EXEC SUMMARY: The president is cheering for Fox's ratings... HUD is charging FB for discriminatory ads... The Marshall Project is publishing a magazine for prison inmates... And a new film about Steve Bannon is hitting theaters...
74 words
"After three years of lies and smears and slander, the Russia hoax is dead," President Trump told his faithful base on Thursday night.
But as usual, the headlines told a different story. Like this one on the WaPo website: "Trump is treating the Russia investigation as settled. Most Americans don't agree with his conclusions."
And this one on the NYT homepage: "Mueller report exceeds 300 pages, raising questions about four-page summary." The Times broke the news about the page count on Thursday morning, and other outlets quickly matched it. CNN's Zach Wolf re-read Bill Barr's letter and found that only 74 words of Mueller's report were actually quoted by Barr. The rest was Barr's summary.
Maybe Mueller's full report lines up exactly with what Barr wrote. But "take our word for it" -- rather, "take these 74 words for it" -- isn't satisfying the press or a majority of the American people...
The emergence of a new narrative
The Barr summary "seemingly had the effect of knocking the Democrats back on their heels" for several days, Anderson Cooper said on "AC360" Thursday night. "But today, arguably, was a day when Democrats started to find some footing," citing Adam Schiff's remarks among other things.
Cooper's key caveat: "Democrats don't know what's in those 300 pages. We don't know either, nor do Republicans..."
--> CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem speaking on "Erin Burnett OutFront" Thursday: "I cannot believe how bad Barr is fumbling this. They had a story of 'no collusion' on Sunday, by Tuesday the story is 'the coverup.'" And "it's only going to get worse..."
Tighter security at Trump's rally | | The last time POTUS held a rally, in El Paso, "a member of the audience assaulted a BBC cameraman," the NYT's Mark Landler and Katie Rogers noted. "The signs of tighter security in Grand Rapids included more visible security personnel and sturdier barriers between the press and the audience. In El Paso, reporters were seated in the stands, unprotected from the crowd..."
Fox commentator replacing Fox host at the State Dept?
On Thursday morning Morgan Ortagus was a Fox contributor, speaking on "America's Newsroom:" | | Now her paid job at Fox is over. On Thursday afternoon NBC reported that the president is likely to pick her as the State Department spokesperson. Ortagus has not officially been named. But she "has been under consideration to replace Heather Nauert for several weeks now, while officials have been preparing paperwork and examining her background," CNN's Kaitlan Collins and Jennifer Hansler reported.
Judging from her resume, Ortagus would bring more experience to the job than Nauert. While her relatively new role on Fox surely raised her profile within the Trump admin, Ortagus is an active US Naval Reserve Officer; a former public affairs officer at USAID; and a former intelligence analyst...
--> Small world: Ortagus and CNN analyst/Obama W.H. vet Samantha Vinograd recently started a consulting company together...
This is getting fishier...
The State Dept award that wasn't
Remember the story about Finnish journalist Jessikka Aro? She was up for a big State Department award -- until it was suddenly rescinded. When a story by Foreign Policy suggested that the flip-flop was "due to her criticism of President Trump on social media, State Department deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino asserted it was a miscommunication and that she had been 'incorrectly notified' of her award." The official word was that Aro "had not" actually been a finalist.
Well... Now comes Manu Raju and Jennifer Hansler's latest: "Internal communications reviewed by CNN show that the State Dept and US embassy officials in Finland had been in talks with Aro for several months, extensively communicating with her about the award, her travel documents, her itinerary in Washington and her bio, which had been approved by eight State Dept officials. Then, two weeks after an official asked her to provide a list of her social media accounts, the honor was abruptly rescinded and the invite to attend the event was canceled." An embassy official in Helsinki even told Aro, while requesting "all your social media handles," that "that's the last step for us, then Washington will have everything they need." Details...
--> Dems on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have obtained the internal messages and "have now written a letter to the State Department's inspector general to demand an investigation..."
FOR THE RECORD, PART ONE
-- One of the banners on "CNN Tonight" just now: "Pres. Trump falsely claims 'total exoneration' even though that's not what Mueller said." (Twitter)
-- Trump and Sean Hannity are at best "very confused about how the Russia investigation began," Philip Bump writes. At worst, they're purposely deceiving the public... (WaPo)
-- Rappler CEO Maria Ressa has been arrested in Manila again. This time it happened when she stepped off an airplane... (Rappler)
This WaPo scoop is probably the most important Trump story of the day
"This isn't exactly like lying about your hand size," Rachel Maddow said Thursday night, reacting to WaPo's latest exclusive by David A. Fahrenthold and Jonathan O'Connell.
The headline: "Trump inflated his net worth to lenders and investors." The story said the financial documents "are at the center of at least two of the inquiries that continue to follow Trump."
