Top News:
Associated Press:
A US district court judge agrees to permanently block the Trump administration from implementing an executive order to end federal funding for NPR and PBS — A federal judge has agreed to permanently block the Trump administration from implementing a presidential directive to end federal funding …
Discussion:
The Wrap, Politico, Associated Press, NPR, The Wrap, Deadline, HotAir, Townhall, Rolling Stone, Cord Cutters News, The Daily Signal, Wall Street Journal, Current, Newsweek, @tonolatino.bsky.social, International Business Times, @lindsaybergersacks …, Mediaite, The Gateway Pundit, NewsMax.com, @dystopian-fashion.bsky.social, Ricardo Baca on LinkedIn, @pbsnews.org, Variety, NOTUS, @benmullin, WNYW-TV, @petergleick@fediscience.org, @wessmith123.bsky.social, @palehorse.bsky.social, @yastreblyansky.bsky.social, Courthouse News Service, @gentlem.bsky.social, CNN, @freedom.press, Times of San Diego, UPI, MS NOW, twitchy.com, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, @hudsonbay2la.bsky.social, New Republic, CBS News, @repsummerlee.bsky.social, @unrulywomenfiction …, Washington Post, New York Times, Raw Story, The Daily Wire, Bloomberg, @ben@werd.social, Washington Times, @brianstelter, @newsman.bsky.social, Eric Deggans on LinkedIn, @kabiu.bsky.social, Washington Examiner, The Hollywood Reporter, Inside Radio, The A.V. Club, Diane Ravitch's blog, Radio & Television …, The Hill, Baller Alert, Fox News, Just Jared, Forbes and WTOP News
Ted Johnson / Deadline:
A new filing from Nexstar in the DirecTV lawsuit says the existing restraining order freezing the Nexstar-Tegna merger could jeopardize assets of both companies — Nexstar weighed in for the first time on a judge's order that halted its merger with Tegna, warning the court …
Lola Murti / CNBC:
Snap shares climbed 14% on Tuesday after activist investor Irenic suggested changes to boost the stock's value 7x, such as cutting staff by 21% and ending Specs — Shares of Snap climbed 14% Tuesday after shareholder Irenic Capital Management sent a letter to CEO Evan Spiegel outlining changes …
Discussion:
Business Wire, Blockonomi, The Wrap, Barron's Online, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, The Information and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »
Qassim Abdul-Zahra / Associated Press:
Iraqi officials say a US journalist was kidnapped in Baghdad and security forces are looking for her captors; one outlet identified her as Shelly Kittleson — An American journalist was kidnapped Tuesday in Baghdad and Iraqi security forces are pursuing her captors, Iraqi officials said.
Discussion:
Politico, AL-Monitor, UPI, @asdylanjohnson, New York Times, @alexplitsas, @alexplitsas, @onlyunexpected1, Metro.co.uk, The Independent, HotAir, The Daily Caller, Newser, @charles_lister, NBC News, WTTG-TV, @jdiamond1, AL-Monitor, KTVZ, New York Sun, @flingjore.com, The Hill, New York Post, Mirror, National Enquirer, @jimsciutto, CBS News, @kareemrifai, Jewish Insider, ZeroHedge News, France 24, @phillipsmyth, Daily Mail, Washington Examiner, Mediaite, The Daily Wire, Fox News, Algemeiner.com, The National, Human Events, Deadline, Al Jazeera, Just Jared, Reuters, The Indian Express, New Republic and The Gateway Pundit
Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net:
E.W. Scripps says it sold its Indianapolis ABC station, WRTV, for $83M and plans to buy back ION-affiliated TV stations, seeking waivers of FCC ownership caps — - Scripps has finalized the sale of Indianapolis ABC affiliate WRTV to Circle City Broadcasting
Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, Scripps and Radio & Television …
Graciela Mochkofsky / New Yorker:
A profile of Spanish-language US news influencer Carlos Eduardo Espina, who has ~22.5M followers, relies on traditional media, and provides help to his viewers — How Carlos Eduardo Espina reaches millions of followers. — Carlos Eduardo Espina woke up on January 3rd to a cellphone flooded with notifications.
Lauren Gustus / Salt Lake Tribune:
The Salt Lake Tribune will remove its paywall in May and is offering benefits including archive access to donors; print subscription rates remain the same — When we started telling people that The Tribune would become free to read online, we heard two immediate reactions: — “That's great news.”
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Netflix feels comfortable raising prices knowing customers can downgrade to its ad tier; in 2026, Netflix is on track to double 2025's $1.5B+ in ad sales — The most popular Netflix plan will now cost $20 a month — a 150% increase from 2013 — Good afternoon from Los Angeles and happy baseball season to those of you who celebrate.
Discussion:
Digiday, Lucas Shaw on LinkedIn and Barchart.com
Philip Oltermann / The Guardian:
Eurovision expands to Asia: broadcasters from 10 countries plan to compete in the song contest in Bangkok on November 14 — Spin-off launched with 10 nations, as original event remains mired in protests and boycotts over Israel's involvement — Eurovision is seeking to expand …
Discussion:
Daily Mail, Semafor, France 24, Mirror, New York Times, Deadline, Rolling Stone, BBC, NME, CNN, Winnipeg Free Press, Politico, GZERO and NBC News
Violet Jira / NOTUS:
TMZ has expanded its political coverage with a producer and photographer in DC, with particular attention on how lawmakers are behaving during the DHS shutdown — “We wanted to use our platforms to show how Congress — Dems AND Republicans — have betrayed us," said TMZ's Harvey Levin. — Copy
Discussion:
New York Times, @musicologyduck.bsky.social, @rosesbloom24.bsky.social, @davelee.me, @farnoushamiri, Fox News, @devonheinen.bsky.social, TMZ.com, The Guardian, @alexweprin, The Bulwark, NewsMax.com, Washington Times, Raw Story, The Wrap, @emptywheel.bsky.social, @phillewis.bsky.social, Wall Street Journal and Mediaite
Wall Street Journal:
Labor Department: motion picture and video production employment is down 30% since its late-2022 peak as studios make less content and move production abroad — Studios are making fewer movies and shows than they did just a few years ago. The ones they do make are increasingly being shot outside the U.S.
Discussion:
Reason, @baddestmamajama.bsky.social, @tvgrimreaper, Instapundit and Financial Times
Sara Fischer / Axios:
Podcasting company Red Seat Ventures, bought by Fox Corp. in 2025, is building a membership program for the ultra-wealthy, focused on hospitality and events — - “Live events are getting more premium and more special,” Balfe told Axios in an interview at the Paley Center for Media last week.
