Top Items:
Jonathan Stempel / Reuters:
Donald Trump sues Dow Jones, News Corp, Rupert Murdoch, WSJ reporters for libel, court records show — U.S. President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit on Friday against Dow Jones, News Corp (NWSA.O), Rupert Murdoch and two Wall Street Journal reporters, raising claims under federal libel law, court records show.
Discussion:
Axios, The Handbasket, New Republic, Washington Examiner, BBC, CNN, The Guardian, The Hill, Raw Story, Mediaite, Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion, Breitbart, The Parnas Perspective, Newsweek, twitchy.com, The Wrap and Advocate
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Washington Post:
Trump sues Wall Street Journal, Rupert Murdoch over Epstein letter story — The lawsuit accuses the newspaper and its parent company of libel after it published an article about a lewd letter bearing Trump's name among the birthday notes collected as a gift for Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday.
Discussion:
Telegraph, Newsweek, Raw Story, Los Angeles Times, Politico, Axios, The Hill, NewsMax.com, Daily Mail, Talking Points Memo, Townhall and USA Today
G. Elliott Morris / Strength In Numbers:
Trump's approval hits new low as Epstein pressure mounts — This is one of those classic weeks in a Trump presidency where too many stories are moving too fast for an individual writer to keep up. There are new tariffs, expansion of deportation operations, a will-he-or-won't-he dance …
Discussion:
Must Read Alaska, Raw Story, Newsweek, New York Magazine and masslive.com
Mike Masnick / Techdirt:
Trump Threatens, Then Sues Murdoch Over Epstein Story Using Tactics His Supporters Used To Call A ‘Massive Attack on Free Speech’
Tyler Pager / New York Times:
Trump Says He Doesn't ‘Draw Pictures.’ But Many of His Sketches Sold at Auction.
Trump Says He Doesn't ‘Draw Pictures.’ But Many of His Sketches Sold at Auction.
Discussion:
New Republic
Steve Benen / MSNBC:
As Trump threatens the WSJ over new Epstein report, his ‘picture’ claim looks sketchy
As Trump threatens the WSJ over new Epstein report, his ‘picture’ claim looks sketchy
Discussion:
CBS News, TMZ.com, Politico, Newsweek, RedState, New Jersey Online, The Guardian, Townhall, Forbes, The Independent, Raw Story, HuffPost, New Republic, Axios, USA Today, Alternet.org, Truth and Consequences, The Hill, HotAir and New York Magazine
Dan Mangan / CNBC:
Trump sues Murdoch for $10 billion over WSJ story on Epstein birthday letter
Trump sues Murdoch for $10 billion over WSJ story on Epstein birthday letter
Discussion:
Business Insider, Rolling Stone, Reuters, CBS News, New Republic, Scripps News, USA Today, Axios, Breitbart, MSNBC, WFAA-TV, Deadline, Raw Story, WTOP News, The Wrap, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, IJR, Straight Arrow News, The Daily Caller, The Independent, Alternet.org, Ace of Spades HQ, The Post Millennial and Townhall, more at Mediagazer »
NBC News:
Trump sues Wall Street Journal's publisher and 2 reporters over Epstein article
Trump sues Wall Street Journal's publisher and 2 reporters over Epstein article
Discussion:
PoliticusUSA, twitchy.com and Raw Story
Josephine Walker / Axios:
Justice Department asks federal judge to release Epstein grand jury transcripts
Justice Department asks federal judge to release Epstein grand jury transcripts
Discussion:
New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Gateway Pundit, Newsweek, Reuters, Fox News, Raw Story and The Hill
Dan Mangan / CNBC:
FBI agents were told to ‘flag’ any Epstein records that mentioned Trump, Sen. Durbin says — FBI agents assigned to review files in the criminal case against Jeffrey Epstein were instructed to “flag” any documents that mentioned President Donald Trump, Sen. Richard Durbin said
Discussion:
NBC News, The Hill, Straight Arrow News, NewsMax.com, emptywheel, Alternet.org, US Newsper, The Federalist, Mediaite, IJR, New Republic and The Dispatch
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The United States Senate Committee on Finance:
As Trump Downplays Epstein, Wyden Unveils Details of Treasury's Undisclosed Epstein File — Finance Committee Ranking Democrat Continues Years-Long, Follow-the-Money Investigation of Epstein Finances — Watch a video of Wyden deliver his remarks here — Donald Trump says a lot of outlandish stuff.
