Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai testifies for the first time in his years-long national security trial; he is already serving a jail term for a fraud conviction (Kanis Leung/Associated Press)

Mediagazer: Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai testifies for the first time in his years-long national security trial; he is already serving a jail term for a fraud conviction (Kanis Leung/Associated Press)

Top News:

Wall Street Journal:

Sources: Comcast plans to announce Wednesday that it will be spinning off its NBCUniversal cable TV networks including MSNBC and CNBC, with Mark Lazarus as CEO— New venture will house channels like E!, USA and MSNBC; company to announce several leadership changes
Discussion: Axios, Status, Ad Age, Bloomberg, Reuters, The Desk, Awful Announcing, Business Insider, The Hill, The Wrap, CNN, Variety, NBC News, TVNewsCheck, CNBC, Cord Cutters News, The Information, Los Angeles Times, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, @brianstelter, @great_katzby, @amolsharma.bsky.social, Matthew Keys on LinkedIn, Dan Rayburn on LinkedIn, @sallyshin, @asharma, @tvgrimreaper, @asharma, @amolsharma.bsky.social, @asharma and Media Play News

Discussion:

Sara Fischer /
Axios: Comcast plans to spin off NBCU's cable channels

Oliver Darcy /
Status: Comcast Cuts the Cord

Christopher Palmeri /
Bloomberg: Comcast to Spin Off Cable-TV Channels Like MSNBC, USA

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: Comcast expected to announce spin-off of cable networks

Dominick Mastrangelo /
The Hill: Comcast to spin off cable assets: report

Brian Stelter /
CNN: Comcast to spin off its cable channels, including MSNBC and CNBC, into separate company

Brian Steinberg /
Variety: Comcast Plans Massive Cable Spin-Off, Separating USA, MSNBC and More From NBC, Theme Parks NBC News: Comcast to announce the spinoff of cable networks, including MSNBC, CNBC and USA, sources say

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: Comcast Reportedly Plans to Get Rid of MSNBC, CNBC, USA & SyFy As It Spins Off Its Cable TV Channels Deadline: NBCUniversal Split: Comcast To Spin Off Cable Channels Under Mark Lazarus; Donna Langley Consolidates Power, NBC, Peacock & Bravo Stay Put

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: A Comcast executive confirms to CNN that the full plan for spinning off NBCUniversal's cable channels will be unveiled tomorrow morning. Notably, the plan calls for MSNBC and CNBC to be cleaved off from NBC News. More to come...

Brandon Katz /
@great_katzby: -Short-term pain of sacrificing bulk of cable cash flow (minus Bravo) for long term growth emphasis/investor confidence narrative -Redirect resources to ongoing theme park expansion and streaming -Keep Donna Langley happy in-house as Disney sniffs around for a CEO successor

Amol Sharma /
@amolsharma.bsky.social: For people unfamiliar with deal mumbo jumbo: Comcast's existing shareholders will own this cable firm that gets spun off. It isn't being sold to someone else — yet — but over time, investors or potential buyers could approach the new company. [embedded post]

Matthew Keys /
Matthew Keys on LinkedIn: Interesting that Comcast is choosing to hold onto Bravo and NBC.

Dan Rayburn /
Dan Rayburn on LinkedIn: Comcast has finalized its decision to spin out its NBCU cable assets, and according to the WSJ, an announcement could come on Wednesday. …

Sally Shin /
@sallyshin: they kept bravo 😂

Amol Sharma /
@asharma: 3) NBCU veteran Mark Lazarus will head to the new cable venture as CEO, and will take NBCU CFO Anand Kini with him (Kini will become CFO and COO of the new firm).

Amol Sharma /
@asharma: Some significant leadership changes at NBCU, effective immediately: 1) Donna Langley will become chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment and Studios, gaining streamlined greenlight authority and more financial visibility/control than she's had previously, sources say.

Amol Sharma /
@amolsharma.bsky.social: Comcast once regarded its cable group—with channels like USA, MSNBC, E! and Oxygen—as a crown jewel. Now it's spinning off nearly all of them into a $7 billion venture. The announcement is coming tomorrow, I'm told. www.wsj.com/business/med...

Amol Sharma /
@asharma: 2) Matt Strauss, a Comcast veteran who heads the direct-to-consumer business, will be named chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group, with control over areas such as sports, ad sales and distribution. Langley and Strauss will share ownership of key areas of the business.

