Matthew Keys
@matthewkeys.net
Journalist who covers the transformation of the media industry after working in it for years. Previously worked for Reuters, Disney-ABC, Tribune Media.
Sacramento = Home. Light the Beam 🔦🟣
🌐: matthewkeys.net
✏️: @thedesk.net
📧: [email protected]
Sacramento = Home. Light the Beam 🔦🟣
🌐: matthewkeys.net
✏️: @thedesk.net
📧: [email protected]
Pinned
Matthew Keys
@matthewkeys.net
· Nov 11
For those of you who like the list I put together a loooong time ago of reputable journalists on Bluesky, it's now available as a starter pack.
Here you go:
go.bsky.app/22wADif
Here you go:
go.bsky.app/22wADif
LIVE: Coverage of shooting in Portland, Oregon involving federal law enforcement officials; two injured. [KGW-TV via YouTube]
LIVE: East Portland shooting — 2 hospitalized; federal agents involved, police say
YouTube video by KGW News
www.youtube.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:18 AM
LIVE: Coverage of shooting in Portland, Oregon involving federal law enforcement officials; two injured. [KGW-TV via YouTube]
Portland ABC affiliate KATU (Channel 2) is offering live coverage of the shooting of two citizens by U.S. Border Patrol in that city. Watch live via YouTube:
Officials holding press conference after U.S. Border agents shoot two people in SE Portland
YouTube video by KATU News
www.youtube.com
January 8, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Portland ABC affiliate KATU (Channel 2) is offering live coverage of the shooting of two citizens by U.S. Border Patrol in that city. Watch live via YouTube:
Part of the public’s distrust in the media is due to reporters and editors dancing around the obvious.
The video doesn’t “raise questions” — it proves Trump and Noem are lying about the ICE shooting, which everyone can see for themselves.
📸: @washingtonpost.com
The video doesn’t “raise questions” — it proves Trump and Noem are lying about the ICE shooting, which everyone can see for themselves.
📸: @washingtonpost.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Part of the public’s distrust in the media is due to reporters and editors dancing around the obvious.
The video doesn’t “raise questions” — it proves Trump and Noem are lying about the ICE shooting, which everyone can see for themselves.
📸: @washingtonpost.com
The video doesn’t “raise questions” — it proves Trump and Noem are lying about the ICE shooting, which everyone can see for themselves.
📸: @washingtonpost.com
Some of this is holiday viewership, which trends lower around Christmas and New Year's, but CBS News can usually rely on "60 Minutes" to pull in an audience of at least 10 million viewers during its first broadcast after New Year's Day — and that didn't happen this year.
Wonder what changed?
Wonder what changed?
"60 Minutes" on CBS lost 15 percent of its overall audience in the two weeks following the CECOT story scandal, and 30 percent of its audience in the key A18-49 viewership demographic, according to Nielsen data.
"60 Minutes" audience drops under 10 million after CECOT scandal
The controversy follows editorial decisions under CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss and heightened scrutiny of the show.
thedesk.net
January 8, 2026 at 12:07 AM
Some of this is holiday viewership, which trends lower around Christmas and New Year's, but CBS News can usually rely on "60 Minutes" to pull in an audience of at least 10 million viewers during its first broadcast after New Year's Day — and that didn't happen this year.
Wonder what changed?
Wonder what changed?
The 12/21 broadcast of "60 Minutes" — the one that was supposed to include the CECOT story — attracted 10.35 million viewers, per Nielsen.
The next comparable broadcast, on 1/4/26, had 8.793 million viewers, an audience drop of 15 percent, according to Nielsen data.
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick...
The next comparable broadcast, on 1/4/26, had 8.793 million viewers, an audience drop of 15 percent, according to Nielsen data.
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick...
January 7, 2026 at 10:41 PM
The 12/21 broadcast of "60 Minutes" — the one that was supposed to include the CECOT story — attracted 10.35 million viewers, per Nielsen.
The next comparable broadcast, on 1/4/26, had 8.793 million viewers, an audience drop of 15 percent, according to Nielsen data.
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick...
The next comparable broadcast, on 1/4/26, had 8.793 million viewers, an audience drop of 15 percent, according to Nielsen data.
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick...
Context: The 12/28 show was a planned special coinciding with the holiday weekend, aired under the "60 Minutes Presents" branding, when CBS figures ratings will be lower due to sports overflow, the holidays, etc.
The 12/21 show had slightly higher ratings compared to 12/14, per Nielsen.
The 12/21 show had slightly higher ratings compared to 12/14, per Nielsen.
