Brian Stelter / @brianstelter: @BrendanCarrFCC Carr responded here and said “the Communications Act authorizes the FCC to call in licenses for early renewal,” so here's more context about the (arduous) process (that favors existing licensees) from a public interest lawyer with about 50 years of experience in this space [image]
Matthew Keys / @matthewkeyslive: This crosses the line. Broadcasters should be able to report the news without fear of government censorship. It is extremely clear what Brendan Carr is doing now. His intellectual dishonesty knows no bounds. We will cover him and the FCC at @TheDeskDotNet accordingly.
Keith Olbermann / @keitholbermann: Btw when your idiot boss has to beg China for help to get us out of the hole he's dug for us at Hormuz, all the censorship you can effect isn't going to change reality You are going down with the Trump Titanic, Baldy
Keith Olbermann / @keitholbermann: Fuck you and the fascists to whom you've prostituted what little reputation you had left, you third-rate propagandist @BrendanCarrFCC [image]
@rascality.bsky.social: old enough to remember when we made fun of the Soviet Union for threatening news outlets like this — and said that could never happen here — because we are the land of the free and the home of the brave
Christine Villaverde / @villaverde4nc: @brianschatz This is not just spin management — this is state coercion of the press during an active military conflict, using regulatory power as a weapon against editorial independence.
Ted Lieu / @tedlieu: Dear @BrendanCarrFCC: If you implement your flagrantly anti First Amendment actions, you will be sued and you will lose. And legal discovery will be awesome. Because the American people can then find out what the Administration keeps hiding. Take your fascist shit and shove it.
The Asia Business Daily: Trump Administration Threatens to Revoke Broadcasters' Licenses for Critical Reporting on Iran War
Brian Schatz / @brianschatz: This is a clear directive to provide positive war coverage or else licenses may not be renewed. This is worse than the comedian stuff, and by a lot. The stakes here are much higher. He's not talking about late night shows, he's talking about how a war is covered.
Michael / @michaelnaphys.bsky.social: Nothing says “the war is going great” like threatening broadcasters who cover your many fuck ups. This is textbook fascism, censor the press when they point out how shitty of a job you're doing. www.usatoday.com/story/news/ p...
Jonathan Cohn / @jonathancohn.bsky.social: The Trump administration believes that any news outlet that doesn't reproduce propaganda verbatim should not be allowed to exist. www.usatoday.com/story/news/ p...
Saywhat Politics: FCC Chair Threatens Media: Fall In Line With Trump, Or Lose Broadcasting Licenses …
Ashley Ahn / Honolulu Star-Advertiser: FCC chair threatens broadcasters' licenses over Iran war coverage
Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert / Business Insider: FCC chair threatens to pull licenses of broadcasters airing ‘distortions’ about the Iran war
@thetnholler.bsky.social: Read this headline. — Now read it again. — Now read it again. — You are not alarmed enough. — It is later than you think. 🇺🇸 — deadline.com/2026/03/trum... [image]
@johnrafferty.bsky.social: First Amendment violation, Brendan. — I wonder if a class-action lawsuit (with 320 million of us being the injured class) might change your mind. — Do this and ALL of us will see you in court. [image]
Zach Everson / @zacheverson.com: “Section 14 of the Press Law ordered editors ‘to keep out of the newspapers anything which...tends to weaken the strength of the German Reich, outwardly or inwardly.’” — William Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, p. 405 [embedded post]
@riderbabe52.bsky.social: He can't but the threats will cause the spineless MSM moguls will bend, as always — FCC chair threatens to revoke broadcaster licenses over Iran coverage — FCC Chair Brendan Carr said news broadcasters coverage of Iran war could impact their license renewal. — www.usatoday.com/story/news/ p...
Ambassador Ken Fairfax / @portlandken.bsky.social: By threatening to deny the license of any broadcast news company that does not tow the Trump line, Carr is publicly announcing that the goal of the Trump Administration is to rip up the Constitution to install an authoritarian government.
Chuck Darwin / @cdarwin@c.im: Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr threatened to revoke broadcasters' licenses over — coverage of the Iran war, — after Trump accused news outlets of “intentionally misleading” the American public. — Trump criticized print media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, …
Matthew Keys / Matthew Keys on LinkedIn: This crosses the line. Broadcasters should be able to report the news accurately and objectively, without government intimidation. …
Brian Harrod / @brianharrod.bsky.social: WELCOME TO THE POLICE STATE: Trump's FCC chair threatens broadcasters over Iran war coverage... www.usatoday.com/story/news/ p...
Kim Masters / @kimmasters.bsky.social: Very eager fascist, that Brendan Carr.