Maddow asked, "Is there potential legal liability for the president in producing financial statements that materially misrepresent how much he's worth?" Fahrenthold told her that yes, in the short term at least, In the short term, yes, "it IS a legal problem..."
Trump promoting Fox's ratings
The end of Mueller probe "has given an extra boost" to Fox News, Bloomberg's Gerry Smith wrote Thursday. Hannity's interview with Trump on Wednesday night delivered 4.3 million viewers with the interview, "a six-week high in viewers," per THR's Rick Porter.
The president has been bringing up the #'s all week long. At Thursday's rally, he criticized CNN and MSNBC while saying "our friends" -- he named Tucker Carlson, Hannity, and Laura Ingraham -- had ratings that were "through the roof last night."
This is the Trump-Fox virtuous circle: They promote him, he promotes them, and so on. And Fox posted what is, effectively, a press release about the ratings on its news home page...
Imagine this phone call...
Another must-read about Fox by Mediaite's Aidan McLaughlin: He reports that Bill Shine, two weeks after joining the Trump W.H., "tried calling into the Fox News control room during an interview with Ivanka Trump." He pushed for a "more favorable" banner on the screen. The exec in charge, Lauren Petterson, "took the phone from a producer and supposedly told Shine, 'We're good with what we have.'"
Will Twitter start labeling Trump's tweets that violate their rules?
Hadas Gold reports: A top Twitter exec said Wednesday that the company is working on ways to flag tweets that violate their rules, but are kept up because they're newsworthy and in the public interest.
Twitter critics have pointed out that some of Trump's tweets run afoul of Twitter's rules about dehumanizing content and bullying. Twitter's head of legal, policy and trust Vijaya Gadde said at a Washington Post event that they're considering ways to label such content...and considering limiting the visibility of the tweets, maybe by forcing a user to "click through" in order to view a post... | |
FOR THE RECORD, PART TWO
-- Happy Opening Day 2019! Here's Robert O'Connell for The Atlantic on the "MLB's bold efforts to remake baseball..." (The Atlantic)
-- "The mother of a man who was killed in a traffic collision involving two storm chasers has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the Weather Channel that seeks $125 million in damages." The channel says it cannot comment on pending litigation... (NYT)
-- The first #DemDebate is on the calendar: June 26 and 27... (NBC)
Klobuchar campaign proposes broadband for all
Katie Pellico writes: Amy Klobuchar is promising to connect "every household to the internet by 2022" in a seven-pronged, trillion-dollar "Plan to Build America's Infrastructure." Broadband access was one of "seven areas of infrastructure investment" itemized in the Thursday morning blog post on Medium. Klobuchar told CNN's Suzanne Malveaux that the plan is her "number one priority." Watch/read more here...
>> Via The Verge's Makena Kelly: "Klobuchar's plan also mentions providing new incentives for internet service providers to upgrade their own networks in order to better serve rural America. It's unclear what those incentives are..."
The Economist apologizes to Ben Shapiro for calling him an "alt-right sage"
Oliver Darcy emails: The Economist corrected a story and apologized to Ben Shapiro on Thursday for labeling him as a member of the alt-right. The magazine interviewed him during his book tour, and the resulting article said he was an "alt-right sage" and "pop idol of the alt-right." Shapiro is, in fact, hated by the alt-right and has been strongly critical of the movement. Shapiro demanded a correction on Twitter, and soon after received one. In an editor's note affixed to the top of the story, The Economist noted it had changed its story after having "mistakenly" described Shapiro's political ideology.
>> Yes, but... How did this happen in the first place!?
FOR THE RECORD, PART THREE
-- "Former MSNBC host Greta Van Susteren is in arbitration with NBC News," Yashar Ali reports in his newsletter. He also "discussed with agents and media lawyers whether Van Susteren has a claim, and they all believe she doesn't..." (Yashar)
-- No surprise here: Netflix was named the fastest growing brand of 2018-19 in a new study... (Variety)
-- Mark Potts says Patrick Soon-Shiong's takeover "signals a 21st-century throwback to the Los Angeles Times' 19th-century roots." He quotes one of the paper's vets, Robin Abcarian, saying "I just feel like we're on the brink of a golden era..." (Alta)
BBC pays damages for report regarding Michael Cohen meeting
Hadas Gold emails: In a stunning admission, the BBC apologized to the Ukrainian President and is paying him damages over a since-retracted article alleging that President Petro Poroshenko arranged a $400,000 payment to Michael Cohen in order to arrange a meeting with Trump. Poroshenko took legal action against the BBC over the May 2018 article. According to the Daily Mail, the figure to be paid by the BBC was not disclosed in court...
