Article in AlterNet by Adam Lynch, 5/21/26
Headline: “Inside Trump’s growing frustration as his revenge tour loses its grip on media”
“Even as late-night comedian and critic Stephen Colbert prepares to end his show this week, President Donald Trump is raging that his administration hasn’t managed to kill even more late-night shows. . . .”
“Suebsaeng added that sources inside the White House say Trump is furious at the lack of progress. . .”
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Article in Common Dreams by Scott Griffen, 5/21/26
Headline: “When Trump Targets the Media, the World’s Autocrats Are Taking Notes”
Subhead: “Trump’s words and actions against the news media at home are inspiring copycat behavior by authoritarians and dictators around the world, fueling a growing global crisis of press freedom.“
“. . .Trump first tweeted the now-ubiquitous phrase ‘fake news’ and infamously labelled the news media the ‘enemies of the American people,’ such insults just don’t land like they used to.
“Yet Trump’s words do in fact matter. While many of Trump’s rhetorical attacks against the press during his first term were dismissed as bluster from a president known for his flair for the dramatic, they laid the groundwork for the broad attack on the media that we’re seeing under Trump 2.0. . .”
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Article in Media Matters by Sophie Lawton, 5/21/26
Headline: “Right-wing media react to Trump’s slush fund for allies with unquestioning loyalty — and some vague skepticism”
“Some right-wing media figures are jumping on board with the Trump administration’s newest effort to support MAGA allies despite numerous questions about its legality; a few are voicing light skepticism of the plan.
This week, the Department of Justice announced that the Trump family had agreed to drop a legally questionable $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS in exchange for the creation of a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” According to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the fund’s intended recipients are “victims of lawfare and weaponization” by the federal government. . . .”
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Article in Daily Kos by Oliver Willis, 5/20/26
Headline: “Major news outlets are ignoring Trump’s shady stock trades”
“The mainstream media has largely ignored a report detailing how Donald Trump has consistently publicly touted companies in his role as president while quietly buying up their shares.
“On Monday, Judd Legum of the Popular Information newsletter published an investigation correlating Trump’s financial disclosure filings with his public statements. And he found a pattern: Trump praises companies or visits their facilities while purchasing their stock. . .”
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https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/5/20/800041940/media/media-ignoring-trumps-shady-stock-trades/
Article in Reuters by Dawb Chmielewsk & Edumnd Lee, 5/20/26
Headline: “James Murdoch to acquire New York Magazine and Vox Media Podcast Network”
“James Murdoch agreed to acquire New York Magazine and the Vox Media podcast network in a deal that will significantly expand his portfolio and stands to boost his influence over news and entertainment.
The deal, valued at more than $300 million, gives Murdoch control of a storied magazine brand, known for its coverage of culture, politics and fashion, along with a podcast division . . .”
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Article in Status by Oliver Darcy, 5/19/26
Headline: “Ellison’s Fast and Furious Takeover”
Subhead: “Paramount is hoping to close its deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery much sooner than the company has publicly stated, Status has learned.”
“Earlier this month, David Ellison addressed investors on Paramount’s quarterly earnings call, in which he reiterated his talking points regarding the company’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. During his remarks, the 43-year-old said again that the media conglomerate believes it is on track to clear the requisite regulatory hurdles and close its mammoth Warners deal by September. . .”
Behind the scenes at Paramount, however, the company has embraced a much more aggressive timeline, Status has learned. . .”
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https://www.status.news/p/paramount-warner-bros-discovery-closing-date-david-ellison
Article in Poynter by Tom Jones, 5/19/26
Headline: “Opinion | Why The New York Times is suing the Pentagon — again”
Subhead: “The news outlet says the Pentagon’s latest press-access restrictions are unconstitutional and retaliatory after an earlier court loss”
“For the second time, The New York Times is suing the Department of Defense, claiming it’s a violation of the First Amendment for journalists to be required to have an escort while working inside the Pentagon.
“This is just the latest volley in a continuing conflict between the press and President Donald Trump’s Defense Department, led by Defense Secretary and former Fox News talking head Pete Hegseth. . .”
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https://www.poynter.org/commentary/2026/new-york-times-pentagon-lawsuit-escort/
Article in FAIR by Gregory Shupak, 5/19/26
Headline: “‘Buffer Zone’ Is Media’s Euphemism for Israeli Occupation”
“Since October 2023, Israel has occupied vast stretches of territory in Gaza, Syria and, most recently, Lebanon. Corporate media have been reluctant to use clear, direct language to characterize US-backed Israeli land grabs in each of these places, preferring to describe Israel’s policies with euphemistic terminology.
“ ‘Buffer’ is chief among these. For instance, a Wall Street Journal article (4/9/26) told readers that ‘Israeli forces now hold buffer zones inside Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.’. . .”
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https://fair.org/home/buffer-zone-is-medias-euphemism-for-israeli-occupation/
Article in The Guardian by Jeremy Barr, 5/19/26
Headline: “Paramount expresses support for CBS News leader Bari Weiss amid criticism”
Subhead: “Online publication Puck previously reported Weiss could be moved to a new role with less oversight of the network”
“. . .The network released a statement supporting her after a report that senior leadership at the company has discussed changing Weiss’s role to lessen her oversight of CBS News – and, potentially, CNN, if the company’s acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery receives government approval. . .”
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https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/may/19/paramount-cbs-news-bari-weiss
Article in Status by Oliver Darcy, 5/18/26
Headline: “Hitting the Brakes on Carr”
“In an interview with Status, the FCC chairman assailed his critics and defended his actions against Disney after a legal watchdog asked authorities to investigate him for having ‘violated his ethical obligations’ as an attorney.. . .”
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