The Latest: Covering Trump’s crackdown; The ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ + taxes; Israel kills 6 more journalists; Changes at Vanity Fair

Aug. 12, 2025

■ Trump, White House stop citing WSJ after Epstein story (Axios) / ‘We pulled together a visual timeline of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein’s relationship starting in 1985, using photos, newspaper articles, and rare video .’ (Alli Gordon/CNN)

■ Kari Lake’s attempt to deport her own employees (The Atlantic) / NPR ‘founding mother’ Susan Stamberg will retire (Current) / Should they stay or go? Veteran journalists face tough choices in the Trump age (The Wrap)

■ Increasing the danger: Journalist killing in Gaza sends a chilling message (Associated Press) / Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif became the face of the war in Gaza for millions. Then Israel killed him (CNN) / UN says 242 journalists killed in Gaza as Al Jazeera mourns those killed in Israeli strike (FRANCE 24) / National Press Club statement on death of Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza (National Press Club)

■ David Ellison lays out his Paramount plans and puts politics at arm’s length (Vanity Fair) / How CBS Studios & Paramount TV Studios are divvying up streaming series slate (TV News Check) / Paramount buys UFC rights in $7.7 billion, 7-year deal in first major move post-Skydance merger (CNBC) / ICYMI: Inside the first day of Paramount’s new regime under David Ellison (CNN)

■ Sinclair may sell off its local TV stations (Axios)

■ Vanity Fair will boost focus on core areas like Hollywood while cutting back some coverage, says new editorial director (Variety) / ‘Vanity Fair is sunsetting The Hive and other sections/verticals , per memo from new editor Mark Guiducci.’ (Dylan Byers)

■ ‘Sara Kehaulani Goo, the former EIC of Axios, will be president of The Washington Post’s creator network .’ (Ben Mullin)

■ Alden Global Capital is still trying to get its hands on The Dallas Morning News (Nieman Journalism Lab)

■ POLITICO’s recent AI experiments shouldn’t be subject to newsroom editorial standards , its editors testify (Nieman Journalism Lab)

■ Liz Landers joins 'PBS News Hour' as White House correspondent (Deadline) / The Information hires Roof as deputy bureau chief (Talking Biz News) / Cameron Coats to serve as EIC of Radio Ink (MediaPost) / Savannah Shipman joins Photo Production at the Times (New York Times) / The Hill names Lindsey Granger co-host of morning program ‘Rising’ (The Hill) / Dallas Morning News hires Parker to cover aviation (Talking Biz News) / KSDK reporter Justina Coronel named as president of new local chapter for National Association of Hispanic Journalists (KSDK)

■ With new podcast, BI’s Blodget turns to ‘Solutions’ journalism (Semafor)

Tomorrow: What the “Big Beautiful Bill” means for taxes

The Institute and the Bipartisan Policy Center are offering a series of virtual briefings to help journalists enhance their understanding and coverage of the new law's major themes.

Part two of the series will inform journalists on the biggest tax cuts and tax policy changes that are part of the new law. We’ll dive into how these changes could impact readers and viewers, look at what these provisions mean for the federal deficit, and also explore which groups of people can expect to see the biggest benefits from the law and who might not.

Whether you’re new to writing about taxes or have dipped your toe into covering these issues before, the BPC’s policy experts will be ready to answer your burning questions on how the new law stands to impact Americans’ pocketbooks and more.

Date : Tomorrow, Aug. 13

Time : 1 p.m. ET

Location : Zoom

Speakers

Shai Akabas leads the Bipartisan Policy Center’s work on a variety of economic issues, including fiscal policy, retirement and financial security, and tax policy. Akabas got his start at BPC in 2010 staffing the Domenici-Rivlin Debt Reduction Task Force and assisting Jerome Powell, now chairman of the Federal Reserve, in his nationally recognized work on the federal debt limit. Over the years, Akabas has also steered high-level BPC commissions in several policy areas and provided extensive assistance to federal policymakers and their staff on some of the most pressing policy questions of the day.

Andrew Lautz is responsible for leading the Bipartisan Policy Center’s federal tax policy portfolio. In this role, he conducts research, develops policy recommendations, and engages with lawmakers and stakeholders on a variety of tax issues, from the Child Tax Credit to international tax reform. His insights on tax policy have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Bloomberg, among other major publications. Previously, he was the director of federal policy for National Taxpayers Union (NTU) and NTU Foundation.

Session spotlight The Freelance life Doing more in depth stories as a freelancer Learn tips and resources for pitching and chasing those more intense assignments Aug 15 at 145 pm et

Session Spotlight: Doing more in-depth stories as a freelancer

The Institute is hosting a half-day virtual conference on the business of freelancing, starting at noon ET on Aug. 15.

Experienced freelancers: Join us for a session that covers how to get an editor to accept a more in-depth story pitch as a freelancer and where to find resources to do this kind of reporting as an independent journalist.

Speakers:

Lisa Armstrong, UC Berkeley
Danny Freedman, freelance journalist
Moderator: Beth Francesco, National Press Club Journalism Institute

This is one of several sessions that will be held as part of the freelance conference, which is tailored for both new and experienced freelance journalists. All registrants will have access to the recordings . To see the full agenda and speaker list, click here .

GET TICKETS

Press Freedom Center to host daylong conference on Austin Tice case

The Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club will host a daylong conference examining new developments in the case of missing journalist Austin Tice on Thursday, Aug. 14.

Tice, a veteran Marine Corps captain, Georgetown graduate, and law student, was detained near Damascus three days after his 31st birthday in 2012 while covering escalating conflict in the region.

The landscape in Syria has changed since the fall of Damascus in late 2024. New details about Tice's case have come to light, offering the public a more complete understanding. Yet, a surge of misinformation and disinformation threatens to obscure the truth. This year's event marks the 13th year of Tice going missing and is designed to clarify what is known, to challenge false narratives that continue to circulate, and to discuss U.S. strategy in bringing Tice home.

Click here to learn more and get tickets.

Resources

This newsletter is written and edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Holly Butcher Grant, Elliot C. Williams, Allison Prang, and Mitch Harle. Send us your questions and suggestions for topics to cover.

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The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. As the non-profit affiliate of the National Press Club, the Institute powers journalism in the public interest. The Institute's tax ID number is 52-1750908.