#BREAKING: CBS News program "60 Minutes" lost more than 5 million viewers between its airings on December 21 — the week a planned segment on CECOT was to air before being pulled — and December 28, when it aired a special holiday program spotlighting the sitcom "Cheers," according to Nielsen data.
January 5, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Context: The 12/28 show was a planned special coinciding with the holiday weekend, aired under the "60 Minutes Presents" branding, when CBS figures ratings will be lower due to sports overflow, the holidays, etc.
The 12/21 show had slightly higher ratings compared to 12/14, per Nielsen.
The 12/21 show had slightly higher ratings compared to 12/14, per Nielsen.
This is not as altruistic as it seems — Ruddy also has professional motivations, as Nexstar's NewsNation and Newsmax compete for cable distribution and retransmission fees.
Ruddy is worried NewsNation will win if the combination happens, since Nexstar has powerful local TV bargaining chips.
Ruddy is worried NewsNation will win if the combination happens, since Nexstar has powerful local TV bargaining chips.
Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy is urging the FCC to block a proposed $6 billion merger between local TV broadcasters Nexstar and TEGNA, saying the combination violates federal law and the spirit of anti-monopoly rules.
Newsmax urges FCC to deny Nexstar-TEGNA merger
The company warned the deal would increase retransmission fees and further concentrate power among local TV station owners.
thedesk.net
January 5, 2026 at 8:23 PM
This is not as altruistic as it seems — Ruddy also has professional motivations, as Nexstar's NewsNation and Newsmax compete for cable distribution and retransmission fees.
Ruddy is worried NewsNation will win if the combination happens, since Nexstar has powerful local TV bargaining chips.
Ruddy is worried NewsNation will win if the combination happens, since Nexstar has powerful local TV bargaining chips.
Charter Communications and Apple are teaming up to offer select Los Angeles Lakers games to Spectrum TV and Spectrum Internet customers in Apple Immersive when watched via Apple Vision Pro. A total of six games between now and the end of March will be available through the feature.
Spectrum TV to offer some L.A. Lakers games via Apple Vision Pro
Spectrum and Apple will stream select 2026 Lakers games live in an immersive format on Apple Vision Pro, with replays and highlights available worldwide.
thedesk.net
January 5, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Charter Communications and Apple are teaming up to offer select Los Angeles Lakers games to Spectrum TV and Spectrum Internet customers in Apple Immersive when watched via Apple Vision Pro. A total of six games between now and the end of March will be available through the feature.
Reposted by Matthew Keys
Media consolidation ALERT.
Remember when MAGA-FCC Chairman Carr asked Sinclair and Nexstar to ban Jimmy Kimmel to please MAGA/Trump - and they did?
There’s a battle for local TV power/consolidation that impacts all Americans.
Important update from @matthewkeys.net @thedesk.net
Remember when MAGA-FCC Chairman Carr asked Sinclair and Nexstar to ban Jimmy Kimmel to please MAGA/Trump - and they did?
There’s a battle for local TV power/consolidation that impacts all Americans.
Important update from @matthewkeys.net @thedesk.net
Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy is worried that if Nexstar acquires TEGNA, they will use local stations as a bargaining chip to increase distribution of NewsNation — and there won't be money left for his competing cable news network.
Newsmax has filed a formal Petition to Deny with the FCC, urging the Trump administration to block the Nexstar-TEGNA merger.
January 3, 2026 at 3:26 AM
Media consolidation ALERT.
Remember when MAGA-FCC Chairman Carr asked Sinclair and Nexstar to ban Jimmy Kimmel to please MAGA/Trump - and they did?
There’s a battle for local TV power/consolidation that impacts all Americans.
Important update from @matthewkeys.net @thedesk.net
Remember when MAGA-FCC Chairman Carr asked Sinclair and Nexstar to ban Jimmy Kimmel to please MAGA/Trump - and they did?
There’s a battle for local TV power/consolidation that impacts all Americans.
Important update from @matthewkeys.net @thedesk.net
Reposted by Matthew Keys
Newsmax has filed a formal Petition to Deny with the FCC, urging the Trump administration to block the Nexstar-TEGNA merger.
Newsmax urges FCC to deny Nexstar-TEGNA merger
The company warned the deal would increase retransmission fees and further concentrate power among local TV station owners.
thedesk.net
January 3, 2026 at 2:58 AM
Newsmax has filed a formal Petition to Deny with the FCC, urging the Trump administration to block the Nexstar-TEGNA merger.
Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy is worried that if Nexstar acquires TEGNA, they will use local stations as a bargaining chip to increase distribution of NewsNation — and there won't be money left for his competing cable news network.
