Top News:
Washington Post:
Independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort have been released from custody after their arrests for coverage of a protest at a Minnesota church — The former CNN host was taken into custody in Los Angeles. — just now — Federal authorities arrested independent journalist Don Lemon …
Discussion:
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April Rubin / Axios:
Journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort were arrested by federal agents on Jan. 29 and Jan. 30, respectively, for their coverage of a Minnesota church protest — Journalist Don Lemon was arrested by federal agents on Thursday night following backlash over his coverage of an anti-ICE protest …
Discussion:
@agpambondi, CNN, @whitehouse, Committee to Protect …, @jaketapper, Fox News, The Guardian, People, The TRiiBE, New York Post, TV Insider, Bossip, NPR, UNICORN RIOT, Awful Announcing, Fox News, Politico, CBS News, @anno1540.bsky.social, JURISTnews, NPR, @repjeffries, BBC, @nytimespr, @lenoret.bsky.social, Facebook, @senatorwarnock, CBS News, Variety, @jaketapper, @jaketapper, @jaketapper, @therickwilson, @jaketapper, Mother Jones, @atrupar, Breitbart, @juliannemcshane, @chucktodd, @kristadb1.bsky.social, @mlcalderone, Associated Press, @donlemonofficial.bsky.social, @brianstelter, @jeremymbarr, @timodc, @jemelehill, @acnewsitics, @timodc, Columbia Journalism Review, MS NOW, Mediaite, NewsNation, The Wrap, Los Angeles Times, @cartersherman.bsky.social, Wall Street Journal, Ben Iannotta on LinkedIn, Washington Examiner, @pamspaulding.bsky.social, @frankamari.bsky.social, TMZ.com, Forbes, @theintercept.com, TheGrio, @stoneballs.bsky.social, @christianthiels.bsky.social, @monscience.bsky.social, @scanlon.house.gov, @freedom.press, @pdehello@mastodon.social, Townhall, Errin Haines on LinkedIn, @freedom.press, The 19th, @socialmedialab.ca, @arachnius.bsky.social, @laurajedeed.bsky.social, @mrsdeborahlynn.bsky.social, @ajnobles.com, @amerliberal.bsky.social, Baller Alert, The Daily Caller, The Hollywood Reporter, The Contrarian, @montealto.bsky.social, Democracy Docket, @nbedera.bsky.social, @cwebbonline.com, @jodieginsberg.bsky.social, @rephuffman.bsky.social, Lev Remembers, @dmcharles.bsky.social, @inn.org, Jodie Ginsberg on LinkedIn, KSTP-TV, Australian Financial Review, Financial Times, Freedom of the Press …, Advocate, @kamimagic.bsky.social, Mother Jones, New York Times, @froomkin.bsky.social, Screen Rant, Gay City News, American Greatness, Daily Mail, @theletterhack.bsky.social, HuffPost, The Hill, @jamellebouie.net, @jamellebouie.net, @divscotty.bsky.social, @TomSullivan@mstdn.social, @darnell@one.darnell.one, The Independent, The Verge, @atrupar.com, New York Magazine, TheGrio, Global News, Boston.com, @jonflan.bsky.social, @crankyoldcrackpot.bsky.social, Vibe, KARE-TV, The Federalist, USA Today, @kathleenclark.bsky.social, @mcbridetd.bsky.social, All Rise News, @hrag.bsky.social, @jaredhardd.bsky.social, The Daily Wire, @emptywheel.bsky.social, HELLO!, @joshuaerlich.bsky.social, Hollywood Life, @irhottakes.bsky.social, @b9AcE@todon.eu, ZeroHedge News, NOTUS, @daveweigel.bsky.social, Raw Story, Entertainment Weekly, @rusty.todayintabs.com, @pattymo.com, @mikehixenbaugh.com, New Republic, @zackwhittaker@mastodon.social, @adamserwer.bsky.social, Deadline, @emma-briant.co.uk, Bloomberg, URL Media, Just Jared and The A.V. Club
Richard Luscombe / The Guardian:
Press freedom groups denounce the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, saying the arrests are an “unequivocal attack on the First Amendment” — Groups say arrests of ex-CNN anchor and Georgia Fort are ‘extremely alarming’ and an ‘attack on the first amendment’
Discussion:
