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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · 1d

David Ellison says he wants Paramount to stay out of politics. David Ellison just put Bari Weiss in (nominal?) charge of his news operation.

Discuss!

www.businessinsider.com/paramount-da...

What the Bari Weiss deal tells us about Paramount's politics — and what it doesn't

Paramount's new owner David Ellison says he's not interested in politics. A lot of his moves, like buying Bari Weiss' The Free Press, lean rightward.

www.businessinsider.com

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · 4d

We are used to Apple and other big tech companies taking down apps when Moscow, Beijing or Riyadh commands.

Now we see it happening in the US: The Trump White House wanted an anti-ICE app gone, and Apple complied.

Pretty sure this is a start, not a one-off.

www.businessinsider.com/apple-iceblo...

Apple's ICEBlock take-down shows how Big Tech's power can be used by American officials

Tech companies are used to foreign governments telling them to take down apps. Now it's happening in the US, as Apple takes down an anti-ICE app.

www.businessinsider.com

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Reposted by Peter Kafka

sarah jeong @sarahjeong.bsky.social · 5d

Just to be clear, we wrote that paragraph long before the App Store removed ICEBlock. www.theverge.com/policy/79051...

So antifa could be a kid in a black mask tossing a brick at a CCTV camera at an ICE facility. Antifa could be the grandma on the sidewalk holding a sign reading “DONALD TRUMP IS A FASCIST.” Antifa is ACAB. Antifa is Fuck ICE. Antifa is No Kings. Antifa might be a reading group, a teach-in, an Instagram solicitation for mutual aid. Antifa could be the ICEBlock app, and the App Store could be providing material support for terrorism.

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · 5d

Pam Bondi says Apple complied with DOJ order to take down an ICE tracking app.

www.businessinsider.com/apple-iceblo...

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · 5d

Apple statement: “We created the App Store to be a safe and trusted place to discover apps. Based on information we’ve received from law enforcement about the safety risks associated with ICEBlock, we have removed it and similar apps from the App Store.”

Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com · 5d

BREAKING: Apple has REMOVED the ICEBlock app from the App Store due to “objectionable content.” More billionaires bending the knee.

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · 8d

"It is generally illegal under international law to use force in another country without its consent."

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/u...

Top Trump Aides Push for Ousting Maduro From Power in Venezuela

www.nytimes.com

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · 8d

Like what percent of readers are the three of us?

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · 8d

Deep!

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · 12d

There's no way TikTok USA is only worth $14 billion, as JD Vance said Thursday.

One explanation: This is one of those cases where $14 billion isn't really $14 billion.

www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-worth...

Why that $14 billion TikTok deal may not be what it seems

A new deal values US TikTok at $14 billion. That seems crazy low for an enormously powerful tech platform.

www.businessinsider.com

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · 14d

My hunch is you didn't read the story which discusses that press release and what led to it.

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · 14d

One upside of the Kimmel story is that it gives us another chance to remember that Trump is still suing Gannett and Ann Selzer over a poll he didn't like.

Unlike Paramount and Disney, Gannett and Selzer are still fighting the suit.

www.businessinsider.com/trump-kimmel...

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · 14d

Last year, Mark Zuckerberg told Republicans the Biden administration had pressured him to take content down.

Now Google is doing the same thing.

It's move designed to give Jim Jordan a win, while keeping Google off the regulatory hook.

www.businessinsider.com/google-meta-...

Mark Zuckerberg wrote the playbook for Big Tech leaders dealing with Republicans. Google paid attention.

Last year Mark Zuckerberg wrote the playbook for Big Tech leaders dealing with Republicans. Google paid attention.

www.businessinsider.com

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Reposted by Peter Kafka

Noah Shachtman @noahshachtman.bsky.social · 17d

Remember Winnie Greco? The cash-in-the-chip-bag lady? You may recall this longtime Eric Adams adviser is also at the center of fundraisers with the hallmarks of illegal, "straw" donations.

These activities were under investigation. One of the big Adams-world mysteries is ... what happened to them?

City Nolan @ndhapple.bsky.social · 17d

"Corruption is sometimes described as a victimless crime, just skimming from a bottomless pool of government cash. The story of the [NYPD] under Mr. Adams should put that idea to rest"

Great column on how SCOTUS's gutting of public corruption laws helped get us here

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/o...

Opinion | Eric Adams, Donald Trump and the Case That Broke American Justice

www.nytimes.com

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · 20d

That was 2019. Never occurred to me I'd be writing this in 2025 www.businessinsider.com/jimmy-kimmel...

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · 20d

x.com/pkafka/statu...

Peter Kafka on X: "FCC head @BrendanCarrFCC: "I want to thank Nexstar for doing the right thing. Local broadcasters have an obligation to serve the public interest. While this may be an unprecedented decision, it is important for broadcasters to push back on Disney programming that they determine" / X

FCC head @BrendanCarrFCC

x.com

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · 20d

FCC head Brendan Carr, who regulates Nexstar and encouraged them to complain about Jimmy Kimmel, applauds Nexstar for complaining about Kimmel which led Disney to suspend him: "I want to thank Nexstar for doing the right thing."