Press Gazette:

The Economist, The Week, ITV News, and others have joined Bluesky in the past week, while Politico, Semafor, Tortoise have resumed their activity on the site— A wave of news publishers have arrived on Bluesky in recent days, following audiences and journalists departing X/Twitter.

Discussion:
@johnspurlock.com

Discussion:

John Spurlock /
@johnspurlock.com: ' @jbillinson.bsky.social , senior social media editor at Semafor, posted Monday that he'd recommenced the publisher's activity on Bluesky a week earlier “and it already has more followers than the Threads account I've been posting to consistently for over a yr"' — pressgazette.co.uk/social_media...

RELATED:

TechCrunch:

Bluesky has 20M+ users after hitting 15M on November 13, and according to Appfigures, has been #1 in the US App Store since November 13— Bluesky, the social network and X competitor has been benefiting from a surge of departures from the Elon Musk-owned app formerly known as Twitter.

Discussion:
Engadget, The Hollywood Reporter, Similarweb, @jay.bsky.team, @randfish.bsky.social, @paleofuture.bsky.social, @nachristakis.bsky.social, @conorsen.bsky.social, Washington Times, @o.simardcasanova.net, @tkaz99.bsky.social, @keithedwards.bsky.social, @Tibor@mastodon.social, @henrymance.bsky.social, @oremus.bsky.social, @evankirstel.bsky.social, @aarnegranlund.bsky.social, theJasmineBRAND, @mosseri@threads.net, @willoremus@threads.net, @timboard.bsky.social, @johnspurlock.com, @lif3asmaj.bsky.social, The Irish Times, Business Insider, Forbes and CNET, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:

Karissa Bell /
Engadget: Bluesky hits 20 million users

David F. Carr /
Similarweb: Bluesky Sees Greatest Sustained Growth So Far in the US and UK

Jay /
@jay.bsky.team: Bluesky now has over 20M people!! 🎉 — We've been adding over a million users per day for the last few days. To celebrate, here are 20 fun facts about Bluesky:

Rand Fishkin /
@randfish.bsky.social: Techcrunch has a piece about how Bluesky is outpacing Threads in growth the last few days — techcrunch.com/2024/11/19/b... It's probably not completely right, but... It is right about desktop-heavy users (and for me, that's actually the most important kind of person I want to reach). [image]

Matt Novak /
@paleofuture.bsky.social: Quite a surge there [embedded post]

Nicholas A. Christakis /
@nachristakis.bsky.social: Bluesky tops 20M users, narrowing gap with Instagram and Threads. This chart is amazing, indicative of an overnight cultural shift rather than typical tech adoption. techcrunch.com/2024/11/19/b... [image]

Conor Sen /
@conorsen.bsky.social: This chart is pretty insane. More of an overnight social/political-type shift than typical tech adoption imo: techcrunch.com/2024/11/19/b... [image]

Vaughn Cockayne /
Washington Times: Bluesky sees huge growth after election

Olivier Simard-Casanova /
@o.simardcasanova.net: Excellent piece by @sarahp.bsky.social about Bluesky's and Threads' numbers — According to SimilarWeb, the gap of daily active users between Bluesky and Thread has significantly narrowed down — Despite a large number of monthly active users, Threads may not be that big of a platform — 1/5 …

Trish K /
@tkaz99.bsky.social: Wow! The sky has been buggy today. Hopefully, it will handle the new influx of users. 🫶

Keith Edwards /
@keithedwards.bsky.social: Wow. Threads has 14x Bluesky's user base but just 1.5x their daily active users — a more prized metric. — That must be why Meta is always boasting about their monthly active users.

Tibor Martini /
@Tibor@mastodon.social: Two statistics on Threads vs. Bluesky: — According to Similarweb, #Bluesky has more active users on the web than Threads, incl. app close behind ( https://techcrunch.com/... According to Google Trends, the search volume for Bluesky has increased significantly, more than threads ( https://trends.google.com/... …

Henry Mance /
@henrymance.bsky.social: Bluesky has only 20mn users compared to Threads's 275m, but it gets almost as many visits worldwide because obviously most Threads users would rather die than actually spend time there techcrunch.com/2024/11/19/b... [image]

Will Oremus /
@oremus.bsky.social: Bluesky remains far behind Threads in total signups but has dramatically narrowed the gap in daily active users, a more prized metric, per new data from Similarweb. Threads has 14x Bluesky's user base but just 1.5x the daily actives. techcrunch.com/2024/11/19/b... by @sarahp.bsky.social

Evan Kirstel /
@evankirstel.bsky.social: Bluesky has 20M+ users after hitting 15M on Nov. 13; Appfigures: it's been #1 in US App Store since Nov. 13; Similarweb: its DAU gap with Threads is narrowing (@sarahpereztc / TechCrunch) techcrunch.com/2024/11/19/b...

