Jon Passantino

MacFarlane's CBS Verdict In his farewell memo, CBS News Justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane made no mention about why he had had chosen to exit—but privately he had been more candid abut his frustrations, Status has learne...

Scott MacFarlane announced his sudden exit from Bari Weiss’ CBS News without an explanation. But @status.news has learned he was appalled and disheartened by how ‘CBS Evening News’ recently covered the Jan. 6 insurrection.

The full story: www.status.news/p/scott-macf...

Bluesky CEO Jay Graber Is Stepping Down Venture capitalist Toni Schneider will take over as interim CEO as Bluesky’s board of directors hunts for a permanent replacement.

Exclusive: Jay Graber is stepping down as head of Bluesky. Venture capitalist Toni Schneider will be the interim CEO until a permanent replacement is found.

Trump also wore his dignified-transfer hat while playing golf yesterday. (Via Hugo Lowell on X.)

News: CBS News Justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane is exiting the network, it was announced on the network’s morning editorial call.

CBS’ Mamdani Mania Under Bari Weiss’ leadership, CBS News staffers are increasingly worried the network’s editorial priorities are mirroring The Free Press, particularly in coverage of New York mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Under Bari Weiss, CBS News staffers increasingly fear the network is mirroring The Free Press after it went after Zohran Mamdani’s wife over years old Instagram likes in an unbylined report.

CBS reps won't even say who the reporter was, via @status.news www.status.news/p/bari-weiss...

So … Trump lied.

We're in uncharted territory- if WTI crude holds these gains tomorrow- the current rise of 29.9% or $27.16/bbl would be its largest single day price jump- in both percent and amount- ever. Ever. EVER.

CBS’ Mamdani Mania Under Bari Weiss’ leadership, CBS News staffers are increasingly worried the network’s editorial priorities are mirroring The Free Press, particularly in coverage of New York mayor Zohran Mamdani.

A person close to Mamdani told @nataliekorach.bsky.social that Bari Weiss "doesn’t even have the dignity to pretend to be unbiased."

"The lack of journalistic integrity, and blatant hostility, could make Fox News blush," the person added.

Much more here: www.status.news/p/bari-weiss...

CBS’ Mamdani Mania Under Bari Weiss’ leadership, CBS News staffers are increasingly worried the network’s editorial priorities are mirroring The Free Press, particularly in coverage of New York mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Some CBS News staffers worry Bari Weiss is steering coverage toward The Free Press’ priorities, particularly on Mamdani

“It feels pretty clear that Bari Weiss views her role…as being a political adversary to the mayor,” a source close to Mamdani told Status

www.status.news/p/bari-weiss...

Wow -- as first spotted by @BadFoxGraphics on X, Fox & Friends this morning used *old footage of a previous dignified transfer* to mislead their audience about the fact that Trump wore a baseball cap during the one yesterday

A federal judge in DC rules that Kari Lake was not lawfully appointed and that actions she took as the claimed head of USAGM "shall have no force or effect," including last August's RIFs at the Voice of America.

Nexstarving for Trump’s Approval CNN staffers dismissed NewsNation’s latest promo attacking Kaitlan Collins as “pathetic”—but the episode showcased how Nexstar’s network is cozying up to MAGA as it seeks approval for a massive merger...

NewsNation parentco Nexstar appears totally fine to torch its cable network's credibility in hopes the Trump admin will greenlight its megamerger.

But weaponizing White House attacks on CNN as a marketing play is a disgraceful new low. My latest for @status.news www.status.news/p/newsnation...

Nexstarving for Trump’s Approval CNN staffers dismissed NewsNation’s latest promo attacking Kaitlan Collins as “pathetic”—but the episode showcased how Nexstar’s network is cozying up to MAGA as it seeks approval for a massive merger...

CNN staffers dismissed NewsNation’s latest promo attacking Kaitlan Collins as “pathetic”—but the episode showcased how Nexstar’s network is cozying up to MAGA as it seeks approval for a massive merger.

Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/newsnation...

