Editor's note: You may be seeing this newsletter a little later than usual due to widespread Microsoft Outlook outages on Thursday. We appreciate your patience.

Jan. 22, 2026

Top stories

■ Don Lemon will not be charged for reporting on Minnesota ICE protest after judge rejects DOJ effort (TheWrap) 


■ Trump says he’s expanding defamation suit against the New York Times after unfavorable poll (Guardian) / FCC targets ‘The View’ and Jimmy Kimmel with eye toward getting equal time for Republicans (Hollywood Reporter) 


■ ‘The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is giving its last $12 million in interconnection funds directly to stations. Note from Pat Harrison’ (Ben Mullin)


■ As Washington Post leaders mingle in Davos, newsroom managers are preparing to make cuts to the staff and budgets, Status has learned, prompting a fresh wave of anxiety inside Jeff Bezos’ newspaper’ (Status)


■ Trump misspoke at Davos. Karoline Leavitt told reporters not to believe their ears. (Poynter) / Davos signals a power shift for corporate affairs and communications leaders (Axios) 


■ Netflix’s Sarandos to testify in Senate hearing on Warner Deal (Bloomberg) / Paramount extends deadline for Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders to back hostile bid (Deadline) 


■ Israel kills 3 journalists in Gaza, including CBS News contributor (Washington Post)


■ ‘Bari Weiss says she's stepping away from her podcast for a "few short months." Gives no specific reason, but mentions her "huge responsibility" and opportunity at CBS News’ (Brian Stelter) / ‘60 Minutes’ ratings tank after finally airing spiked segment (Daily Beast) / Tony Dokoupil's Trump interview delivers 4.3 million viewers on CBS (The Wrap) 


■ Substack is launching a TV app today (The Ankler) 


■ ‘Major senior leaders on the business side are out at Business Insider today, I'm told. Chief Revenue Officer Maggie Milnamow and head of global sales Orlando Reece are both leaving the company.’ (Max Tani) 


■ POLITICO announces key 2026 hires across politics, Playbook, and Hollywood (POLITICO) / The Minnesota Star Tribune announces key newsroom leadership hires (Minnesota Star Tribune via Editor and Publisher) / Yarilys Domenech upped to VP of Telemundo News Service (TV News Check) / Julie Grimes to lead Texas Tech Public Media (Current) / WHRO Public Media announces Kate Pringle as vice president of development (WHRO) / ‘Bob Costas is returning to NBC Sports — as the host of the Sunday Night Baseball pregame show leading into games on NBC and  on Peacock’ (Brian Steinberg) / ‘Elle Duncan, named to lead Netflix' sports coverage, is also working as a WNBA commentator for Versant's USA Sports…’ (Brian Steinberg) 


■ People who use chatbots for news consider them unbiased and ‘good enough,’ new study finds (Nieman Journalism Lab)

CRAFT
Covering Immigration Safely and with Care Join the National Press Club Journalism Institute for a free webinar on February 10

Free webinar: Covering immigration safely and with care


With immigration enforcement directives among the most politicized and contentious topics in the U.S., reporters on the beat face growing threats on the ground and online. Local and national journalists covering immigration have to navigate the need to protect themselves and their sources alongside increased pressure to get the story right.


With violent clashes between protestors and masked federal agents, local and federal officials sparring in the public square, and vulnerable communities facing uncertainty during intensifying ICE crackdowns, journalists must cover these sensitive stories while keeping their own safety top of mind.


Join the Institute at noon ET on Tuesday, Feb. 10, for a panel discussion with reporters and editors who will speak about their experiences in the field and newsroom.


They’ll share:


  • Guidance for maintaining digital safety while reporting on a sensitive and highly scrutinized topic
  • How to prepare for assignments, protect sources and yourself, and what to include in your field safety kit
  • An editor’s perspective on risk assessment and newsroom support
  • How to balance public interest reporting with real-world risks

Speakers include:


  • Adrian Carrasquillo, national immigration correspondent and “Huddled Masses” newsletter author, The Bulwark
  • Arelis Hernandez, national reporter covering the U.S. Southern border, immigration, Texas and beyond, The Washington Post
  • Jon Collins, senior reporter on the MPR News race, class and communities team, Minnesota Public Radio
  • Michelle Zenarosa, editor-in-chief, LA Public Press
  • Moderator: Elliot C. Williams, training manager, NPCJI
CAREER
 

Leadership Advice: Build confidence deliberately


“Competence builds courage. Study best practices until they become instinctive, expand your problem-solving toolkit, and focus on what you can control. The more prepared and grounded you are, the easier it is to take bold, self-assured steps.”


-- HBR editors, excerpt from “Our favorite management tips of 2025” (Harvard Business Review)

 
 
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This newsletter is written and edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Holly Butcher Grant, and Elliot C. Williams. 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.