NABJ, Status, America, America, Salon, CNN, @passantino.bsky.social, @passantino.bsky.social, Meidas+, Le Monde, @fiona-webster22.bsky.social, MS NOW, Lisa Armstrong on LinkedIn, @jeffroushwriting.bsky.social, @davidfolkenflik, @mmpadellan, @berniesanders, ACLU, TheGrio, Jodie Ginsberg on LinkedIn, The Wrap, @freepress.bsky.social, Advocate, Capital B News, @notaaroncraig.bsky.social, @cdarwin@c.im, NextDraft, Out Magazine, Asian American Journalists …, Thinking about, HuffPost, The Independent, Baller Alert, Mediaite, Media Nation, Associated Press, Bossip, PinkNews, New York Post, The Daily Signal, NewsMax.com and New Republic
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Bob Iger has told associates that he plans to step down as Disney CEO before December 31; the board plans to vote on his replacement next week — Disney's board is planning to meet next week, where it is expected to vote on a new CEO — Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Robbie Whelan on LinkedIn, Adweek, @fizzvstheworld.bsky.social, @aagave, People, CNBC, New York Post, Media Play News, Comic Book and Variety
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Brooks Barnes / New York Times:
A profile of Josh D'Amaro, a front-runner for Disney CEO who oversees Disney parks, cruises, and video games; his unit supplied ~60% of Disney's 2025 profit — “Josh, can I get a quick one?” — It was the seventh time that Josh D'Amaro had been asked to pose for a photo as he wove his way through Disneyland.
Discussion:
Benzinga, @mediaevan, @scottgustin and Deadline
Trishla Ostwal / Adweek:
OpenAI says it is asking select advertisers to commit at least $200K as it rolls out beta ads on ChatGPT; two sources say their firms were pitched lower amounts — OpenAI is asking select advertisers to commit at least $200,000 as it rolls out beta ads on ChatGPT, the company confirmed to ADWEEK.
Discussion:
BleepingComputer, TestingCatalog and Search Engine Journal
Austin Fuller / Current:
The Public Media Bridge Fund, formed due to CPB cuts, raises $66.5M of its $110M goal and launches disaster recovery and restructuring programs for stations — The Public Media Bridge Fund is rolling out two new programs to help stations facing unforeseen disruptions.
Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net:
Former GM of Sacramento public radio service CapRadio, Jun Reina, was arrested and charged with allegedly embezzling ~$1.33M from station funds for personal use — Police in Sacramento have arrested the former general manager of two public radio stations licensed to the California State University system in that city.
Bloomberg:
Sources: BMG, a division of Bertelsmann, is weighing a bid for music rights investor Concord in a deal that could value Concord as high as $7B — German record label BMG Rights Management is weighing a bid for Concord in a deal that could value the US music company as high as $7 billion …
Discussion:
Digital Music News, Music Business Worldwide, Music Business Worldwide, CMU, Music Ally and Billboard
Bill Toulas / BleepingComputer:
Authorities led by Italian investigators seized three illegal IPTV services in Europe; the US DOJ also said it dismantled three pirate services in Bulgaria — The latest phase of the global law enforcement action resulted in seizing three industrial-scale illegal IPTV services.
Discussion:
CyberScoop, US Department of Justice, The Record, The Sun and Advanced Television
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: OnlyFans is in talks to sell a nearly 60% stake to Architect Capital in a deal that values the company at around $5.5B, including debt — Deal with Architect Capital would value the adult social-media platform at $3.5 billion — OnlyFans, the British online platform popular …
Discussion:
Engadget, @laurenthomas, TechCrunch, Axios and crypto.news
Sarah Scire / Nieman Lab:
Analysis of Apple News in the UK: Apple News+ has 1.7M subscribers generating ~$136M for outlets; national papers account for 55% of time spent on Apple News — Apple News shares revenue with news publishers and — as a preinstalled app on Apple products — reaches an astounding number of users.
Discussion:
MacTech.com