Ken Bazinet / @kenbazinet.bsky.social: “The First Amendment doesn't allow the government to censor information about the war it's waging,” Adam Terr, director of public policy at The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, posted, The Times said. — #CryBabies
Ted Johnson / Deadline: Trump's FCC Chairman Threatens Broadcasters' Licenses After POTUS' Tirade Over Iran War News Coverage
William Hughes / Paste: Brendan Carr now trying to threaten away the networks' negative war coverage
@watchyourrepssc.bsky.social: Has this man ever heard of Freedom of the Press??? Once we flip Congress in November, I want y'all to take decisive action against all who ignore the Constitution for their personal gain.
Chris Murphy / @chrismurphyct.bsky.social: The is the federal government telling news stations to provide favorable coverage of the war or their licenses will be pulled. — A truly extraordinary moment. — We aren't on the verge of a totalitarian takeover. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. — Act like it. [image]
Edward Helmore / The Guardian: FCC chair threatens to throttle news broadcasts over ‘hoaxes’ about Iran war
Geoffrey / @thegeoffey.bsky.social: We don't need no stinkin' First Amendment — www.usatoday.com/story/news/ p...
Lauren Weinstein / @lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org: FCC Chair threatens licenses of media outlets that run war news Trump doesn't like — https://www.usatoday.com/... [image]
Mack Butterfield / @mack2114.bsky.social: “The president's hand-picked misinformation czar is at it again, singling out “fake news” that conflicts with his boss's political agenda,"The First Amendment doesn't allow the government to censor information about the war it's waging. www.usatoday.com/story/news/ p...
Eliot Higgins / @eliothiggins.bsky.social: I'm working on a book outline that argues democracies rely on the constraint of power through functional verification, deliberation and accountability and how thats been hollowed out and captured in the US, and he just tweets it out.
Eliot Higgins / @eliothiggins.bsky.social: Donald Trump letting you know how the authoritarian capture of the media is going, in case you missed it. Unlike other authoritarians in places like Hungary and Poland he has no worries about advertising his authoritarian take over of the media. [image]
@mastodonmigration@mastodon.online: News: USA Today | FCC chair threatens broadcasters over Iran war coverage — https://www.usatoday.com/... “Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions - also known as the fake news - have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up,” he wrote in a social media post. …
Brian Osgood / Al Jazeera: Trump administration threatens news outlets over critical coverage of Iran
Dale Baker / @dalbak.bsky.social: No one seems to understand WHO gets a LICENSE. Networks don't get licenses. Cable channels don't. — Individual TV stations get licenses. So unless Trump is willing to take every ABC affiliate in the country off the air (which would not hold up in court for two seconds) it's all steaming BS.
Adam Serwer / @adamserwer.bsky.social: I don't think this shit will work but i never want to hear about free speech from any trumpers or anti anti trumpers ever again, fuck off forever bsky.app/profile/cram... [embedded post]
@meidastouch.com: Brendan Carr is threatening the media to cover the war the way the Trump regime wants. It's one of the most anti-American messages ever posted by a government official. — 1/ [images]
Ashley Shelby / @millcitywriter@threads.com: Brendan Carr can f**k all the way off. The mainstream media is already doing his bidding. These cretins vastly underestimate the contrarian sensibilities of average Americans. He wants to ensure we'll be looking even more closely at this failed war, tell us not to.
RELATED:
Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:
The White House has unleashed a pressure campaign against news organizations as it bristles at Iran war coverage, while Trump muses about “Charges for TREASON”
The White House has unleashed a pressure campaign against news organizations as it bristles at Iran war coverage, while Trump muses about “Charges for TREASON”
Discussion:
Donald J. Trump / @realDonaldTrump@truthsocial.com: Iran has long been known as a Master of Media Manipulation and Public Relations. They are Militarily ineffective and weak, but are really good at “feeding” the very appreciative Fake News Media false information. Now, A.I. has become another Disinformation weapon that Iran uses, quite well, considering they are being annihilated by the day. …
@hockeybroad.bsky.social: The only treason is coming from inside the White House. — A free & HONEST press is a hallmark of democracy. When the gov't is threatening/pressuring the press, when oligarchs own & run the media messaging on a deeply slanted bias, then we no longer have a free press; we have state press. …
Brian Stelter / @brianstelter: This reporter refused to be shushed: Yesterday Mariam Khan (@MKhan47) was the TV pool representative aboard Air Force One, meaning she was there on behalf of all the major networks. Khan brought up the fact that “your PAC put out a fundraising email” using photos taken at a
Michael M. Grynbaum / @grynbaum: With Threats and Claims of ‘Treason,’ Trump Pressures Media on the War “Fixated on his press coverage since his early days as a real estate developer, Mr. Trump has both accused mainstream reporters of treason and also engaged with them on a close, personal level.”