Aarne Granlund /
@aarnegranlund.bsky.social: “Bluesky overtook Threads in daily website visits in both the U.S. and the U.K., which signals strong interest from potential new users. Globally, daily website visits on Bluesky haven't yet surpassed Threads, but it's come very close as of mid-November.” techcrunch.com/2024/11/19/b...

Aaron Keenan /
theJasmineBRAND: Bluesky Hits 20 Million Users As People Flee X

Adam Mosseri /
@mosseri@threads.net: There is no way this is the case as we have many times as many daily users as they have total signups. Maybe this data is web data?

Will Oremus /
@willoremus@threads.net: Instagram chief Adam Mosseri says Threads has “many times” as many daily active users as Bluesky has total signups, contradicting Similarweb's estimate that the ratio is just 1.5x post-election. Not sure how Similarweb is arriving at its estimates but maybe Meta could clear things up with some more transparency on Threads DAUs...

Tim Board /
@timboard.bsky.social: U. S. App Store — No. 1 #bluesky — . — No. 4 threads — . — . — . — No. 41 xitter — Allow me a hearty guffaw! — techcrunch.com/2024/11/19/b...

John Spurlock /
@johnspurlock.com: 'The firm's data also indicates that Bluesky overtook Threads in daily website visits in both the U.S. and the U.K., which signals strong interest from potential new users. Not yet globally, but it's come very close as of mid-November.' — techcrunch.com/2024/11/19/b... [image]

Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert /
Business Insider: Bluesky's ‘acceleration is tremendous’ as users flock to the new ‘old Twitter’

Brad Adgate /
Forbes: X Rival Bluesky Is Adding Millions Of Users Post-Election — Reaching 18 Million Users

Gael Cooper /
CNET: Bluesky Explained: Why This Social Media Network Has 20 Million Users and Is Growing

Associated Press:

Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai testifies for the first time in his years-long national security trial; he is already serving a jail term for a fraud conviction— Former Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai began testifying Wednesday in his landmark national security trial that is widely seen …

Discussion:

Chan Ho-him /
Financial Times: Jimmy Lai testifies for first time in Hong Kong national security trial South China Morning Post: Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai takes stand for first time in his year-long national security trial

Austin Ramzy /
Wall Street Journal: He Rose to Riches in Hong Kong. Now He's a Symbol of China's Crackdown. CBS News: Hong Kong's jailing of 45 democracy activists sparks criticism from foreign governments, rights groups

Matthew Brooker /
Bloomberg: Jimmy Lai Must Not Be Forgotten. Say His Name Hong Kong Free Press HKFP: Detained Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai to testify for first time in national security trial

Marta Biino /
Semafor: Hong Kong court jails 45 pro-democracy campaigners in landmark national security case

David Lynch /
London Evening Standard: MPs call for Hong Kong dissident Jimmy Lai's immediate release from prison Reporters Without Borders: FreeJimmyLai: As Hong Kong publisher is set to testify in landmark trial, RSF raises alarm over his prolonged detention

Deadline:

Brendan Carr says Trump's complaint over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris is “likely to arise” in the FCC's review of the Skydance-Paramount deal— In an interview with Fox News' America's Newsroom, Carr said, “Broadcasters are differently situated to other speakers.

Discussion:
Fox News, Bloomberg, The Daily Beast, New York Post, Mediaite, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, TVNewsCheck and Radio & Television …

Discussion:

Christopher Palmeri /
Bloomberg: Redstones Pay Off Term Loan With Money from Ellison Family

Corbin Bolies /
The Daily Beast: Trump's FCC Pick Threatens to Kill Skydance-Paramount Deal Over CBS

Josh Kosman /
New York Post: Shari Redstone paid off $186M loan to Paramount's lenders — with bulk of cash coming from Larry Ellison: sources

Tommy Christopher /
Mediaite: Trump FCC Pick Threatens On Fox News To Punish CBS Over Kamala Harris Interview When He Takes Over

