JK

[Dylan Byers @DylanByers]

NEW: Sharyn Alfonsi goes scorched earth on Bari Weiss:

"Over the weekend, my contract with CBS News expired, drawing to a close nearly twenty years with the network, including more than a decade at 60 Minutes.

Following an intense editorial dispute over our CECOT story, repeated attempts by my representation to establish a path forward were met with absolute silence from network executives. The message could not be clearer: my time at 60 Minutes is apparently over.

In the coming days, network leadership may attempt to hide behind corporate euphemisms like "modernization" and “restructuring” to explain away my departure. Don't be misled. This was not a routine corporate transition; it was a deliberate choice to penalize a journalist for refusing to sanitize factually accurate reporting, and it sends a chilling message to the entire newsroom.

Fearless, independent reporting has always been the defining standard at 60 Minutes. Today, CBS management is abandoning that mission, choosing access journalism over accountability and protecting power rather than scrutinizing it.

The wall between editorial independence and corporate interest at CBS is being methodically torn down. Journalists willing to challenge authority are being pushed aside in favor of those who will not. If this continues, the result will be a broadcast that looks like 60 Minutes but lacks the courage and character to produce journalism that matters.

To my colleagues, who became family - working beside you has been the privilege of a lifetime. You are second to none. I’ve learned exactly what it costs to hold the line right now. Hold it anyway. Viewers and the people who trust us with their stories deserve nothing less."

Backstory:

- January: https://t.co/l518elnE4b

- April: https://t.co/8pWTTjOIbk

- May: https://t.co/LfKHnm18nF

[Team Talarico @TeamTalaricoHQ]

This is Nate Paul.

He was under FBI investigation for fraud. His real estate empire was collapsing after 18 properties filed for bankruptcy in a single year.

He wrote Ken Paxton a $25,000 check.

Then Paxton directed his AG’s office to hand Paul confidential investigative files.

They blocked foreclosure sales on his properties.

And they sided with Paul against the charity he was accused of defrauding.

Nate Paul even employed Paxton's mistress at Paxton’s recommendation.

Paxton's own senior staff reported his corruption to the FBI. They were fired.

This is what Ken Paxton does when he’s in a position of power — and it’s why he should be nowhere near the U.S. Senate.

[Meryl Kornfield @MerylKornfield]

The Trump admin is quietly deleting info about the Capitol attack from the DOJ website as it prepares to give funds to J6ers. This week, DOJ deleted a press release about one man with an ongoing child solicitation case who came to the Capitol with bear spray. Before and after:

[ABC News @ABC]

Elon Musk’s DOGE “blatantly used” race, gender and other protected characteristics to execute the largest mass termination of federal grants in the history of the National Endowment for the Humanities, a federal judge ruled on Thursday. https://t.co/hwzwfkkLBS

[Hamidreza Azizi @HamidRezaAz]

Some hardline commentators in #Iran have argued that the only real deterrent against Trump would be targeting his personal business interests, as he appears less concerned about the state of the global economy, or even the U.S. economy.

This FT report has been cited today in the same circles to support the claim that such interests are now within Iran's reach and could become viable targets if the war resumes. However, it remains unclear whether this approach will translate into actual policy for the Iranian armed forces.

[Bridget Brink @AmbBridgetBrink]

I resigned as U.S. Ambassador Ukraine when Trump kept siding with Putin over our democratic partner. Now, my successor is doing the same.

I knew I had to speak out and run for office because siding with dictators is just not who we are.

[Gerardo Moscatelli @gemoscatelli]

We are about to find out how "disconnected" the economy is from crude oil

[TT3 @TradingThomas3]

Dad, can you describe the market in 2026.

[Jim Bianco @biancoresearch]

This story produced a red screaming headline on Bloomberg.

*IRAN OFFERS US NEW PROPOSAL TO REOPEN STRAIT OF HORMUZ: AXIOS

The markets excitedly pumped on the headline.

The problem is that this story was public 11 hours earlier.
https://t.co/9YJ9Hi7e87

Effectively, this is a totally unrealistic proposal. Still, the administration waited 11 hours until markets were open to hype so-called "good news" by calling an American (or Israeli) reporter to say "A DEAL IS COMING!" and breathlessly include "We'll meet in the situation room to discuss."

What is amazing is how desperate the market wants this to be the case, and how it bounces every time it happens.

[News from Science @NewsfromScience]

U.S. President Donald Trump has fired all 24 members of the National Science Board, the body that oversees the National Science Foundation. Many science advocates see it as the latest step by his administration to erode—some would say destroy—the independence of the 76-year-old research agency. https://t.co/5LrByFdzHz

[HFI Research @HFI_Research]

B.A.C.D

Big Ass Crude Draw

Sharpen those pencils, we are about to break some records for onshore draws.

[Decoding Fox News @DecodingFoxNews]

In a classic Fox News move Lawrence Jones spoke to an employee of Turning Point USA who he tried to present as a random person in a diner. Jake Poling is a regional manager with TPUSA. Poling was NOT identified as a TPUSA employee in the segment.

[sarah @sahouraxo]

Israel killed every single person in this photo in Lebanon.

Every. Single. One.

All journalists.

Targeted and assassinated intentionally.

For reporting the truth from the frontlines.

[Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan]

We’re governed by fucking morons

[Peter Baker @peterbakernyt]

Acting CDC head cancels publication of a study showing Covid vaccine sharply cut odds of hospitalization and ER visits. Agency veterans say they've never seen an article pulled after being cleared by scientists and scheduled for publication. @apoorva_nyc https://t.co/vGKGOajbsH

[Mark Ruffalo @MarkRuffalo]

This is the time line from hell with clear collusion with the Ellison’s and Trump and his cabal of fascist friends and handlers killing first amendment rights of the press and using the Ellison take over to push his authoritarian anti-democratic agenda, Victor Orban style. This timeline will be used in the corruption and unfair business practices lawsuits that will be happening here in the USA and abroad. When looking at this timeline you see how the tentacles of fascism slowly wind their way around our rights and protected privilege. They have been working for months on this project.

[Alvaro Bedoya @BedoyaUSA]

Oct. 31 2024. Trump sues CBS News for "deceptively doctoring" their interview with Kamala Harris

July 7 2024. Skydance (owned by the Ellisons) announces deal to buy Paramount, owner of CBS News and 60 Minutes. Deal requires FCC approval

Jan 20 2025. Trump inaugurated as 47th President

Jan 28 2025. Jim Acosta announces departure from CNN after network proposes to move his 10am show to midnight. Trump had called Acosta a "rude, terrible person" and an "enemy of the people"

July 2 2025. Paramount/Skydance settles Trump lawsuit, will give $16M to Trump library and $20M in what Trump calls "Advertising, PSAs, or similar Programming."

July 2 2025 (evening). CBS News anchor John Dickerson denounces settlement, warns of loss in public trust. "Can you hold power to account after paying it millions?" he asks

July 17 2025. Paramount cancels The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

July 22 2025. In letter to FCC Chairman, Skydance promises to hire an "ombudsman" to "evaluate" and address "complaints of bias"

July 24 2025. FCC approves Skydance acquisition of Paramount

Mid-Sept 2025. According to the NYT, David Ellison meets with CEO David Zaslav to propose that Paramount buy Warner Brothers Discovery, owner of CNN and HBO

Oct. 6 2025. Paramount/Skydance announces acquisition of Bari Weiss' Free Press. Names Weiss "editor-in-chief" of the company

Oct. 27 2025. CBS News anchor John Dickerson announces he will depart network after the holidays

Nov. 20 2025. The Guardian reports that Larry Ellison called White House and discussed pulling CNN’s Erin Burnett and Brianna Keilar off the air if Paramount bid went through

Dec. 7 2025. Trump says he would “be involved in” decision of who will buy WBD, signaling that he will tell his DOJ which bid to allow

Dec. 8 2025 Trump blasts Paramount for airing 60 Minutes interview with “low IQ traitor” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

Dec. 8 2025. (later in the day) WSJ reports that David Ellison is promising White House sweeping changes to CNN programming if its bid wins out

Dec. 8 2025. Paramount's Securities and Exchange Commission filing discloses that $24 billion of its offer to buy WBD will come from sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, Qatar & Abu Dhabi

Dec. 10 2025. Trump says “any deal” should involve restructuring CNN because leaders are “corrupt” (Paramount’s bid includes CNN; Netflix doesn’t)

Dec. 21 2025. Bari Weiss tells 60 Minutes to drop its segment on CECOT (it airs weeks later)

Jan. 3 2026. US military seizes Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, later arragined on drug trafficking charges in federal court

Jan. 5 2026. Tony Dokoupil starts as CBS News anchor

Jan. 6 2026. On air, Dokoupil calls architect of Maduro raid, Sec. Marco Rubio, "the ultimate Florida man," lauds his "impressive resume," and ends broadcast by saying "Marco Rubio, we salute you."

Feb. 16 2026. Anderson Cooper confirms he is leaving 60 Minutes. Status reports that this came after Weiss stalled his segment on Trump's decision to admit South African refugees & put it through "abnormal" edits (segment airs Feb. 22)

Feb. 16 2026 (contemporaneous). CBS tells Colbert to kill his interview with Texas Dem (and Senate candidate) James Talarico

Feb. 27 2026. Paramount and WBD announce $110B merger agreement, including $78B in debt to be held by combined entity

Feb. 28 2026. U.S. launches military strikes against Iran

March 12 2026. CNN reports that Trump "underestimated" Iran's willingness to close the Strait of Hormuz

March 13 2026. DefSec Pete Hegseth calls CNN report "patently ridiculous." "The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better,” he says

March 14 2026. Trump posts graphic on Truth Social headlined "PRESIDENT TRUMP IS RESHAPING THE MEDIA," taking credit for firings/departures of Acosta, Colbert, & Dickerson, "new ownership" at CNN, "new bias ombudsman" at CBS

April 14 2026. The Wrap reports that Paramount is pulling all ads from The Ankler after columnist Richard Rushfield hands out "Block the Merger" pins at film convention

April 23 2026. David Ellison to hold dinner "in celebration of the First Amendment" and "honoring the Trump White House" at the rebranded "Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace" in downtown Washington, DC

[Al Jazeera English @AJEnglish]

Al Jazeera’s Heidi Pett says journalist Amal Khalil received threats from an Israeli WhatsApp number during the last war, warning her to stop reporting or leave Lebanon “if she wanted her head to remain on her shoulders,” before being killed today in an Israeli attack.

[NBA Base @TheNBABase]

Steve Kerr has reportedly expressed interest in potentially coaching at the college level in the future, with Arizona being a “long-rumored” destination, per @timkawakami

[Giovanni Staunovo🛢 @staunovo]

Traders placed a series of bets worth $430 million on a drop in crude prices just 15 minutes before U.S. President Donald Trump said he would extend a ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday.
It is the third time this ‌month, and the fourth in total, that large, well-timed directional bets on the oil price have been made shortly before major announcements on the Iran war. One combined wager in March was worth $500 million, while April's bets have together totalled some $2.1 billion.
#oott https://t.co/VBSCDUS76S