Terry Moran / Real Patriotism with Terry Moran: How to Kill a Free Press Without Killing a Free Press
Emanuel Fabian / The Times of Israel:
Times of Israel's military correspondent says he received death threats from Polymarket bettors asking him to change his report on a missile strike in Israel — Bettors are using death threats to try to get The Times of Israel's military correspondent to change his report on a missile impact in central Israel.
Discussion:
Mediaite, New York Post, @adrienneleigh.bsky.social, Forbes, Protos, Gizmodo, @lizt1.bsky.social, The Block, @chrismurphyct.bsky.social, @davidgerard.co.uk, @robertscotthorton.bsky.social, @newsjennifer.bsky.social, The Verge, @yair-rosenberg.bsky.social, @natematias.bsky.social, @kimzetter.bsky.social, @joshtpm.bsky.social, @markjacob.bsky.social, Benzinga, @nkalamb.bsky.social, @volberg.bsky.social, Al Jazeera, @leahmcelrath.bsky.social, @thmoore.bsky.social, @ariehkovler.com, @mickwe, Blockonomi, @joemenn.bsky.social, @therafischwartz.bsky.social, @maxboot.bsky.social, @seancasten.bsky.social, @andrewkarre.bsky.social and Dave Lee
Discussion:
Sean James / Mediaite: Journalist Got Death Threats After Enraged Gamblers Demanded He Change a Report on Iranian Strikes on Israel
Marc Vartabedian / New York Post: Polymarket bettors allegedly barrage Israeli reporter with death threats over story about Iranian missile strike: ‘Earn back the life you had’
Adrienne / @adrienneleigh.bsky.social: Holy shit @diplomatofnight.com have you seen this? Seems at least partially in your wheelhouse.
Nizan Geslevich Packin / Forbes: Why Prediction Markets Look Like Finance But Behave Like Gambling
AJ Dellinger / Gizmodo: Polymarket Bettors Allegedly Send Israeli Reporter Death Threats Demanding Changes to Article
Elizabeth Thompson / @lizt1.bsky.social: This is a wild story. A journalist in Israel is being threatened by Polymarkt gamblers who want him to change a story he filed about an Iranian missile. Kudos to him for standing by his reporting. www.timesofisrael.com/gamblers- try... #JournalismMatters
Kyle Baird / The Block: Polymarket bettors send death threats to reporter over missile report tied to $14 million prediction market pool
Chris Murphy / @chrismurphyct.bsky.social: We need to end prediction markets for government action. NOW. — This bone chilling story about a reporter's life threatened bc he simply reported on Iran missile strikes: — “After you make us lose $900,000 we will invest no less than that to finish you.”
@davidgerard.co.uk: crypto bros keep crypto broing: — Gamblers trying to win a bet on Polymarket are vowing to kill me if I don't rewrite an Iran missile story — www.timesofisrael.com/gamblers- try...
Scott Horton / @robertscotthorton.bsky.social: You really will not understand Polymarket until you read this. It's definitely a criminal racket.
@newsjennifer.bsky.social: “...the emails I received were intended to confirm whether or not a missile had hit Israel on March 10 in order to resolve a prediction on Polymarket.” — As Trump accuses journalists of treason for truthful stories about the Iran war, gamblers are doing this: — www.timesofisrael.com/gamblers- try...
Adi Robertson / The Verge: “After you make us lose $900,000 we will invest no less than that to finish you.”
Yair Rosenberg / @yair-rosenberg.bsky.social: It started with gamblers harassing athletes for messing up their bets. It was never going to end there. Grateful to the author for telling this story publicly. I suspect we'll see more of this.
J. Nathan Matias / @natematias.bsky.social: As a scholar of online harassment, I would like to note that betting markets have long been associated with intimidation & threats, and that this has been a problem in sports for a long time. Expanding gambling to more things expands intimidation too. — www.timesofisrael.com/gamblers- try...
Kim Zetter / @kimzetter.bsky.social: Gamblers on Polymarket threatened Israeli journalist if he didn't change a report about a missile that bypassed interceptors and struck an open area outside Jerusalem. Also, an Israeli reservist and civilian were indicted for using classified info to make bets before Israel bombed Iran last June
Josh Marshall / @joshtpm.bsky.social: Crazy crazy story. Times of Israel reporter ( English language Israeli news site ) gets escalating death threats to change story that's at center of big polymarket bet. www.timesofisrael.com/gamblers- try...
Mark Jacob / @markjacob.bsky.social: Read this story about how a reporter was pressured to change his news story to satisfy Polymarket bets about the war with Iran. It shows that: — A) Prediction markets are a pox. — B) Terrible people hope to personally profit from war and don't give a crap who gets hurt.