Sean Burch /
The Wrap: CBS' Kamala Harris Interview ‘Likely’ to Be Reviewed, Trump's FCC Chairman Says

Alex Weprin /
The Hollywood Reporter: Incoming FCC Chairman Says ‘60 Minutes’ Complaint “Likely to Arise” in Review of Skydance Deal

Alex Weprin /
TVNewsCheck: Incoming FCC Chair Says ‘60 Minutes’ Complaint ‘Likely To Arise’ In Review Of Skydance Deal

The Wrap:

In a statement, Jay Penske says The Hollywood Reporter has replaced co-EIC Nekesa Mumbi Moody with Shirley Halperin, following staff cuts in June and August— Halperin recently resigned as editor of Los Angeles Magazine — The Hollywood Reporter replaced co-editor in chief Nekesa Mumbi Moody …

Discussion:
TVNewsCheck, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters and Talking Biz News

Discussion:

Stephanie Kaloi /
TVNewsCheck: Trump Taps Ex-WWE CEO Linda McMahon As Secretary Of Education The Hollywood Reporter: Shirley Halperin Named Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Hollywood Reporter, Joining Maer Roshan at the Editorial Helm

New York Times:

Filings: The Onion's Infowars bid was $7M, including backing from Sandy Hook families and $1.75M in cash; Alex Jones-linked First United's bid was $3.5M in cash— A hearing is scheduled for Monday to review the auction process, which is being contested by a losing bidder associated with Alex Jones, the Infowars founder.

Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, Breitbart, @benmullin.bsky.social, Politico and Business Insider

Discussion:

Cristina Laila /
The Gateway Pundit: PLOT TWIST: Alex Jones Fights Back, Sues The Onion and Sandy Hook Families Over ‘Rigged’ Auction of Infowars

Alana Mastrangelo /
Breitbart: Elon Musk's X Corp. Files Notice in Alex Jones' Infowars Bankruptcy Case

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin.bsky.social: new: inside the tug-of-war over Infowars, as a bidder associated with Alex Jones tries to derail its sale to The Onion. — www.nytimes.com/2024/11/19/b...

Geoff Weiss /
Business Insider: Behind The Onion's bid for Alex Jones's Infowars — which is now on hold as a judge reviews it

RELATED:

ABC News:
Filing: Alex Jones asks a judge to halt the sale of Infowars; a company affiliated with him, which was the losing bidder, seeks to disqualify The Onion's bid

Discussion:
The Desk, NPR, @benmullin, Raw Story, @passantino@threads.net, Austin American-Statesman, CNN, Bloomberg Law, Associated Press, Reuters and New Republic

Discussion:

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: Details emerge about two bids submitted for Infowars

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: NEW: The court-appointed trustee overseeing the sale of Infowars just responded to the emergency motion to disqualify The Onion's bid, calling it “a disappointed bidder's improper attempt to influence an otherwise fair and open auction process.” [image]

Erik De La Garza /
Raw Story: ‘Crippling’: Alex Jones reports massive revenue drop after The Onion wins Infowars auction

Jon Passantino /
@passantino@threads.net: Alex Jones and his allies are desperately trying to stop the sale of Infowars to The Onion, filing lawsuits and emergency motions arguing Sandy Hook families “colluded” for a “flagrantly non-compliant Frankenstein bid” via @_hadasgold https://www.cnn.com/...

Karoline Leonard /
Austin American-Statesman: Alex Jones attempts to stop sale of Infowars, Free Speech Systems to The Onion

Hadas Gold /
CNN: Alex Jones and his allies are desperately trying to stop the sale of Infowars to The Onion

Dave Collins /
Associated Press: Elon Musk's X steps in as Alex Jones-affiliated company tries to halt Infowars sale

Dietrich Knauth /
Reuters: Alex Jones-affiliated company challenges the Onion's Infowars purchase

Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling /
New Republic: You Won't Believe Who's Trying to Stop The Onion Buying Infowars

CNN:

Sources: MSNBC's Morning Joe meeting with Trump was driven by fears of retribution from the incoming administration, including governmental and legal harassment— New York CNN — — “Morning Joe” co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski announced Monday, in dramatic fashion …

Discussion:
Deseret News, Newsweek, New York Post, @keitholbermann, Digby's Hullabaloo, @brianstelter, @jeffjarvis@mastodon.social, @wjcarter, @mediaevan, @emmavigeland, @adamjohnsonchi, The Independent, @prettybadlefty, Trending Politics …, @brianstelter, The Guardian, @marceelias, @cherijacobus, @daveweigel, @brianstelter, @mattwelch, @brianstelter, The Daily Beast, New Jersey Online, @jeffgoldesq, Raw Story, Adweek, Mediaite, @brendannyhan.bsky.social, Check Your Fact, @schooley.bsky.social, @timfullerton.bsky.social, The Wrap, Washington Examiner, @meidastouch.bsky.social, Variety, CNN and al.com

Discussion:

Jennifer Graham /
Deseret News: Perspective: ‘Morning Joe’ went to Mar-a-Lago. What does that mean for the media under Trump 2.0?