Chris Hayes @chrislhayes.bsky.social · Jul 18

Not really an overstatement to say that the test of a free society is whether or not comedians can make fun of the country's leader on TV without repurcussions.

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · 22d

Blockbuster Trump NYT lawsuit definitively proves that Trump was in TV shows and movies before becoming president.

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Reposted by Peter Kafka

Mike Masnick @mmasnick.bsky.social · 25d

Someone just sent me a bunch of examples of these. Apparently the site is flooded with them.

There's gotta be a story behind all of these.

Nonsense Facebook post from TopSpin Central:

UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT IN HISTORY TENNIS
HISTORY: Tennis player Alexandra Eala shocked the tennis world when she called on the TENNIS community to observe a moment of silence in memory of Charlie Kirk. In a tearful speech, Alexandra Eala said: "It is heartbreaking to see America lose such an important voice. My deepest condolences to their families and loved ones. This is not only their loss, but also a reminder that we must come together, respect each other, and defend the values that this country holds dear." Her statement created a lasting patriotic movement in the American community because of its nature!

Bogus Facebook post from "Pulse of Music"

Pulse of Music
. Follow
X
23h
Last night in Nashville, James Hetfield delivered a moment so powerful it left an entire stadium breathless. In the middle of his set-just as the music thundered and the lights blazed-he suddenly stopped. Holding the microphone close, his voice rang out across the crowd, asking everyone to join him in a one-minute moment of silence for Charlie Kirk and the innocent lives lost on 9/11.
And then, silence. More than 25,000 people stood still -no cheers, no music, only reverence. A single minute passed, heavy with sorrow, yet radiant with unity.
When the silence ended, James Hetfield lifted his voice. Soft at first, then rising strong, he began to sing "God Bless America." The crowd erupted-tens of thousands of voices soaring together, filling the night sky with a chorus of hope and pride. American flags waved high. Tears streamed down faces. What had been silence became a tidal wave of song, spirit, and unbreakable togetherness.
James Hetfield didn't just pause a concert-he transformed it into a sacred tribute, a reminder of loss, resilience, and the grace of a nation standing as one.

Bogus Facebook post from "Yankees Nation"

MOMENT UNPRECEDENTED IN MLB HISTORY:
Yankees Legend CC Sabathia shocked the MLB after calling for a moment of silence in memory of Charlie Kirk. In a tearful speech, CC Sabathia said: "It is heartbreaking to see America lose such an important voice. My deepest condolences to their families and loved ones. This is not only their loss, but also a reminder that we must come together, respect each other and stand up for the values that this country holds dear." Charlie Kirka husband and father of two - passed away at the age of 31. CC Sabathia emotionally shared: "I am a father myself and I understand that emptiness." And then, he unexpectedly made a special decision for Charlie's two children

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · 25d

You are all here because the world's richest man bought Twitter. How will you react as the world's second richest man consolidates Hollywood?

www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-la...

First Elon Musk, now Larry Ellison: The world's richest men are buying huge media companies — because they can

When you're one of the world's richest men, you can afford to buy anything you want. Like a media giant. First, Elon Musk. Now, Larry Ellison.

www.businessinsider.com

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · Sep 4

Like I wrote, the court cases against Mets and the rest of big tech (including a second Google suit) are still ongoing. But we just saw what happened even when big tech loses a court case - not much at all.

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Reposted by Peter Kafka

Oliver Darcy @oliverdarcy.bsky.social · Sep 3

I spoke with @pkafka.bsky.social about creating @status.news and how we're covering the media industry differently. Please consider giving it a listen! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

Oliver Darcy Thinks the Media Doesn’t Get It. So He Built Status

Podcast Episode · Channels with Peter Kafka · 09/03/2025 · 54m

podcasts.apple.com

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · Sep 3

During Trump 1.0 there was a lot of talk about reforming Big Tech, and that talk continued under Biden. But all that's over now.

www.businessinsider.com/google-antit...

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · Aug 29

Your long weekend listen could be my chat with my old employer @henryblodget.bsky.social, talking about building a new media company in an AI age - and why the current AI boom rhymes with dotcom one from the late 90s.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · Aug 26

Let's be clear: Trump didn't take 10% of Intel because he was concerned about American dependence on Taiwan.

He did it because he could. He'll use the same rationale for the next one. He spells it out here. www.businessinsider.com/intel-donald...

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Peter Kafka @pkafka.bsky.social · Aug 25

Liked it so much I asked Michael to talk about it some more podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

Why Michael Lewis is worried about the sports betting boom

Podcast Episode · Channels with Peter Kafka · 02/05/2025 · 58m

podcasts.apple.com

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