Newsmax has filed a formal Petition to Deny with the FCC, urging the Trump administration to block the Nexstar-TEGNA merger.
Newsmax urges FCC to deny Nexstar-TEGNA merger
The company warned the deal would increase retransmission fees and further concentrate power among local TV station owners.
thedesk.net
January 3, 2026 at 3:03 AM
Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy is worried that if Nexstar acquires TEGNA, they will use local stations as a bargaining chip to increase distribution of NewsNation — and there won't be money left for his competing cable news network.
The CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting told former Wikipedia CEO-turned-NPR CEO Katherine Maher that she should quit earlier this year, according to the New York Times.
NPR’s C.E.O. Was a Right-Wing Target. Then the Real Trouble Started.
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:01 PM
The CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting told former Wikipedia CEO-turned-NPR CEO Katherine Maher that she should quit earlier this year, according to the New York Times.
Beautiful shot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris on CNN.
December 31, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Beautiful shot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris on CNN.
Reposted by Matthew Keys
I'm particularly proud of this one.
@thedesk.net might not get recognized in year-round pats-on-the-back by pro-democracy organizations, but our public service journalism absolutely mattered where it counted the most — and we'll keep going in 2026.
@thedesk.net might not get recognized in year-round pats-on-the-back by pro-democracy organizations, but our public service journalism absolutely mattered where it counted the most — and we'll keep going in 2026.
Our public service journalism on the Nexstar-TEGNA merger and Sinclair's proposed acquisitions and station swaps involving peer broadcasters made its way to Capitol Hill, where our stories were cited by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and others in letters sent to the CEOs of Nexstar and Sinclair.
Lawmakers demand answers from Nexstar, Sinclair over Jimmy Kimmel suspension
Four U.S. Senators have demanded answers from the CEOs of Nexstar and Sinclair about their decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel's late night program from their ABC affiliates in September.
thedesk.net
December 28, 2025 at 11:30 PM
I'm particularly proud of this one.
@thedesk.net might not get recognized in year-round pats-on-the-back by pro-democracy organizations, but our public service journalism absolutely mattered where it counted the most — and we'll keep going in 2026.
@thedesk.net might not get recognized in year-round pats-on-the-back by pro-democracy organizations, but our public service journalism absolutely mattered where it counted the most — and we'll keep going in 2026.
I'm particularly proud of this one.
@thedesk.net might not get recognized in year-round pats-on-the-back by pro-democracy organizations, but our public service journalism absolutely mattered where it counted the most — and we'll keep going in 2026.
@thedesk.net might not get recognized in year-round pats-on-the-back by pro-democracy organizations, but our public service journalism absolutely mattered where it counted the most — and we'll keep going in 2026.
Our public service journalism on the Nexstar-TEGNA merger and Sinclair's proposed acquisitions and station swaps involving peer broadcasters made its way to Capitol Hill, where our stories were cited by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and others in letters sent to the CEOs of Nexstar and Sinclair.
Lawmakers demand answers from Nexstar, Sinclair over Jimmy Kimmel suspension
Four U.S. Senators have demanded answers from the CEOs of Nexstar and Sinclair about their decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel's late night program from their ABC affiliates in September.
thedesk.net
December 28, 2025 at 11:30 PM
I'm particularly proud of this one.
@thedesk.net might not get recognized in year-round pats-on-the-back by pro-democracy organizations, but our public service journalism absolutely mattered where it counted the most — and we'll keep going in 2026.
@thedesk.net might not get recognized in year-round pats-on-the-back by pro-democracy organizations, but our public service journalism absolutely mattered where it counted the most — and we'll keep going in 2026.
I got a photo with Slamson!
December 28, 2025 at 2:48 AM
I got a photo with Slamson!
The problem for CBS isn't that the segment is being uploaded to YouTube and Bluesky — it's that people are uploading it to the Internet Archive (which enables downloads by default) and platforms in foreign countries like Rutube and Dailymotion, somewhat outside the grasp of Paramount's lawyers.
Paramount's attorneys are working at a feverish pace to pull copies of the 60 Minutes story on CECOT after it accidentally leaked via Canadian broadcaster Global.
But they're struggling to keep up with its spread, and CBS may ultimately be forced to air it.
But they're struggling to keep up with its spread, and CBS may ultimately be forced to air it.
Pulled "60 Minutes" segment on CECOT widely available online
Paramount is seeking to remove online copies of a pulled “60 Minutes” segment after it leaked via a Canadian broadcaster’s on-demand platforms.
thedesk.net
December 23, 2025 at 8:26 PM
The problem for CBS isn't that the segment is being uploaded to YouTube and Bluesky — it's that people are uploading it to the Internet Archive (which enables downloads by default) and platforms in foreign countries like Rutube and Dailymotion, somewhat outside the grasp of Paramount's lawyers.