The Marshall Project launches print publication for jails and prisons | | Katie Pellico writes: The Marshall Project (TMP) announced a new print publication on Thursday, called "Life Inside," that is being distributed in 30 jails and prisons in 19 states. It is "a collection of TMP's award-winning journalism that relates directly to incarcerated lives."
Lawrence Bartley, a TMP comms associate and former inmate, writes, "I wanted to share our rich articles with my information-poor former community, particularly those who believe study is a chance for redemption, who sacrifice sleep and risk a misbehavior report to pore over textbooks under shaded lamps after lights-out, who struggle to find resources to expand their minds."
>> Bartley says the goal is "for News Inside to be distributed throughout all 50 states," and fundraising is in the works to make that happen... | |
HUD charges Facebook for discriminatory ads
CNN's Kaya Yurieff reports: The Department of Housing and Urban Development is charging Facebook with violating the Fair Housing Act by "encouraging, enabling, and causing" housing discrimination through its ad platform.
>> Context: HUD had filed a formal complaint against Facebook last August...
>> Earlier this month, Facebook said it would pay about $5 million to settle several lawsuits that alleged its advertising platform allowed for discrimination in housing, employment and credit ads. It also announced several steps to address the issue...
>> WaPo's Tracy Jan and Elizabeth Dwoskin reports "HUD is reviewing Twitter's and Google's ad practices as part of housing discrimination probe" as well...
HRC says Google "refused" to remove app promoting conversion therapy
Pavni Mittal emails: The Human Rights Campaign pulled Google from its Corporate Equality Index -- a tool used for recruiting by tech companies -- for failing to pull an app that promotes "so-called conversion therapy," reports Axios' Ina Fried. Apple, Microsoft and Amazon had all previously removed it from app stores, while Google "refused," Fried says...
Instagram to ban Alex Jones?
Oliver Darcy emails: Business Insider obtained internal emails that showed Facebook executives discussing Alex Jones' presence on Instagram, one of the only social media platforms on which the InfoWars founder is currently allowed. The emails offered a window into the debate FB execs have had about how to enforce the company's community guidelines. The emails also revealed that there are "currently internal discussions" about designating Jones as a "hate figure" -- which would prohibit him from having a profile on Instagram.
After BI dropped its story, a Facebook spokesperson emailed me and said, "As this email correspondence shows, we continually monitor and review whether people are involved in organized hate on our platform. We've already taken down InfoWars' Facebook Page, but Alex Jones has a network of presences online and we are evaluating how to appropriately enforce our policies against him as an individual. We're committed to being diligent and will share an update when that process has run its course."
| | Lowry reviews one of the new Bannon docus
Brian Lowry emails: "The Brink" is one of two Steve Bannon documentaries that hit the recent festival circuit, beating Errol Morris' "American Dharma" to theaters. Here, director Alison Layman offers what amounts to a fly-inside-the-Escalade look at the former White House strategist and Breitbart exec as he crisscrosses the globe pushing his nationalist agenda. The access and detail is interesting -- who knew Bannon drinks green power shakes, and frets about losing 35 pounds? -- but there's nothing here likely to change anyone's mind about him, pro or con...
"The Brink" will open in limited release on Friday...
ABC's Jonathan Karl writing a Trump book
Jonathan Karl is the latest W.H. correspondent to strike a book deal: Dutton announced its acquisition of "Front Row at the Trump Show" on Thursday. The book will come out sometime next year. Axios' Mike Allen, who broke the news, said the book will pack in "a quarter of a century with Trump... Karl has covered Trump since 1994, when The Donald gave the New York Post rookie a tour of Trump Tower."
FOR THE RECORD, PART FOUR
-- Disney is having a single upfront presentation for its entertainment networks, ESPN and its newly acquired Fox assets, Variety's Brian Steinberg reports... (Variety)
-- Brian Lowry emails re: Disney's decision: While I'm all for fewer upfront presentations, I sometimes wonder if the trend toward grouping multiple networks pushes the larger corporate objective/image at the expense of showcasing and selling the individual shows. To the extent TV is still a hit-driven business, that risks putting the cart before the horse, or in this case, the carriage before the mice...
-- Comedy Central's "Broad City" wrapped up its run on Thursday night... (Vulture)
Chicago wants $130,000 from Jussie Smollett
CNN's latest on Jussie Smollett's case: "The city of Chicago wants $130,106.15 in the next seven days from actor Jussie Smollett, to cover the cost of the investigation into claims he was attacked in what he described to police investigators as a possible hate crime." Earlier, Smollett's defense team said Smollett is innocent and "has paid enough..."
--> Trump is using the case as a "MAGA rallying cry," in the words of TMZ...
--> And the plot thickens: "The top prosecutor in Chicago did not formally recuse herself" from the Smollett probe...