Discussion:
Washington Examiner and The Dean's Report
Farrah Tomazin / The Daily Beast:
Bondi Ordered FBI to Flag Trump's Name in Epstein Files — PLEASE EXPLAIN! — The AG has been asked to explain her handling of the case. — Attorney General Pam Bondi made FBI agents trawl through about 100,000 investigative files relating to child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and …
Discussion:
Axios, Forbes, Raw Story and New Republic
Justin Baragona / The Independent:
CBS staff in turmoil over ‘Trump shakedown’ after Stephen Colbert and The Late Show are canceled — Exclusive: Multiple CBS staffers who spoke with The Independent said they aren't buying the company's claim that Colbert's cancellation was a ‘financial decision,’ adding that the demise of the show has left ‘everyone stunned.’
Discussion:
Puck, CNN, New York Times, RedState, Variety, Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, The A.V. Club, The Hill, The Guardian, Mercury News, Al Jazeera, Gothamist, Newsbusters, Fox News, Megyn Kelly, The Contrarian, Straight Arrow News, twitchy.com, Mashable, LateNighter, MSNBC and US Newsper, more at Mediagazer »
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Alan Sepinwall / Rolling Stone:
Politics, Not Performance, Killed ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ — Yes, the long reign of late-night has been coming to a slow end due to the internet, but don't be fooled: There's much more than money at the root of this show's demise — At the start of Thursday night's episode …
Elizabeth Crisp / The Hill:
Trump: ‘I absolutely love’ that Colbert ‘got fired’
Discussion:
Washington Post, Breitbart, Deadline, Variety, That Park Place, LateNighter, USA Today, Vox, The A.V. Club, Ace of Spades HQ, The Wrap, Los Angeles Times, twitchy.com, Decider, Daily Kos, Townhall, The Hollywood Reporter, The Washington Free Beacon, Raw Story, Mediaite, Axios, Adweek, New Jersey Online, Plain Dealer, Fox News, Newsweek, masslive.com, HuffPost, New York Daily News, NewsMax.com and Mashable, more at Mediagazer »
Writers Guild America West:
WGA Statement on Paramount's Decision to Cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
WGA Statement on Paramount's Decision to Cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Discussion:
LateNighter and Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »
Ashley Ahn / New York Times:
Lawmakers Question Whether CBS Canceled Colbert's Show for Political Reasons
Lawmakers Question Whether CBS Canceled Colbert's Show for Political Reasons
Discussion:
The A.V. Club, Meidas+, Real Patriotism …, HuffPost, Politico and Townhall
Amalia Huot-Marchand / The Hill:
Writers Guild calls on NY attorney general to investigate Colbert cancellation, Trump ‘bribe’
Writers Guild calls on NY attorney general to investigate Colbert cancellation, Trump ‘bribe’
Discussion:
NewsMax.com, Daily Caller News Foundation, The Wrap, Deadline and The Guardian
Washington Post:
U.S.-Venezuela prisoner swap frees Americans for migrants in El Salvador — The Venezuelans, labeled terrorists and violent criminals by President Trump, had been deported to the notorious CECOT prison, setting off a tense legal battle over executive power.
Discussion:
CNN, Reuters, CBS News, New York Times, Scripps News, ABC News, Raw Story and USA Today
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New York Times:
Prisoner Swap Frees Americans in Venezuela for Migrants in El Salvador
Discussion:
Reuters, Democracy Docket, The Hill, Axios, Washington Examiner, Politico, Straight Arrow News, UPI, Bloomberg, National Review, NPR, RedState, NBC News, Al Jazeera, Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, NewsMax.com and Daily Kos
Lee Moran / HuffPost:
Comedians Pull Off Brazen Epstein Prank Inside Trump Tower Gift Shop — The Good Liars' stunt comes as MAGA backlash to President Donald Trump over the Epstein files grows. — Pranksters this week trolled President Donald Trump by placing Jeffrey Epstein-themed postcards in the gift shop at Trump Tower in New York City.
Discussion:
Raw Story
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Jack Silvers / The Daily Beast:
Pranksters Fill Trump Tower Gift Shop With Epstein Postcards
Pranksters Fill Trump Tower Gift Shop With Epstein Postcards
Discussion:
Pharyngula
David Wildstein / New Jersey Globe:
Habba tells staff she loves her job, hopes to stay as she awaits judicial meeting (Updated) — U.S. Attorney Alina Habba told her staff on Thursday that her tenure as a federal prosecutor could come to an end on Tuesday when she hits the 120-day limit for appointments made by the U.S. Attorney General …
Discussion:
New Republic, Raw Story, Above the Law and NewsMax.com
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Andrew Egger / The Bulwark:
An Enigma Wrapped in a Wonderful Secret
An Enigma Wrapped in a Wonderful Secret
Discussion:
CNN, New Jersey Online, Daily Caller News Foundation, The Independent and NewsMax.com
Selena Simmons-Duffin / NPR:
ACA health insurance will cost the average person 75% more next year, research shows — Health insurance premiums are going way up next year for people who buy their insurance on Healthcare.gov or the state-based marketplaces, according to an analysis out Friday.