Michael Kaplan /
New York Post: ‘Hypocrite’ Joe Scarborough blasted for ideological U-turns to chase ‘success and social status’: sources

Keith Olbermann /
@keitholbermann: Amazing. @JoeNBC keeps digging It's one thing to be a transparent suckup to fascists who then pretends to fight them because that's the way the wind blows, then reverts to dictator-sucking It's quite another to be all that - and a coward #VichyMSNBC https://www.cnn.com/...

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: According to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter, Scarborough and Brzezinski were credibly concerned that they could face governmental and legal harassment from the incoming Trump administration. https://view.newsletters.cnn.com/ ...

Jeff Jarvis /
@jeffjarvis@mastodon.social: Based on @brianstelter's reporting, Joe & Mika's betrayal of colleagues is even worse: Every host for themselves when the fascists come. (I'm quoted) — ‘Morning Joe’ meeting with Trump was driven by fears of retribution from incoming administration https://www.cnn.com/...

Bill Carter /
@wjcarter: Only they can know what skeletons they fear could be unearthed by a ruthless prosecution. But rolling over without even putting up a fight is a terrible look for anyone who believes the first half of “ without fear or favor.”

Evan DeSimone /
@mediaevan: It's going to be hard for folks that built their brand on 2016 resistance to these the needle between what their audience wants and fending off Trump revenge. Washington Post was patient zero, Joe and Mika are next up.

Emma Vigeland /
@emmavigeland: You're supposed to be journalists first, not hysterical millionaires shitting their diapers. It's the marginalized and less powerful Trump will target. This is a fireable offense. It's an abdication of their core responsibilities. They met with Trump and didn't even record it.

Adam Johnson /
@adamjohnsonchi: I'm sorry this is post facto spin. In no universe is Joe Scarborough worried Trump is going to send his jackbooted thugs to 30 Rock, he just wants to be on the side of those in power and, as a conservative republican, also happens to agree with 90% of Trump's agenda

Katie Hawkinson /
The Independent: ‘Morning Joe’ defends Trump meeting claiming ‘massive disconnect’ between ‘social media and the real world’ @prettybadlefty: Even if this were true, which I don't believe it is, it is kind of telling that, as a “journalist”, Joe Scarborough feels like his own personal comfort comes before any journalistic integrity. Why would anyone watch him if that's his position?

Chris Powell /
Trending Politics Conservative Breaking: ‘Civil War’ Erupts At MSNBC After Longtime Contributor Turns Fire On ‘Morning Joe’ Hosts

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: Several sources pointed out that Steve Bannon, just last week, warned MSNBC staffers to “preserve your documents” while predicting Gaetz's DOJ would pursue cases against them. Bannon name-checked Andrew Weissmann and Ari Melber and said “you young producers” better “lawyer up.”

Marina Dunbar /
The Guardian: MSNBC's Joe Scarborough brushes off backlash to his meeting with Trump

Marc E. Elias /
@marceelias: Put plainly: They choose anticipatory obedience.

Cheri Jacobus /
@cherijacobus: They had no problem selling me out in 2016 when Lewandowski defamed me on their show, and they refused to let me on to defend myself and refute Lewandowski, even though I had receipts proving he lied. Nor would they say on the show that I dispute the claims. Then Trump defamed me

David Weigel /
@daveweigel: “This reporter was perhaps a little hasty and would like to reaffirm his allegiance to this country and its human president.”

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: Within MSNBC, there are a variety of opinions about what Trump and his allies might do. For that reason, there are a wide range of feelings about the “Morning Joe” meeting, according to half a dozen employees 🧵

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: The two sources agreed with Joe and Mika's impression of the situation - namely, that the incoming Trump admin could use its wide-ranging powers to punish people deemed enemies. Others at MSNBC are not so sure. Here's my story about the internal debate >> https://www.cnn.com/...

