Rupert Murdoch, at first exhibiting the air of a slightly confused old man, testified in front of a parliamentary committee in London on Tuesday. He began with a slightly off-cue interruption saying unsolicited that he was happy to be testifying. He followed up with the headline-baiting assertion, again by way of an interruption, that …
Media
FBI Opens File on NewsCorp, But 9/11 Victim Hacking Allegations Are Thin
The FBI is evaluating allegations that the phones of any victims of the 9/11 attacks or their families were hacked by reporters to see if the charges warrant investigations. “We’re aware of the allegations and we’re looking into the matter,” says Tim Flanelly, a spokesman for the New York field office of the Bureau.
What are they …
Rupert Murdoch and the 9/11 Victims
Everyone needs to slow down with these allegations that Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World hacked into the phones of 9/11 victims.
On Wednesday, New York Republican Pete King sent a letter to FBI chief Robert Mueller “to urge that the FBI immediately commence an investigation of News Corporation pertaining to recent media reports” of …
Will Murdoch’s Woes Cross the Atlantic?
Rupert Murdoch’s troubles are spreading, as more and more of his British news outlets are implicated in the ugly hacking scandal rocking the United Kingdom. How far will that scandal spread and will Murdoch’s American media properties, like Fox News, The Wall Street Journal or the New York Post, be implicated? So far, that looks unlikely.
Ouch
Below is the Friday cover of New Hampshire’s largest paper, the Union Leader. For the story on Mitt Romney’s official announcement that he’s running for President, you have to turn to page A3.
Donald Trump For Sale On Conservative News Sites
The fact that Donald Trump’s name sells stuff is no surprise. (Trump Steaks, anyone?) But who would have guessed that Trump reentry into politics could have been so immediately commodified by the online press? In fact, coverage of Trump’s political ambitions has quite literally become a money-making opportunity for the right’s online news hubs.
Press Outlets Worry DoD May Restrict Access to KSM’s Gitmo Trial
The pending prosecution of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed means that the United States may convict and execute the alleged architect of the 9-11 attacks. But it is unclear how much the public will know about the evidence against him – or what they will be able to read, hear, or watch about the whole proceedings for that matter – because the …
Does Sarah Palin’s Handling of This Week’s Events in Tucson Tell Us Anything about her Presidential Ambitions?
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Sarah Palin today released a video on Facebook expressing her grief and outrage over Saturday’s shootings in Tucson. She also explained her rhetoric and hit back at those who have suggested that the level of political discourse in the country is, in part, to blame for Jared Lee Loughner’s …
Morning Must Reads: “Libel”
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–Sarah Palin breaks her silence on the Arizona shootings, issuing a long, unapolagetic response from her social media perch that accuses the media of trying to “manufacture a blood libel” against her.
–“Blood libel” historically refers to the powerful anti-semitic falsehood that Jews use …
Morning Must Reads: To Tucson
President Obama and the First Lady take part in a moment of silence on January 10 in honor of the victims of the shooting in Tucson. (REUTERS/Jim Young)
–President Obama will travel to Arizona Wednesday to speak at a memorial for the victims of Saturday’s shooting.
–Gun control advocates Sen. Frank Lautenberg and Rep. Carolyn …
Did Jon Stewart Turn the Tide on the 911 First Responders Bill?
In his last show of the year, The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart took Congress and the media to task for not making the Zadroga bill a priority. Named for James Zadroga, a 911 first responder who died in 2006 of respiratory disease, the bill would create a trust fund to cover the health care costs of surviving police, firemen, emergency …
Morning Must Reads: Leaked
(White House Photo/Pete Souza)
–Ben Smith writes Cablegate calls into question the potency of American diplomacy.
–It’s no revelation that many leaders in the Arab world privately sweat Iran, but Mark Lynch argues the greatest potential for political blowback is in that sphere.
–Matt Yglesias questions whether private …
Morning Must Reads: Palace Intrigue
–Bob Woodward’s upcoming book has leaked and it’s full of every bit of White House palace intrigue one would expect from the Washington Post icon. Also, plenty of intra-administration sniping:
Mr. Biden called Mr. Holbrooke “the most egotistical bastard I’ve ever met.” A variety of administration officials expressed scorn for
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