Top News:
New York Times:
Sources: the White House directed FBI director Kash Patel to personally oversee the probe into NYT reporting about Air Force One, before subpoenas were issued — The F.B.I. director spent about eight hours at the White House Friday focused on the effort, which led to the subpoenaing …
Discussion:
MS NOW, @2xaught7.ing, @kimmasters.bsky.social, @michael-feinberg.bsky.social, @harrymccracken@mastodon …, International Business Times, Reuters, @royermattw, @tomsclark.bsky.social, NBC News, Associated Press, @newsjennifer.bsky.social, @ndhapple.bsky.social, CNBC, @amyalexca.bsky.social, The Intellectualist, twitchy.com, @bizazzle.bsky.social, @schooley.bsky.social, Newser, @monaburns.bsky.social, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, @simko-bednarski.bsky.social, @samlitzinger.bsky.social, @jeffsharlet.bsky.social, Mediaite, The Independent, The Gateway Pundit, Raw Story, Washington Examiner, NewsMax.com, Clash Report, New York Post and Washington Times
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Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:
The Trump administration issued subpoenas to several NYT reporters after the outlet reported on security concerns involving the new Qatari-donated Air Force One — The Justice Department is seeking to compel testimony from reporters who wrote about the new Air Force One. The Times called the move a “brazen act.”
Discussion:
Associated Press, CNN, The Hill, The Reporters Committee …, Committee to Protect …, Politico, National Press Club, Military.com, The Last Refuge, Stephen Adler on LinkedIn, Daniel Drepper on LinkedIn, @marcelias.bsky.social, RedState, Los Angeles Times, Daily Mail, Al Jazeera, @bgrueskin.bsky.social, @kenbazinet.bsky.social, @jamiedupree, Straight Arrow, @alexberenson, The Wrap, @freedomofpress, @thebluenami.bsky.social, @spignal.bsky.social, @jeremymbarr, @briankrebs@infosec.exchange, @farhip, To the Contrary, CBS News, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Raw Story, @niallstanage, @kenvogel, Breitbart, The Independent, New York Post, @brianstelter, TMZ.com, @gavinnewsom, @beyerstein.bsky.social, The Post Millennial, @nytimes, @jeremymbarr, Baller Alert, One America News Network, NPR, The Indian Express, The Guardian, @kenroth, Washington Examiner, New York Sun, The Parnas Perspective, @trumpstaxes.com, Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, @timmarchman.bsky.social, @grynbaum, @bymikebaker, @christopherjm, @dangillmor@mastodon.social, emptywheel, @rpsagainsttrump, @amy_siskind, Mock Paper Scissors, Mother Jones, @aclu.org, @rgoodlaw.bsky.social, @katiephang.bsky.social, @davidfolkenflik, Salon, @portiamcgonagal.bsky.social, New York Daily News, Deadline, Townhall, NewsGuild of New York, Mediaite, @clarajeffery.bsky.social, Fox News, @harrylitman.bsky.social, Crooks and Liars, @rmac.bsky.social, NOTUS, Clash Report and The Gateway Pundit
Corbin Bolies / Variety:
Meta says it will discontinue a feature that allowed users to generate images in Meta AI using public Instagram accounts, following days of criticism — Meta said on Friday it would discontinue an AI feature that allowed users to generate images using public Instagram accounts following days …
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter, iThinkDifferent, Fortune India, SFist, Dexerto, Associated Press, Forbes, The Mac Observer, International Business Times, OloriSuperGal, Business Insider, The Hans India, Sweden Herald, Gizmodo, Digit, Ubergizmo, @mikeisaac, @dylanbyers, PetaPixel, ANI News, Fox Business, @dmacalvert.bsky.social, @jenncutter.bsky.social, Engadget, New York Times, The A.V. Club, BBC, TechCrunch, Digital Trends, Reuters, Deadline, 9to5Mac, Times of India, CBC News, NBC Bay Area, ScreenCrush, Joe.My.God., AfroTech, The Verge, Semafor, NBC Palm Springs, Tech in Asia, The Tab, Outlook India, The Economic Times, The Hindu, USA Today, iDrop News, Boing Boing, Washington Times, Phandroid, BMI, iPhone in Canada, Tom's Guide, Business Today, Amateur Photographer and ZDNET, more at Techmeme »
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Ina Fried / Axios:
Privacy advocates, CAA, and SAG-AFTRA slam Meta's Muse Image, which lets users create AI images using the likenesses of people with public Instagram accounts — Meta's move to allow users to create AI images using the likenesses of people with public Instagram accounts is drawing criticism …
Discussion:
Forbes, GMA News Online, Deadline, Kotaku, The Independent, The Movie Blog, The Oldham Times, PCMag, Reuters, The Wrap, OloriSuperGal, The Deep View, What's Trending, NonStop Local Tri …, Tubefilter, LAmag, Page 4 - The Tab, WPXI-TV, Variety, Los Angeles Times, Black Enterprise, Far Out Magazine and Fast Company