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: Knowing that Trump has threatened retribution against his perceived political opponents, and that Trump has promoted lies about Scarborough and Brzezinski in the past, the MSNBC hosts decided to reach out to the president-elect.

Matt Welch /
@mattwelch: It's worth specifying what “wide-ranging powers” the executive branch has “to punish” cable television networks.

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: To be sure, there are some inside MSNBC who believe the fears are overblown. At the management level, there was no concern over Scarborough and Brzezinski's meeting. An MSNBC rep declined to comment for my story... https://www.cnn.com/...

Brian Stelter /
@brianstelter: Some MSNBC staffers are taking a realpolitik view, saying that access to Trump is valuable. Others are troubled by Joe and Mika's meeting, calling it a troubling sign of capitulation to a would-be dictator. Some hosts privately wonder if they will be targeted by the Trump admin.

Dan Ladden-Hall /
The Daily Beast: ‘Morning Joe’ Dismisses Online Anger Over Trump Meeting

Lauren Sforza /
New Jersey Online: Why MSNBC hosts caved to Trump

Jeffrey Evan Gold /
@jeffgoldesq: Obviously so. If I was @joenbc and @morningmika lawyer I would also have advised to use their connections, kiss some butt to avoid the problems. BUT also be more honest with your audience than try to gaslight them that they are crazy for being offended by the unexplained move.

David Edwards /
Raw Story: ‘They never face the consequences’: Ex-MSNBC host blasts Joe and Mika's Trump meeting

David Gilmour /
Mediaite: Joe Scarborough Said in April That There's No ‘Meeting In The Middle’ With Trump

Brendan Nyhan /
@brendannyhan.bsky.social: Genuinely sinister and an example about how authoritarians creating fear and uncertainty compromises opposition and media scrutiny in advance [embedded post]

Joseph Casieri /
Check Your Fact: FACT CHECK: Did Trump Post ‘Morning Joe’ Hosts Owe Their Careers To Him?

Schooley /
@schooley.bsky.social: Positive press driven by fear of retribution. Healthy sign for democracy surviving this! [embedded post]

Tim Fullerton /
@timfullerton.bsky.social: The media won't save us because they're focused on saving themselves. — Talk about a real profile in courage here. 🙄 — Exactly why we need to build our own media infrastructure. [embedded post]

Josh Dickey /
The Wrap: ‘Morning Joe’ Hosts Took Donald Trump Meeting Over Retribution Concerns | Report

Jenny Goldsberry /
Washington Examiner: Joe Scarborough spends show defending Trump meeting amid backlash from legacy media

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Joe Scarborough Defends Trump Meeting, Blames Viewer Backlash on ‘Massive Disconnect Between Social Media and the Real World’

Brian Stelter /
CNN: MSNBC co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski face criticism after revealing they went to Mar-a-Lago to meet President-elect Donald Trump

TechCrunch:

Spines, an AI-powered self-publishing service for book authors that provides suggestions on edits, cover design, more, raised a $16M Series A after a $6.5M seed— Generative AI has upended how we write things, or even if we write at all. Now a startup wants to be the main character …

Discussion:
Michael Eisenberg on LinkedIn, Oren Zeev on LinkedIn and Spines

Discussion:

Michael Eisenberg /
Michael Eisenberg on LinkedIn: Publishing a book?? Our protco Spines just raised $15mm series A after a year of 10X growth in AI disruption of book publishing. …

Oren Zeev /
Oren Zeev on LinkedIn: Excited to be backing Spines. It's my third time backing a company in the book business. First was Audible which invented and dominates the digital audio book …

The Hollywood Reporter:

A lawsuit against Netflix and Meta claims the two made a deal where Meta scaled back original video programming in trade for Netflix data and ad spending— The proposed class action points to Meta's streaming ambitions with Facebook Watch, whose original programming division shuttered last year.

Discussion:

Sharon Knolle /
The Wrap: Netflix, Meta Sued Over Anticompetitive Streaming Agreement That Led to End of Facebook Watch

Jill Goldsmith /
Deadline: Netflix, Meta Sued Over “Quid Pro Quo” To Neutralize Facebook Watch Video Service

Millie Turner /
The US Sun: Netflix had 'access to people's private Facebook messages' as part of secret ‘special relationship’ lawsuit claims

Sam Gutelle /
Tubefilter: X adds Twitch to lawsuit accusing advertisers of anticompetitive practices

Douglas Charles /
BroBible: Netflix Facing 3 New Lawsuits, Including Complaint Over Tyson Vs. Paul Streaming Issues

Allison Schiff /
AdExchanger: Meta Might Be Right About AI Ad Spend

Axios:

Trump picks TV personality and 2022 US Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz to serve as the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services— - Kennedy, Trump's pick to run the Department of Health and Human Services, would be Oz's boss if both are confirmed by the Senate.