This case is casting a shadow over Smollett's career
Jussie Smollett is testing that "old adage that any publicity is good publicity," Lisa Respers France wrote here. She quoted crisis management expert Jonathan Bernstein: "He's always going to be associated with Jussie Smollett, the guy who may or may not set up his own mugging. I don't think the police dropping charges is enough because of the way this happened..."
FOR THE RECORD, PART FIVE
By Katie Pellico:
-- Sony Pictures TV has found "a new home for its Crackle ad-supported streaming service: The company struck a deal with Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment to launch a new joint venture..." (Vulture)
-- FuboTV is following other online TV subscription services in hiking prices: The base package is increasing by $10, now $55 a month... (FastCo)
-- "All 210 US TV markets now have access to YouTube TV..." (The Verge)
-- "YouTube mogul" Liza Koshy is back to posting on her channel after a year-long hiatus... (Newsweek)
Tow report exposes the "dire state of news archiving"
Katie Pellico writes: Sharon Ringel and Angela Woodall found that the majority of news outlets have not "given any thought to even basic strategies for preserving their digital content." This new report, out Thursday, says that "not one" of the 30 news outfits and preservation initiatives interviewed was "properly saving a holistic record of what it produces." Read on...
Ariana Grande flagged by NPPA
Katie Pellico writes: The NYT and AP are just two of 15 news outlets on a letter sent to Ariana Grande's tour company earlier this week, rebuking the rigid photo agreement for her upcoming "Sweetener" tour.
The letter from the National Press Photographers Association calls out the company's claim to all photo copyrights. "This surprising and very troubling over-reach by Ms. Grande runs counter to legal and industry standards and is anathema to core journalistic principles of the news organizations represented here," the letter reads...
>> Billboard's Harley Brown recalls, "This move is not unprecedented: In 2011, Lady Gaga issued a contract requiring a DC-based TV photographer to sign away his photo rights to her, and in 2015 Taylor Swift was accused of rights-grabbing by some news outlets who were forced to comply with unusually strict shooting rules."
| | Flipping the script on "Bonnie and Clyde"
Brian Lowry emails: Netflix's "The Highwaymen" is most notable for pairing Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson. But what looks like a can't-miss concept -- the aging lawmen who hunted down Bonnie and Clyde -- yields a dutiful, uninspired movie, pairing Costner and Harrelson as the taciturn Texas Rangers called out of retirement, which roughly approximates what will likely be the film's target demo. The outlaws here are virtually nonexistent, until their bloody end... And the movie mostly fires blanks in the drama department...
FOR THE RECORD, PART SIX
-- Lisa Respers France writes: Here's what R. Kelly accuser Lanita Carter said on CBS Thursday morning...
-- "The Big Bang Theory" began shooting its 276th episode this week, "making it the longest running multi-camera sitcom," Chloe Melas writes. "The show surpassed 'Cheers,' which made 275 episodes..."
-- One more from Lisa: Sophie Turner's comment about her sexuality is stirring debate about who gets to attach labels...
Siegfried & Roy's animal handler tells THR "what really happened" in 2003 mid-show mauling
Katie Pellico writes: Animal handler Chris Lawrence looks back on the brutal mauling of Roy Horn in 2003, telling THR "the official narrative of the night put out by the show isn't what really happened. He contends it was a version shaped by the illusionists to protect the brand, save face and cover up for a series of onstage handling errors made by Horn."
>> THR reports Lawrence was compelled to speak out after years of battling PTSD, in part, because "he's anxious about the factual accuracy of a biopic the pair have announced, which will reportedly deal with the attack."
FOR THE RECORD, PART SEVEN
-- How this year's BAFTAs had to "bend the rules" to extend "Killing Eve" more than a dozen nominations... (BBC)
-- Frances McDormand and Denzel Washington are in talks to take on a Macbeth movie, directed by ("Coen brother") Joel Cohen, with A24 on deck to distribute. Mike Fleming, who had the exclusive, writes, "When you have eight Oscars between you, it becomes less daunting to take on Shakespeare..." (Deadline)
-- Voting began Wednesday night after a two-month standoff between the WGA and the Association of Talent Agents over writers' pay... (Deadline)
LAST BUT NOT LEAST...
Priyanka Chopra's YouTube special tackles trauma
Pavni Mittal emails: Co-produced and hosted by actor and singer Priyanka Chopra, "If I Could Tell You Just One Thing" was released on YouTube earlier this week. In the half-hour special, Chopra speaks with Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, legendary designer Diane Von Furstenberg, and actor-rapper Awkwafina, asking the "one piece of advice" that has shaped them.
Biles opens up about going to therapy to overcome being sexually abused by former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. "I sleep all the time because it's the closest thing to death," she tells Chopra. The interview has been praised on Twitter for candidly addressing mental health and normalizing therapy.
| | | Thanks for reading! Email me feedback anytime. See you tomorrow... | | | |