Daragh Thomas / Benzinga: Polymarket Gamblers Threatened To Kill A Journalist Unless He Rewrote His Iran Missile Story
Nathan Kalman-Lamb / @nkalamb.bsky.social: “You are choosing to go to war knowing that you will lose your life as you've grown accustomed to it — for nothing.” — An Israeli journalist received death threats for reporting on Iran missile strikes in Israel *because of Polymarket bets. We are so fucked. — www.timesofisrael.com/gamblers- try... …
Sven-Erik Volberg / @volberg.bsky.social: Another day another patch of gamblers on #Polymarket are vowing to kill a journalist in order to win a bet — www.timesofisrael.com/gamblers- try...
Virginia Pietromarchi / Al Jazeera: US says it has destroyed Iran missile capacity: How is Iran still shooting?
Leah McElrath / @leahmcelrath.bsky.social: Polymarket gamblers are threatening the life of the Times of Israel military correspondent and demanding he withdraw reporting of a Iranian ballistic missile impact in Israel:
Tom Moore / @thmoore.bsky.social: This is a hell of a story. — Maybe putting thousands of people under pressure from gamblers isn't the best idea?
Arieh Kovler / @ariehkovler.com: Read this shocking account of how Polymarket gamblers tried to pressure, bribe and threaten an Israeli journalist to change a detail in his story so they could win a bet. And then realise that this must be happening to reporters all the time.
Mick Weinstein / @mickwe: Gamblers trying to win a bet on Polymarket are vowing to kill my colleague if he doesn't rewrite an Iran missile story https://www.timesofisrael.com/ ...
Maxwell Mutuma / Blockonomi: Polymarket Bettors Threaten Reporter Over Missile Story
Joseph Menn / @joemenn.bsky.social: This story is important and terrifying on its own, as gamblers' pressure on journalists to lie joins the forces arrayed against the beleaguered reality business. But it should also be taken as a warning to the major media outlets that have made deals reporting on and promoting these sites.
Rafi / @therafischwartz.bsky.social: This is fucking *insane* and, i'd bet (heh) we're gonna see these sorts of peckerhead shenanigans a whole lot more in the not-too-distant future.
Max Boot / @maxboot.bsky.social: This is insane. A reporter in Israel received death threats because he wouldn't change his (accurate) news story about an Iranian missile attack to allow gamblers to win a bet on Polymarket. These online gambling markets are a menace. www.timesofisrael.com/gamblers- try...
Sean Casten / @seancasten.bsky.social: How do you possibly run a gambling website that gives people opportunity to profit off wars and then threaten journalists to edit their stories to let them win their bets and live with yourself the next morning? www.timesofisrael.com/gamblers- try...
Andrew Karre / @andrewkarre.bsky.social: I'm not sure there's a country on earth equipped to handle the corruption “prediction markets” like Kalshi and Polymarket are already causing—much less the corruption they will cause as they grow more prevalent. (And don't forget Polymarket's major stakeholders include Peter Thiel and Don Jr.)
The Atlantic:
Sources: President Trump is increasingly taking journalists' calls himself, as his personal phone number circulates and is offered for sale to rich individuals — The president's personal iPhone has been lighting up. — Washington's hottest commodity is a 10-digit number that can swing financial markets …
Discussion:
Fox News, The Independent, @dannygroner.bsky.social, Android Authority, @jdawsey1, Digital Trends, @adriennelaf.bsky.social, Raw Story, @burgessev, @semaforben, The Hill, @kirk_bado, Semafor, Mumbrella, @bjkeefe.bsky.social, Mediaite, No More Mister Nice Blog, PhoneArena, The Guardian and The Parnas Perspective
Discussion:
Fox News: Trump enjoys ‘messing with’ journalists as they scramble to get his personal phone number: report
Rachel Dobkin / The Independent: Reporters share secrets to cold calling Trump - including waiting until the middle of the night when he can't sleep
Danny Groner / @dannygroner.bsky.social: “We were recently approached by another journalist who offered to trade more than two dozen cellphone numbers of significant stature for the one number of most significant stature. (We declined.) We heard the going rate for this sort of swap is a one-to-one trade for another major world leader.” …
Josh Dawsey / @jdawsey1: One difference in first term and second term Trump: Staff would have tried to block these calls, berate reporters for calling, etc during first term. In second term, aides know Trump is the boss and he'll say what he wants when he wants — and they largely follow him on messaging.
Rachit Agarwal / Digital Trends: President Trump's iPhone is becoming a problem for officials
Adrienne LaFrance / @adriennelaf.bsky.social: What do you have to do to get Trump's phone number these days? — A great story from @ashleyrparker.bsky.social and @michaelscherer.bsky.social about a ridiculous phenomenon: — www.theatlantic.com/politics/ 202...