Discussion:
CBS News, Peterson-KFF Health …, The Hill, Forbes, The Lever, Daily Kos, Scripps News and The Texas Tribune
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Berkeley Lovelace Jr / NBC News:
Cost of Obamacare expected to soar as subsidies expire and insurers hike premiums
Cost of Obamacare expected to soar as subsidies expire and insurers hike premiums
Discussion:
CNN, CBS News, Wall Street Journal, KFF and Yellowhammer News
Carter Sherman / The Guardian:
Trump administration to destroy nearly $10m of contraceptives for women overseas — As part of president's end to foreign aid, destruction of the long-acting contraceptives will cost US taxpayers $167,000 — The Trump administration has decided to destroy $9.7m worth of contraceptives rather than send them abroad to women in need.
Discussion:
Straight Arrow News
New York Times:
Justice Dept. Asks Manhattan Court to Unseal Epstein Grand Jury Testimony — The president has been under intense political pressure from his base after Attorney General Pam Bondi withheld portions of investigative files on the disgraced financier. — The Justice Department asked …
Discussion:
The Hill, Associated Press, CNN, Bloomberg and The Daily Caller
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Mattathias Schwartz / New York Times:
When It Comes to Jeffrey Epstein, Trump Says He Is Ready to Defer to the Courts
When It Comes to Jeffrey Epstein, Trump Says He Is Ready to Defer to the Courts
Discussion:
Salon, USA Today, CBS News, Washington Post, The Hill, Associated Press, The Daily Caller, National Review, US Newsper, Raw Story and Civil Discourse …
Génesis Miranda Miramontes / NBC Los Angeles:
3 deputies killed after explosion reported at East LA sheriff's training facility — At least three deputies were killed after an explosion was reported early Friday at an LA County Sheriff's Department training facility in East Los Angeles. — The explosion is believed to have occurred …
Barak Ravid / Axios:
Scoop: Israel seeks U.S. help on deals to move Palestinians out of Gaza … - The spy chief, David Barnea, told White House envoy Steve Witkoff that Israel has been speaking in particular with Ethiopia, Indonesia and Libya. … - Barnea suggested that the U.S. offer incentives to those countries and help Israel convince them.
Discussion:
Reuters, NewsMax.com and Daily Caller News Foundation
Josh Fiallo / The Daily Beast:
Texan Moved Fam to Russia to Flee Woke—Now He's Headed to Ukraine Front Line — FAFO — Derek Huffman, 46, joined the military with hopes of becoming a Russian citizen. His wife said he was duped into a combat role. — An American father who moved to Russia to avoid LGBTQ+ …
Associated Press:
Trump appointees pushed more marble in Fed building renovation White House now attacks — President Donald Trump has looked to the marble finishes and hefty price tag of the Federal Reserve headquarters to claim grounds to fire Chair Jerome Powell, with whom he has tussled for years over interest rates.
Discussion:
Slate, New Republic, Washington Times and Lawyers, Guns & Money
Edward Wu / CNN:
Just 23% of Americans say Israeli military actions in Gaza are fully justified, CNN poll finds — Americans are increasingly skeptical of Israeli actions in Gaza, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS that also finds rising sentiment that the US should pull back on military aid to Israel.
Discussion:
Al Jazeera
New York Times:
E.P.A. Says It Will Eliminate Its Scientific Research Arm — The decision comes after a Supreme Court ruling allowing the Trump administration to slash the federal work force and dismantle agencies. — The Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday that it would eliminate …
Discussion:
Washington Post and Reuters
Jennifer Bendery / HuffPost:
Senators Say Trump Nominated Judge To Their State They've Never Even Met — When a president is nominating someone to be a federal judge, they typically work with the two U.S. senators from that state to vet nominees and ultimately agree on someone together. These are lifetime appointments, after all.
Amalia Huot-Marchand / The Hill:
Indiana's Camp Atterbury to be used to house detained migrants — Indiana's Camp Atterbury and New Jersey's Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst will be temporarily used to detain immigrants lacking permanent legal status, according to a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
New York Times:
Where Congress's Cuts Threaten Access to PBS and NPR — President Trump's proposal to eliminate federal funding for public broadcasters threatens scores of radio and TV stations across the United States that air PBS and NPR programs.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Poynter, PhillyVoice, Plain Dealer, Salt Lake Tribune, UPI and The Guardian, more at Mediagazer »
BBC:
Israel levelling thousands of Gaza civilian buildings in controlled demolitions — Israel has demolished thousands of buildings across Gaza since it withdrew from a ceasefire with Hamas in March, with entire towns and suburbs - once home to tens of thousands of people - levelled in the past few weeks.