HBO’s Next Cliffhanger David Ellison’s plan to combine HBO and Paramount+ have clouded Casey Bloys’ future, and serves as a microcosm of the challenges associated with laying one studio on top of another.

As David Ellison prepares to take over Warners, he's publicly praising HBO. But behind the scenes he's only "touched base" with HBO boss Casey Bloys, whose contract requires he report to the CEO and ends soon.

What will Ellison do with HBO? Details in @status.news
www.status.news/p/hbo-casey-...

HBO’s Next Cliffhanger David Ellison’s plan to combine HBO and Paramount+ have clouded Casey Bloys’ future, and serves as a microcosm of the challenges associated with laying one studio on top of another.

Sources tell @brianlowry.bsky.social that there is "no way" that HBO chief Casey Bloys will report to Paramount streaming boss Cindy Holland.

Much more on HBO's future under Paramount in @status.news: www.status.news/p/hbo-casey-...

"Wow. A big drop" -- CNBC highlights that labor force participation is now the lowest it has been since in late 2021, before the covid vaccine was widely available

DOJ releases Epstein files with accusations against Trump Over the course of four interviews in 2019, a woman told the FBI that Epstein and Trump sexually abused her in the 1980s.

"A DOJ source told the Miami Herald that agents found her to be credible – and that they would not have interviewed her four times if they thought she was lying."
www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...

Ellison’s CNN Platitudes David Ellison finally addressed CNN's future—but his rehearsed talking points offered few clues about what he’ll actually do with the news network.

After nearly a week of being mum about it, David Ellison *finally* commented on CNN's future under Paramount—but he offered little more than empty platitudes and dodged the larger questions that loom over the network.

More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/david-elli...

New: Tucker Carlson responds to Donald Trump, after the president says that he has "lost his way" and is "not MAGA."

"There are times I get annoyed with Trump, right now definitely included," Carlson tells @status.news, "but I’ll always love him no matter what he says about me."

Misquoting Orwell is the perfect end to her tenure

Markwayne Mullin, set to run Homeland Security >>

Markwayne ran a family plumbing business before running for office. He has no national security or military background.

Trump Is Preparing to Fire Kristi Noem The president has already been asking aides and congressional Republicans for names of potential replacements.

WSJ: Trump is preparing to fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, according to advisers familiar with his thinking www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Climate change goes to the Oscars Several Academy Award-nominated films told stories dealing with global warming. More movies like this, please!

NEW: Five Oscar-nominated films have storylines dealing with climate change. That's the most ever.

"This is the world we live in. Filmmakers are experiencing climate change in their lives."

Here's the list, and why it's such a big deal: www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/climate-ch...

Trump's Troubling RSVP While the WHCA publicly welcomed Trump’s decision to attend this year’s dinner, inside the organization, correspondents reacted with a mix of curiosity and dread—with several telling Status the conces...

Trump’s decision to attend this year’s White House Correspondents' Dinner is not going over well with WH reporters—several tell @status.news they fear he will use the event to “bash the press to our faces,” or “take a victory lap."

The full story: www.status.news/p/donald-tru...

Trump's Troubling RSVP While the WHCA publicly welcomed Trump’s decision to attend this year’s dinner, inside the organization, correspondents reacted with a mix of curiosity and dread—with several telling Status the conces...

While the WHCA publicly welcomed Trump’s decision to attend this year’s dinner, inside the organization, correspondents reacted with a mix of curiosity and dread—with several telling Status it made the press corps look “pathetic and weak.”

Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/donald-tru...

Status Scoop: Former “GMA” host Josh Elliott has eyed as a possible new host on “CBS Mornings.” I’m told in the coming weeks, several special guests will be rotating on the show, and Josh will likely be one of those people.

Bari’s Steele Attempt As CBS News plots the future of its morning show, Bari Weiss floated the idea of bringing former ESPN anchor turned Donald Trump supporter Sage Steele into the mix, Status has learned.

CBS News boss Bari Weiss floated tapping ex ESPN host-turned-Trump diehard Sage Steele for the network's morning show. And Bari also has her eyes on another TV conservative.

Details in @status.news www.status.news/p/bari-weiss...

Trump's dad was in fact born in New York City