Robert Davis / Raw Story: Trump raises eyebrows with response to female reporter asking about Iran deployment
Burgess Everett / @burgessev: .@maxwelltani on Trump and his phone as he becomes the “presidential version of a drive-time radio host” for reporters “in the two weeks since the US and Israel began military operations in Iran, Trump has done more than 30 cell phone interviews” (He didn't pick up when Max
Ben Smith / @semaforben: A delightful @maxwelltani read on the president and his media phone pals https://www.semafor.com/... [image]
Cate Martel / The Hill: Trump pleads for global help to avert oil crisis
Kirk A. Bado / @kirk_bado: “'I feel like Frodo with the ring,' one Washington journalist who has spoken with Trump over the years said. 'I know it's dangerous, but it keeps beckoning me.'”
@bjkeefe.bsky.social: Many, many reporters have Trump's private number. He likes nothing finer than getting calls directly from them. — bsky.app/profile/stev... www.theatlantic.com/politics/ 202... [embedded post]
Charlie Nash / Mediaite: Trump Snaps at ‘Very Obnoxious’ Reporter Who Asked About Iran Troop Deployment
Alan Friedman / PhoneArena: Want to speak to the president? Report says Trump's personal number can be bought
Nellie Andreeva / Deadline:
Disney's incoming president Dana Walden unveils new Disney Entertainment leadership, including elevating Debra OConnell as chairman of Entertainment TV — Dana Walden, incoming President and Chief Creative Officer of The Walt Disney Company as of Wednesday, has revealed the new leadership structure of Disney Entertainment.
Discussion:
TheDesk.net, Variety, The Wrap, Los Angeles Times, Reuters, The Hollywood Reporter, Cord Cutters News and @dylanbyers
Discussion:
Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net: Disney announces new executives, leadership structure in entertainment biz
Brian Steinberg / Variety: Debra OConnell Rises to Chairman of U.S. Entertainment TV for Disney as Creative Chief Dana Walden Unveils Her Executive Team
Lucas Manfredi / The Wrap: Disney's Dana Walden Sets Senior Leadership Team for Entertainment Division
Meg James / Los Angeles Times: Disney's Dana Walden sets leadership team; Bergman remains film studios chief
Vallari Srivastava / Reuters: Disney names ABC News Group's Debra OConnell as chairman of entertainment arm
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Interviews with News Corp. CEO Robert Thomson and Dow Jones CEO Almar Latour, who say they expect Dow Jones to earn $1B in annual profit within five years — Dow Jones, the professional news and services sector within News Corp., expects to earn $1 billion in annual profit within five years …
Jessica Testa / New York Times:
An interview with Piers Morgan about leaving Fox to build his own YouTube-based company Uncensored, hiring Rashida Jones as CEO, controversies, Trump, and more — Last week, on Piers Morgan's show, one guest called another a “terrorist piece of crap” as the journalist Glenn Greenwald and a retired U.S. general watched.
Discussion:
Aram Zucker-Scharff / @chronotope.aramzs.xyz: Some of these Fox right-wing wacky anchors do have their own audiences that could be the foundation of an independent operation... but Piers Morgan? I don't think so. [embedded post]
Jeff Jarvis / @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social: The last person on earth with anything credible to say about “Good TV” is the odious Mr. Morgan. But that's whom the #BrokenTimes chooses to puff. “He seems more MAGA-friendly than not.” Uh-huh. — What Makes ‘Good TV’ on the Internet? Piers Morgan Has Thoughts. https://www.nytimes.com/...
New York Times:
Sources: Jeff Bezos said “I don't care” after being told that WaPo could lose subs due to Opinion changes; 60K+ canceled their subs in February after layoffs — Jeff Bezos called Matt Murray, the executive editor of The Washington Post, in late November to send an urgent message: Please do not quit.
Discussion:
CNN, Mediaite, Gizmodo, @shaneharris, ReaderGrev, @tripgabriel, @chriscillizza, @charlescwcooke, @pkafka, @tomricks1, @rachelvand, @katie_robertson, @ourand_puck, @benmullin, @dylanbyers, @zackstanton, @emmanuelfelton, @mccartneywp, @dkthomp, @mccanner.bsky.social, @ericumansky.bsky.social, The Wrap, John Robinson on LinkedIn, @chasingray.bsky.social, @vtcommons.bsky.social, @sallyjenx.bsky.social, @picardonhealth.bsky.social, Contemplating Life …, Awful Announcing, @michaeljstern.bsky.social, @walldo.bsky.social, @petedavidsonny.bsky.social, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, @stefthepef@mastodon.social, @newsjennifer.bsky.social, @sallyjenx.bsky.social, @sallyjenx.bsky.social, @sallyjenx.bsky.social, @sallyjenx.bsky.social, @newsjennifer.bsky.social, @bgrueskin.bsky.social, @dankennedy.net, @milesgrant.bsky.social, @erinmcunningham.bsky.social and @benmullin.bsky.social
Discussion:
Jennifer Bowers Bahney / Mediaite: Washington Post Staffer Announces Exit in Fiery Post: Faith In Leadership ‘Broken Beyond Repair’
Matt Novak / Gizmodo: Washington Post's Surveillance Pricing Under Fire From Dems Who Want to Ban the Practice
Shane Harris / @shaneharris: Cannot say this enough times. The model Bezos is pursuing is one that the industry tried—and tried and tried—years ago. It failed. Many of the places that moved on we now call “profitable.”