No one is saying people should go to the Internet Archive, search "60 Minutes CECOT" and download copies of the segment for preservation purposes.
The banned "60 Minutes" segment on CECOT continues to proliferate online, with dozens of copies uploaded to @archive.org — where anyone can download a copy of it for preservation purposes.
The Internet Archive is taking down as many copies as it can based on DMCA notices filed by Paramount.
The Internet Archive is taking down as many copies as it can based on DMCA notices filed by Paramount.
December 23, 2025 at 7:48 PM
No one is saying people should go to the Internet Archive, search "60 Minutes CECOT" and download copies of the segment for preservation purposes.
Reposted by Matthew Keys
"60 Minutes" is America's highest-rated program that isn't a live sports event — that's on broadcast AND cable television — and attracts more viewers than any scripted show on CBS.
Now, that standing could be in jeopardy.
Now, that standing could be in jeopardy.
December 22, 2025 at 6:55 PM
"60 Minutes" is America's highest-rated program that isn't a live sports event — that's on broadcast AND cable television — and attracts more viewers than any scripted show on CBS.
Now, that standing could be in jeopardy.
Now, that standing could be in jeopardy.
Republican lawmakers say the Justice Department's release of the Epstein files in heavily-redacted form violates the law. [CNN]
Live updates: The Jeffrey Epstein files released | CNN Politics
The Justice Department has released files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Follow here for the latest live news updates
www.cnn.com
December 20, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Republican lawmakers say the Justice Department's release of the Epstein files in heavily-redacted form violates the law. [CNN]
Conan O'Brien Needs a Lawyer
Sources: Talk show host Conan O'Brien prevented guests from calling the police when actor-director Rob Reiner and his son Nick argued at his Christmas party, one day before the gruesome double homicide that has rocked Hollywood. [Page Six, tabloid report]
Conan O’Brien stopped guests from calling 911 on Nick Reiner during explosive fight with dad Rob at holiday party: report
Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their Los Angeles home hours after leaving O’Brien’s holiday party over the weekend.
pagesix.com
December 20, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Conan O'Brien Needs a Lawyer
Interesting, Pat McAfee and Stephen A. Smith — arguably two of the most-recognizable hosts/analysts on ESPN — are not in the new promotional spot, which you can watch in the article.
ESPN has launched a new marketing campaign called "Always in Season," with the apparent goal of keeping ESPN Unlimited customers from canceling their subscriptions when the NFL, NBA and NHL are in their off seasons.
New ESPN ad campaign aimed at reducing ESPN Unlimited churn
The network is trying to avoid seasonality churn-out, similar to what co-owned streamer Fubo experiences each year.
thedesk.net
December 19, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Interesting, Pat McAfee and Stephen A. Smith — arguably two of the most-recognizable hosts/analysts on ESPN — are not in the new promotional spot, which you can watch in the article.
Except they didn't get him — they couldn't find him for a week, and then when they cornered him, he shot himself.
For all the grandstanding about good, old-fashioned police work, this is a textbook bungling of a massive law enforcement investigation, where lucky breaks led to suicide.
For all the grandstanding about good, old-fashioned police work, this is a textbook bungling of a massive law enforcement investigation, where lucky breaks led to suicide.
December 19, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Except they didn't get him — they couldn't find him for a week, and then when they cornered him, he shot himself.
For all the grandstanding about good, old-fashioned police work, this is a textbook bungling of a massive law enforcement investigation, where lucky breaks led to suicide.
For all the grandstanding about good, old-fashioned police work, this is a textbook bungling of a massive law enforcement investigation, where lucky breaks led to suicide.
The beginning of the press conference was essentially a promotion for Flock, the network of surveillance cameras that cops love...
...only for another law enforcement official to say a tipster provided the best source of information that led them to the shooting suspect.
...only for another law enforcement official to say a tipster provided the best source of information that led them to the shooting suspect.
The police press conference started with law enforcement patting themselves on the back for taking a week to catch the Brown University suspect, and has now moved into the phase where police complain about public perception that they didn't move fast enough to catch him.
December 19, 2025 at 3:00 AM
The beginning of the press conference was essentially a promotion for Flock, the network of surveillance cameras that cops love...
...only for another law enforcement official to say a tipster provided the best source of information that led them to the shooting suspect.
...only for another law enforcement official to say a tipster provided the best source of information that led them to the shooting suspect.