Discussion:
CNN, The Independent, PBS NewsHour, Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, Breitbart, Le Monde, Roll Call, Entertainment Weekly, KTVU-TV, New Republic, The Guardian, @petermorley.bsky.social, The Lever, @ronfrankl.bsky.social, Alternet.org, MM+M, Lawyers, Guns & Money, @timobrien.bsky.social, @joel_montfort@threads.net, @pnwdreadpirate.bsky.social, @BrianJopek@mastodon.world, TVNewsCheck, WHEC.com, The Wrap, @ejfagan.com, The 19th, @jakesherman, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, FierceHealthcare, NBC News, USA Today, Bloomberg, @keithboykin.bsky.social, @thedesk.net, Virginia Mercury, STAT, Raw Story, Mediaite, @davidmwessel.bsky.social, Healthcare Dive, Trending Politics …, @edburmila.bsky.social, Benzinga, CNBC, Politico, Variety, Rolling Stone, NPR, People, New York Daily News, CBS News, Protect Our Care, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, New York Post and Business Insider

Discussion:

Eric Garcia /
The Independent: John Fetterman says he is willing to confirm Dr Oz: 'Do you think he's my first choice?'

Amna Nawaz /
PBS NewsHour: A look at Dr. Oz's health care record as he's nominated to key post by Trump

Jonathan J. Cooper /
Associated Press: What to know about Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump's pick to lead Medicare and Medicaid

Jenny Jarvie /
Los Angeles Times: Trump nominates Dr. Oz to head Medicare and Medicaid and help take on ‘illness industrial complex’

Elizabeth Weibel /
Breitbart: Trump Selects Dr. Oz to Lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Wesley Stenzel /
Entertainment Weekly: Donald Trump selects Dr. Oz — yes, that Dr. Oz — to run Medicare and Medicaid

Hafiz Rashid /
New Republic: Trump's Latest Administration Pick Is a Quack TV Doctor

Rachel Leingang /
The Guardian: Trump nominates ‘Dr Oz’ as Medicare and Medicaid services administrator

Peter Morley /
@petermorley.bsky.social: 🔥Donald Trump picked Dr. Oz to run CMS which runs Medicare & Medicaid. Dr. Oz went on television during the beginning of Covid & said patients like me w/Lupus on Hydroxychloroquine can't get Covid. Guess what? I take it every day & still GOT Covid. — This is a DISGRACE! 🔥 …

Andrew Perez /
The Lever: Trump Picks Oz, Champion Of Medicare Privatization

Ron Frankl /
@ronfrankl.bsky.social: Dr. Mehmet Oz? Really!? Trump's ridiculous cabinet picks remind us yet again how stupid and lazy this fool truly is.

Maya Boddie /
Alternet.org: ‘Middle finger to science’: Experts blast Trump's ‘single most important’ healthy policy pick

Tim O'Brien /
@timobrien.bsky.social: “To those exercising power and influence over matters of policy, opinion, or taste — that is, the medical and political establishment—Dr. Oz is a dangerous rogue unfit for the office of America's doctor.” — journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/ case...

Joel Montfort /
@joel_montfort@threads.net: Putting TV Dr. Oz in charge of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is like putting Tom Hanks in charge of NASA because he played an astronaut in Apollo 13. @pnwdreadpirate.bsky.social: OK, healthcare team, the Fourth horseman has arrived to join RFK, Lapado, and Prasad. — #medsky — www.axios.com/2024/11/19/t...

Brian Jopek /
@BrianJopek@mastodon.world: I dunno if I should laugh or cry or what. The Mango Mussolini picks another fucking TV “personality.” Thanks Oprah! — #Idiocracy — “Some Medicare patients will pay more for medicines. Others may not be able to get their medicines. …

Ted Johnson /
TVNewsCheck: Donald Trump Picks Dr. Oz To Lead Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services

E.J. Fagan /
@ejfagan.com: CMS is a real job. Maybe a TV host can pretend to do some mid-tier cabinet position while a deputy does the real work. CMS is a technocratic job responsible for 6,000 employees, complicated billing policy, HIPAA, etc. — Dr. Oz knows how to do precisely none of that. — www.axios.com/2024/11/19/t...