Mikhail Klimentov / ReaderGrev: Marathon is a satire — Key images courtesy of Bungie; illustrated elements by Sonny Ross — Hi!
Trip Gabriel / @tripgabriel: When centibillionaire own the news 'Bezos was dividing his time among Amazon, Blue Origin and his newfound lavish lifestyle 'A dinner w Bezos at his mansion in DC sealed the deal 'Bezos met with the opinion department at his sprawling estate near Miami https://www.nytimes.com/...
Chris Cillizza / @chriscillizza: “And Mr. Bezos pitched his strategy: Reduce the newsroom's budget by half and double the productivity of those who remained” Ok, so the Bezos plan for WaPo is to cut half of the employees and get the ones you keep to do twice as much? What a genius! https://www.nytimes.com/...
Charles C. W. Cooke / @charlescwcooke: “I don't care.” It turns out that you really can just say “no” when people try to bully you into saying or doing things that you don't want to. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Peter Kafka / @pkafka: Lots of great details here including this: When Jeff Bezos cancelled Wapo's presidential endorsement in 2024, more than 250k subscribers cancelled. After massive layoffs this year, another 60k left.
Thomas E. Ricks / @tomricks1: Mr. D'Onofrio , can you tell me in one sentence that you don't understand journalism? Sure! “D'Onofrio said, according to the recording, 'that's resulted in a doubling of costs for story-units since 2020.'” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Rachel Van Dongen / @rachelvand: The overriding problem isn't that data should be used to direct business and even editorial decisions. It's that the leaders of WaPo don't clearly understand who the audience is and should be. https://www.nytimes.com/... via @NYTimes
Katie Robertson / @katie_robertson: NEW: In Nov, WaPo's exec ed Matt Murray resigned. Jeff Bezos convinced him to stay & help the paper become sustainable with a new strategy: Half the budget, double the productivity What really went down at The Washington Post: https://www.nytimes.com/... w/ @BenMullin @ErikWemple
John Ourand / @ourand_puck: Bezos' WaPo strategy: “Reduce the newsroom's budget by half and double the productivity of those who remained.” @BenMullin, @ErikWemple and @katie_robertson with a deep dive on my hometown paper. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Ben Mullin / @benmullin: some scoops in here: -Things got so bad between Will Lewis and Matt Murray that Matt told Will he was out -Jeff Zucker+Gerry Cardinale explored a deal for The Post in 2023 -Will Lewis lashed out at his execs after Bezos sent him back to the drawing board https://www.nytimes.com/...
Dylan Byers / @dylanbyers: Redbird's Gerry Cardinale and Jeff Zucker expressed interest in buying Washington Post in 2023, per @nytimes: https://www.nytimes.com/...
Zack Stanton / @zackstanton: “Mr. Bezos pitched his strategy: Reduce the newsroom's budget by half and double the productivity of those who remained” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Emmanuel Felton / @emmanuelfelton: Like I said last month, the remake of the Post is about ideology not finances: Bezos offered a blunt response when David Shipley, the opinion editor, noted that changing the editorial ideology could turn off some subscribers. 'I don't care,' he said. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Robert McCartney / @mccartneywp: Bezos says he wants WashPost to use “data” to guide coverage. But when told that shifting Opinions section hard to right would lose subscribers, he said, “I don't care.” https://www.nytimes.com/... via @NYTimes
Derek Thompson / @dkthomp: Great reporting on the Washington Post's conundrum in the last 15 months. TLDR: - we have to follow the data - we have to follow the data - “Mr Bezos, the data says that single-handedly canceling a political endorsement will be catastrophic for the business” - “I don't care” - [image]
Erin Mccann / @mccanner.bsky.social: Blaming journalists for the systemic collapse of the ability to control the distribution of their work suggests they lack not only an understanding of the journalism, but the business itself. — www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/b...
Eric Umansky / @ericumansky.bsky.social: Washington Post executives were troubled to learn that a single story could cost...thousands of dollars. — Thank god they weren't around during the WaPo's coverage of Watergate, CIA dark prisons, or any of the many other stories that helped changed the world. — www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/b... …
Stephanie Kaloi / The Wrap: The Washington Post Lost Over 60,000 Subscribers Following Winter Layoffs
John Robinson / John Robinson on LinkedIn: This story could serve as a case study on terrible leadership: communication problems; unclear strategy; org structure violations …
Colleen Mondor / @chasingray.bsky.social: From the NYT article on Jeff Bezos and the Washington Post. I remind everyone that no one paid attention to the Woodward & Bernstein Watergate articles for a long time - until suddenly Watergate changed history. (link www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/b...) [image]
@vtcommons.bsky.social: This is a prime example of not knowing what you're doing. Not only has Bezos stripped the Post of many of its best journalists and eliminated key sections but turned it into a Trump rag sheet. Trump is detested in the DMV. The paper will be dead in two years. Watch. — www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/b...
