Article in Media Matters by Reed McMaster & Ben Van Bloem, 10/14/26
“Right-wing media figures have long spread conspiracy theories against Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN). During the second Trump administration, this has manifested in calls to deport Omar, an American citizen, citing as supposed evidence the conspiracy theories that have spread for years. . .”
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Article in AP by Bill Colvin, 10/14/26
Headline: “Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia faces scrutiny over claims she’s a lawyer”
“Katie Zacharia has long described herself as a lawyer as she has worked to establish herself as a commentator for conservative outlets like Fox News and Newsmax. But so far, she and the White House have offered no evidence that she passed the bar exam in any state or in China. . .’
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Article in The Hill by Judy Kurtz, 10/13/26
Headline: “Scaramucci quips about new press secretary Zacharia’s tenure: ‘The clock is running’ “
“. . .’Thus far 1/11th of a Scaramucci,’ he cracked.
“Scaramucci famously served a speedy stint — just 11 days — as White House communications director in 2017 during President Trump’s first term in office. . .”
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https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/6145486-white-house-press-secretary-katie-zacharia-scaramucci/
Article in Poynter by Tom Jones 10/12/26
Headline: “Opinion | Jennifer Griffin has covered 8 defense secretaries. She’s never seen a Pentagon like this.”
Subhead: “On ‘The Poynter Report Podcast,’ the longtime Fox News correspondent reflects on nearly four decades of reporting, from war zones to Washington”
“. . .Griffin went on to explain why, but also said, ‘There are still very important stories being broken. Every time there’s a story the Pentagon doesn’t want, they call it fake news. That’s just a real cop-out. That’s a cop out for not wanting to answer questions — not wanting to answer questions from Congress, not wanting to answer questions from the press, and I don’t think the American people are buying it anymore’. . .”
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https://www.poynter.org/commentary/2026/fox-news-jennifer-griffin-pentagon-pete-hegseth/
Article in The Wrap by Kayla Cobb, 10/8/26
Headline: “Skydance’s New TV Empire Explained: Who’s in Charge and What May Be Ahead | Analysis”
Subhead: “With the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Skydance now owns almost 190 shows, over 70 cable networks and two major streamers”
“A lot of attention has been paid to the future of the film industry in the wake of Skydance acquiring Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, but few are talking about the other big entertainment play of this new merger: TV. With the acquisition of WBD, Skydance now owns nearly 190 shows, more than 70 cable channels and two major streamers.
“It’s a massive portfolio that threatens to disrupt the current order of television. Over the past 12 months, networks and streaming assets owned by Paramount and Warner Bros. . .”
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Article in Poynter by Tom Jones, 10/8/26
Headline: “Opinion | CBS gives JD Vance a prime-time town hall just before the midterms”
Subhead: “The Michigan event gives the vice president a national stage as Republicans make their closing argument to voters”
“In timing that is certainly good for a Republican Party looking for a last-minute rally ahead of the midterm elections, CBS announced Wednesday that it will air a town hall with Vice President JD Vance on Oct. 17 — just two and a half weeks before the pivotal Election Day. . .”
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https://www.poynter.org/commentary/2026/jd-vance-cbs-town-hall-midterms/
Article in AP by Michael Kunzelman, Jocelyn Noveck, and Rebecca Boone
Headline: “Media attorneys ask court for help in preventing White House ban until legal case is resolved”
“. . .An attorney for three news organizations told a federal judge Thursday that the Trump administration must be prevented from barring their reporters from the White House, saying the ban is a classic example of “viewpoint discrimination” that is punishing people for what they say — and violating the media outlets’ First Amendment rights. . .”
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https://apnews.com/article/trump-networks-media-ban-cnn-6459d3612a0a845a0cf1a093acafbe6f
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Article in The Guardian by Jeremy Barr, 10/8/26
Headline: “Trump made ‘clear’ that media ban was due to critical coverage, court told”
Subhead: “Lawyer for CNN, MS Now and Politico says Trump admitted he banned networks from White House over their coverage”
“Donald Trump continues to be the strongest witness for the media companies arguing that they were unfairly barred from the White House at his direction, a lawyer representing CNN, MS Now and Politico told a federal judge on Thursday afternoon. . .”
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https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/oct/08/trump-media-ban-hearing
Article in Mediaite by Alex Griffing, 10/7/26
Headline: “Pete Hegseth Welcomes USS Lincoln Crew Home With a Rant Against the Media: They Tried to Say it Was a ‘Failed Mission!’”
“. . .Hegseth slammed the media for its reporting on the conditions aboard the vessel during his remarks. ‘And there were a few folks in the media who tried to turn the USS Abraham Lincoln into some sort of symbol: a symbol of dysfunction, or a symbol of low morale, or a symbol of a failed mission,’ Hegseth fumed, adding:
“‘And what I look out at right here, and what I talked to your leadership about – and I have had a chance to talk to a number of you – I know it’s the exact opposite, which is actually what the media does so often.’. . .”
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Article in Mediaite by Zachary Leeman, 10/6/26
Headline: ” ‘It’s Gonna Be a Great Company!’ Trump Raves About Ally David Ellison Taking Over Warner Bros in Massive Merger”
“President Donald Trump raved about the $111 billion merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, saying it will be a “great company” headed by “terrific people.”
“Trump spoke with the press before a departure to Maryland on Tuesday. He avoided multiple questions about his recent remarks about Iran’s ability to ‘take out’ Los Angeles and San Diego, but he was full of praise over Paramount’s David Ellison taking over Warner Bros. . .”
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Article in The New York Times by By Maggie HabermanHamed AleazizShane Goldmacher and Jonathan Swan, 10/2/26
Headline: “Trump Directed Use of Taxpayer Money for Ads Praising His Presidency”
Subhead: “The government-funded ads show just how much President Trump has been able to use federal money for his own aims.”
“President Trump personally instructed his budget director to use taxpayer money for TV ads praising him and his presidency, setting in motion a $20 million contract that used funds from the Department of Homeland Security, according to people familiar with the matter.
“The ads have run across cable and network television — on Fox News, CNN and MS Now, with football games on Fox and with national newscasts on CBS, ABC and NBC, including ‘Meet the Press,’ which Mr. Trump is known to watch. . .”
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https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/02/us/politics/trump-ads.html
Article in Media Matters by Matt Gertz. 9/28/26
Headline: “Trump’s press grievances are based in their refusal to do propaganda”
“The Justice Department sought last week to justify President Donald Trump’s decision to ban three news outlets from the White House by arguing that their reporters had jeopardized national security. But Trump’s own statements show what he actually wants from the press: servile propaganda that parrots what he and his political allies say about his administration. . .”
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