Zoë Richards /
NBC News: Trump picks TV personality and former Senate candidate Mehmet Oz to run Medicare and Medicaid agency

Sarah D. Wire /
USA Today: Trump taps TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Airielle Lowe /
Bloomberg: Trump Names TV Doctor Mehmet Oz as Medicare, Medicaid Chief

Keith Boykin /
@keithboykin.bsky.social: Trump has picked Dr. Oz to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. — CMS oversees Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act exchanges. Republicans have proposed cutting Medicare and Medicaid, and Trump has tried repeatedly to repeal the Affordable Care Act. @thedesk.net: NEW: Dr. Oz has become the third TV personality in recent weeks to score a position in the second Trump Administration. — Dr. Mehmet Oz, who had his own talk show for a while, will serve as the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. [Axios]

Jennifer Shutt /
Virginia Mercury: Trump picks Dr. Oz to run mammoth Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Matthew Chapman /
Raw Story: ‘Clown show’: Critics mock Trump's pick of Dr. Oz to run Medicare and Medicaid

Alex Griffing /
Mediaite: Trump Picks Yet Another TV Host to Serve in His Administration

David Wessel /
@davidmwessel.bsky.social: It's not a cabinet. It's a reality tv show. www.axios.com/2024/11/19/t...

Sydney Halleman /
Healthcare Dive: Trump nominates Dr. Oz to oversee Medicare, Medicaid as CMS head

Chris Powell /
Trending Politics Conservative Breaking: JUST IN: Trump Nominates Dr. Oz For Major Role: ‘Make America Healthy Again’

Ed Burmila /
@edburmila.bsky.social: It is truly amazing the extent to which Trump does not recognize, understand, or respect any people he does not see on the TV.

Maureen Meehan /
Benzinga: Trump Picks Dr. Oz, Who Says Seniors Should Give Medical Marijuana A Try, To Lead Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services

Ben Leonard /
Politico: Trump picks Dr. Oz to be CMS administrator

Jordan Moreau /
Variety: Donald Trump Nominates Dr. Mehmet Oz for Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services Role

Diane Webber /
NPR: Trump picks Dr. Oz to lead Medicare and Medicaid

Kyler Alvord /
People: Dr. Oz Tapped by Donald Trump for National Health Role Alongside RFK Jr.: ‘No Physician More Qualified’

Dave Goldiner /
New York Daily News: Trump picks Dr. Oz to run Medicare, Medicaid services

Melissa Quinn /
CBS News: Trump taps television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead key Medicare and Medicaid agency

Ashoup /
Protect Our Care: BREAKING: Donald Trump Nominates Deeply Unqualified TV Personality and Scam Artist Dr. Oz to Administer Vital Programs Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and ACA Marketplace

Ted Johnson /
Deadline: Donald Trump Picks Dr. Oz to Lead Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services

Alex Weprin /
The Hollywood Reporter: Trump Nominates Dr. Mehmet Oz to Run Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Samuel Chamberlain /
New York Post: Trump picks Dr. Oz to run Medicare, Medicaid office as CMS administrator

New York Magazine:

Sources detail continued financial losses at WaPo, internal competition for the top newsroom job, and staff dissatisfaction with a new return-to-office policy— Even before 250,000 digital readers unsubscribed from the Washington Post in protest, the paper was on track to lose at least as much money as it lost last year: $77 million.

Discussion:
Fox News, Breitbart, @claeshs.bsky.social, @charlottetklein.bsky.social, New York Post and @nymag

Discussion:
Fox News: Washington Post set to lose $77 million this year even before boycott erupted over non-endorsement: Report

Claes Holtzmann /
@claeshs.bsky.social: WaPo's top stories convert 200 readers to subscribers. Slightly more than we see on our local titles 🥲 — But at least we didn't lose 250,000 subs in one swoop 😵 — “You're doing your best work, hoping you convert 200 subscribers. And we lost 250,000 through naïveté and poor decision-making”

Charlotte Klein /
@charlottetklein.bsky.social: News: The Washington Post was on track to lose at least as much money as it lost last year—$77 million—even before 250,000 digital readers unsubscribed. — nymag.com/intelligence...

Ariel Zilber /