Sally Jenkins / @sallyjenx.bsky.social: So wait. According to this, WashPost exec editor Matt Murray threatened to quit b/c he wasn't consulted on a staff cut of 200, but he was good being in CHARGE of firing 350 — and decided who and how many they were. Let that sink in. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/b...
@picardonhealth.bsky.social: How Jeff Bezos Upended The Washington Post. The billionaire newspaper owner, dissatisfied by years of losses, wants the newsroom to double productivity with half its budget. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/b... via @nytimes.com #journalism
Contemplatingoutlander / Contemplating Life …: How Jeff Bezos Upended The Washington Post The billionaire newspaper owner, dissatisfied …
Sean Keeley / Awful Announcing: Over 60,000 Washington Post readers reportedly canceled their subscriptions following mass layoffs
Michael J. Stern / @michaeljstern.bsky.social: Spineless Billionaires who abandon integrity for another few billion are pathetic. — www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/b...
Brandon Wall / @walldo.bsky.social: An innovative media strategy that has never been tried in a newsroom before. “Bezos pitched his strategy: Reduce the newsroom's budget by half and double the productivity of those who remained, all while protecting some core parts of The Post's coverage” www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/b...
Pete Davidson / @petedavidsonny.bsky.social: The idea that he bought the paper to make some more money is completely outside of reality. — This is about wagging the damn dog of public knowledge/opinion. Same with twitter and the Ellison empire and right on down the line. [embedded post]
Jeff Jarvis / @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social: The Times' rendition of Bezos', Ryan's, and Lewis' breakage of the #BrokenPost. Not surprisingly and not without reason, it's told with kid gloves. That is to say: It's so much worse. — Gift link: — How Jeff Bezos Upended The Washington Post https://www.nytimes.com/...
Stef Schrader / @stefthepef@mastodon.social: Holy crap, the focus on articles written per reporter and engagement time is straight out of a 2010s clickbait factory. You don't get in-depth reporting like that. — Bezos has no business meddling in the operations of the paper when he refuses to listen to people who actually understand the business. https://www.nytimes.com/...
@newsjennifer.bsky.social: 2/ “Only views in line with his support of personal freedom and free markets would be welcome in the opinion section, which has long published columnists and guest writers with a variety of views.” — www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/b...
Sally Jenkins / @sallyjenx.bsky.social: A final word, and then I'll leave it alone. So Matt Murray was insistent on quitting when the cuts were being made without his input — but totally cool staying once HE could make the cuts. Well now he owns it. Clowns deserve clowns. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/b...
Sally Jenkins / @sallyjenx.bsky.social: Bezos and his boot kissers don't even know how absurd they sound. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/b...
Sally Jenkins / @sallyjenx.bsky.social: This is a good but incomplete story. First, top editor and publisher ORDERED fewer stories — insistently. Productivity didn't fall. Second, there is a wave of chaos, backpedaling in newsroom from absurd “data” math that is already seen as terrible miscalculation. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/b...
Sally Jenkins / @sallyjenx.bsky.social: Clown men. Red noses and flappy shoes. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/b...
@newsjennifer.bsky.social: When all is said and done, Jeff Bezos will long be remembered -among other things- as the guy who destroyed one of the country's great newspapers. I hope that front row seat at the Met Gala was worth it. [image]
Bill Grueskin / @bgrueskin.bsky.social: Imagine spending more than $2,000 to find, report, write, edit, shoot and publish a story, especially when there's so much AI clickbait slop you can push out to the masses for free? — Gift link to this excellent deep dive by the NYT on its competitor, the Washpost ⤵️ …
Dan Kennedy / @dankennedy.net: Yet another deep dive into what went wrong at the WashPost, only this one looks closely at Bezos' role. It's pretty clear that he doesn't know what he's doing, maybe because he's only minimally engaged. Destroying metro and sports eliminated a possible road back. #journalism
Miles Grant / @milesgrant.bsky.social: Cuts staff in half & demands remaining staff DOUBLE output overnight — Hires bumbling idiots as managers — Demands profits, but also prioritizes his own personal politics over customer retention — Billionaires are psychopaths & the cure is a wealth tax
Erin Cunningham / @erinmcunningham.bsky.social: There it is —> — Bezos offered a blunt response when Washington Post opinion editor, David Shipley, noted in fall 2024 that changing the editorial ideology could turn off some subscribers. “I don't care,” Bezos said. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/b...