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Report: Letterboxd's owners have held early talks with potential buyers, including Netflix, Sony Pictures, Paramount, and PE giant TPG — Sony Pictures Entertainment, Paramount and Alexis Ohanian also supposedly eyeing movie social platform — Could Letterboxd, the popular film-review social network …
Discussion:
The Wrap, @baileylikemovie, @_zeets, @maddiewhittle, @marvelousdeath, @zakfilm, Inc.com, @joshuadysart.bsky.social, @thereeljon.cryptoanarchy …, @moviessilently.bsky.social, OloriSuperGal, @thecoratee.bsky.social, The Guardian, @okwithmydecay@en.osm.town, @matt.evil.gay, IndieWire, @asiahoe.com, Polygon.com, 9to5Mac, Nerdist, @aleixpitarch.bsky.social, @mhwilliams.bsky.social, @normwilner.bsky.social, @dansheehan.bsky.social, Digital Trends, Far Out Magazine, Kotaku, @mtsw.bsky.social, @colettearrand.bsky.social, @coreyatad.com, The A.V. Club, ScreenRant and World of Reel
Scott Roxborough / The Hollywood Reporter:
Q&A: Banijay CEO Marco Bassetti on the All3Media merger, plans to expand beyond TV into live events and sports, preserving flexible company culture, and more — The Banijay chief discusses the opportunities created by the new $8.5 billion super indie, expanding beyond TV and whether ITV Studios is on his radar.
Discussion:
Deadline, Variety, The National, The Wrap and Financial Times
James Faris / Business Insider:
Sources: Disney is discussing a potential free tier for Disney+; product and tech chief Adam Smith discussed the initiative at a town hall but gave no timeline — Disney is exploring making some of its streaming content available at an unbeatable price: free.
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Todd Spangler / Variety:
Alisa Bowen, president of Disney+ since late 2022, is leaving to become CEO of Disney-controlled Fubo, succeeding David Gandler, who led Fubo for over a decade
Alisa Bowen, president of Disney+ since late 2022, is leaving to become CEO of Disney-controlled Fubo, succeeding David Gandler, who led Fubo for over a decade
Discussion:
Cord Cutters News, Radio & Television …, The Streamable, The Wrap, Barrett Media, Sports Business Journal, Advanced Television, Benzinga, Deadline, Telecompaper, TheDesk.net, Jessica Casano-Antonellis on LinkedIn, ir.fubo.tv, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, The Hollywood Reporter and Media Play News
Ben Fritz / Wall Street Journal:
As Hollywood looks for its next Obsession-type hit, 11 studios bid on YouTube series The Mandela Catalogue and sources say WBD paid $1M for rights to Siren Head — Creator of monster called Siren Head scores rich deal as studios hunt for next ‘Backrooms’-style hit
Discussion:
The A.V. Club and Digital Trends
Brent Lang / Variety:
Department M is acquiring a significant stake in indie studio Neon; founder Tom Quinn remains Neon CEO, and The Friedkin Group remains a significant shareholder — Department M has closed a transaction to acquire a significant stake in Neon, the Oscar-winning indie studio behind “Parasite” and “Anora.”
Discussion:
@timxai.ai, Screen, IndieWire, The Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap
Winston Cho / The Hollywood Reporter:
NYT countersues the US EEOC, accusing it of retaliation for NYT's coverage of the agency by suing NYT for passing over a white man for a top editorial role — The publication accuses the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of filing a lawsuit in retaliation for its reporting.
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, CNN, Associated Press, New York Times, Deadline, Reuters, Reuters and Benzinga
Lucas Manfredi / The Wrap:
Oregon's AG withdraws a motion to delay the Paramount-WBD merger while he sought company documents; EU agencies and some state AGs are still examining the deal — An ODOJ spokesperson tells TheWrap that the David Ellison-led media giant thinks they're “above the law” after refusing to comply …
Discussion:
Deadline, @brianstelter, @brianstelter, Reuters, Variety, Gadget Review, Cord Cutters News, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Awful Announcing and Advanced Television
Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net:
Sources: over 50 Scripps-owned local TV stations returned to DirecTV's satellite and streaming platforms after a distribution dispute ended on Friday — The new deal brings more than 50 Scripps-owned local stations back to DIRECTV's platforms, but the broadcaster is staring …
Discussion:
USA Today, Deadline, The Wrap, Cord Cutters News, Bloomberg and Radio & Television …
Malia Mendez / New York Times:
PEN America's president resigns, citing the group's publication of an article that opposed cultural boycotts and detailed challenges Jewish writers face now — The novelist Dinaw Mengestu, who was elected seven months ago, said the article “continues this approach toward defending some rights while not defending others.”
Discussion:
The Atlantic, PEN America, New York Sun and r/TrueLit