Ben Mullin / @benmullin.bsky.social: After The Washington Post cut its newsroom roughly in half in February, I teamed up with @katierobertson.bsky.social @erikwemple.bsky.social to examine why its owner, Jeff Bezos, was insisting on major cuts after years of investment. The answer is here: — www.nytimes.com/2026/03/14/b...
Blake Brittain / Reuters:
Encyclopedia Britannica and its Merriam-Webster subsidiary sue OpenAI for allegedly misusing their reference materials to train its AI models — Encyclopedia Britannica and its Merriam-Webster subsidiary have sued OpenAI in Manhattan federal court for allegedly misusing their reference materials …
Discussion:
Gizmodo, Tom's Guide, U.S. District Court, TechCrunch, Fast Company, The Next Web, Engadget, The Decoder, Courthouse News Service and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Amanda Caswell / Tom's Guide: Encyclopedia Britannica just sued OpenAI over ChatGPT — here's why AI training is under fire (again)
Amanda Silberling / TechCrunch: The dictionary sues OpenAI
Jennifer Mattson / Fast Company: Encyclopedia Britannica is the latest giant to sue OpenAI
Ana-Maria Stanciuc / The Next Web: Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster sue OpenAI, claiming ChatGPT cannibalises nearly 100,000 of their articles
Jackson Chen / Engadget: Encyclopedia Britannica sues OpenAI for copyright and trademark infringement
Matthias Bastian / The Decoder: Encyclopedia Britannica sues OpenAI for training on nearly 100,000 articles without permission
Lukas I. Alpert / MarketWatch:
How BuzzFeed went from a $1.7B digital-media darling in 2016 to the brink of bankruptcy, as an early investor blames mismanagement following a 2021 SPAC merger — BuzzFeed rode a wave of VC investment to become a force, but never found a path to profitability.
Discussion:
Futurism, @sternbergh.bsky.social, @adamisacson.com, @lilithsaintcrow …, @cdarwin@c.im, @jeridansky@sfba.social, @kevincollier.bsky.social, @maris.bsky.social, @theserfstv.bsky.social, Amelia Emberwing on LinkedIn, @GossiTheDog@cyberplace.social, @JulianOliver@mastodon.social, @twinklebutt.bsky.social and Newser
Discussion:
Victor Tangermann / Futurism: BuzzFeed Nearing Bankruptcy After Disastrous Turn Toward AI
Adam Sternbergh / @sternbergh.bsky.social: there was a time not that long ago when every media organization was deathly afraid that buzzfeed was going to put them out of business — futurism.com/artificial-i...
Adam Isacson / @adamisacson.com: I keep a database of links to articles relevant to my work. It contains 180 BuzzFeed articles. But the last entry was in 2022.
Lili Saintcrow / @lilithsaintcrow@raggedfeathers.com: “Now, three years after its AI pivot, the writing is on the wall. The company reported a net loss of $57.3 million in 2025 in an earnings report released on Thursday.” https://futurism.com/...
Chuck Darwin / @cdarwin@c.im: In January 2023, BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti announced in a memo to staffthat the company was making a hard pivot to AI — years before the word “slop” was added to the public lexicon. — In the memo, which was published roughly two months after OpenAI unveiled its groundbreaking ChatGPT chatbot …
Jeri Dansky / @jeridansky@sfba.social: Does anyone else remember when BuzzFeed News — the news division of the site also known for its quizzes — was outstanding? With amazing journalists? — It's so sad to see what it's come to — and especially sad to see its recent strategy was going all in on AI. — https://futurism.com/... …
Kevin Collier / @kevincollier.bsky.social: Maybe they should have thought about that before laying me off in 2019.
Maris Kreizman / @maris.bsky.social: Who could have ever predicted this? (All of us, immediately) futurism.com/artificial-i...
Amelia Emberwing / Amelia Emberwing on LinkedIn: Sure would be neat if a single soul learned literally anything from this. Buzzfeed used to print money, now it's on the brink of collapse …
Kevin Beaumont / @GossiTheDog@cyberplace.social: Buzzfeed journey: — Successful — Pivoted to GenAI for content — Laid everybody off — Now admits it probably can't stay in business — https://futurism.com/...
Julian Oliver / @JulianOliver@mastodon.social: Buzzfeed's shares go from $15 to 70 cents, now approaching bankruptcy, seemingly as a result of going all-in on ‘AI’ generated content. — This emerging pattern does not speak to a wicked problem. Rather, it should be no surprise that people don't want to read machine-generated content that outwardly pretends to come from a person. …
Paul Harper / @twinklebutt.bsky.social: Buzzfeed went tits-up because advertisers became more important than customers. — It, in short, got too greedy and discovered the hard way that it was disposable.
Jenn Gidman / Newser: Buzzfeed Warns It May Not Be Around Much Longer
