Infantino also told me that FIFA plans on giving out the FIFA Peace Prize again next year and that "a lot" of people want it...

www.semafor.com/article/04/1...

Before my interview with FIFA President Gianni Infantino last week, I caught an interesting interaction backstage between him and Sen. Alex Padilla, who talked to the FIFA president about ICE and the FIFA Peace Prize...

New: CNN decided against airing a potential segment interviewing Mark Ruffalo over his advocacy against the Paramount/WBD merger.

A producer privately said there were “legal considerations around what we can and cannot cover or say while the merger is ongoing.”

www.semafor.com/article/04/1...

More: Rushfield was seen at Cinemacon over the past few days with "Block the merger" pins. This seems to have pushed Paramount over the edge, tho there's some dispute over whether he was distributing pins or simply holding them...

Paramount is pulling its ads from @theankler.com, I'm told. The decision seems to stem from columnist Richard Rushfield's opposition to the Paramount/WBD merger. Rushfield was one of the signatories of yesterday's letter from 1k Hollywood players opposing the deal...

Bluesky COO Rose Wang On Building a Better Social Network YouTube video by Semafor

Fascinating conversation with @bsky.app's @rose.bsky.team about what they are thinking and how they feel about you, dear user www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZbd...

Loved talking shop with @semaforben.bsky.social and @maxtani.bsky.social! Surreal to finally meet two people whose voices I’ve logged so many hours with.

New: Democratic senators sent a letter to the Pentagon and Stars & Stripes yesterday, questioning the new, more restrictive rules imposed on the paper. They also questioned whether the Defense Department had killed any stories since the new rules were implemented...

www.semafor.com/article/04/0...

In an email to Fortune's editor shared with me, WSJ EIC Emma Tucker praised Fortune's use of AI in its journalism, saying "anyone who doesn't get what you are doing at Fortune, or thinks it is 'wrong', should get out of journalism fast!"

New: I wrote about the battle between Gov. Wes Moore and the Baltimore Sun. The paper has been investigating Moore's record/past for misstatements/exaggerations. But in an unusual move, the owner of the Sun appears to be directly involved in the reporting process...

www.semafor.com/article/04/0...

From last night's @semafor.com media newsletter : LinkedIn discussed acquiring the newsletter company Beehiiv late last year

In a note to staff this morning shared with me, Business Insider said it is giving out a new quarterly AI Award for best use of AI at the company. Winner gets $400…

NPR CEO Katherine Maher: "The court made clear that the government cannot use funding as a lever to influence or penalize the press, whether as a national news service or a local newsroom."

From the @semafor.com media newsletter: Beehiiv is preparing to launching podcasting tools. The company has been trying to recruit podcasters from Substack, Patreon to come over for the official launch.

www.semafor.com/article/03/2...

From last night's @semafor.com media newsletter: CBS News is building up its investigative team...

From last night's @semafor.com media newsletter: Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner courting the right in the UK, meeting privately earlier this month with Badenoch, Farage, and Boris (among others)

www.semafor.com/article/03/2...

After nearly 100 years, CBS News Radio is being dissolved, per a note from Bari Weiss and Tom Cibrowski to CBS staff today

Per a note to NYT staff this afternoon, T magazine EIC Hanya Yanagihara will be stepping down “to pursue opportunities in theater.”

Exclusive: Why (and how) everyone is cold-calling the president Plus, what happened when Semafor’s Max Tani gave him a ring.

"What is the end goal? Is it to get the president on the phone, make a video about it, and everyone retweets it? Or is to hold powerful people to account. Is it access or truth?”

@schultzny.bsky.social @maxtani.bsky.social www.semafor.com/article/03/1...

One of the most bizarre stories I've seen in a while. THR published this writeup full of typos, errors, and fragments. Some appear to now be fixed but the original version from Apple News is wild...

www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

me, nyt

Got a new gig ...

From last night's @semafor.com media newsletter: At a meeting last week with WaPo staff, Jeff Bezos was asked about the Post's AI-generated podcasts. He suggested that if no one is listening to them, maybe the Post should stop producing them.

I asked Gavin Newsom if he would keep his personal cell phone if he became president
www.semafor.com/article/03/1...

Exclusive: Why (and how) everyone is cold-calling the president Plus, what happened when Semafor’s Max Tani gave him a ring.

I went on a journey to get Trump's personal cell phone number. It took me about five minutes.

My piece on the media's new favorite Trump gimmick, and how the White House feels about the endless stream of "exclusive" 30 second phone interviews w/Trump www.semafor.com/article/03/1...

Talked to Gavin Newsom briefly yesterday about the California AG probe of the Paramount/WBD deal.

Newsom, who noted that he's known David Ellison for years, argued that he was concerned about the likelihood that Paramount would lay off thousands of Hollywood workers.

As we first reported in last night's @semafor.com media newsletter, NOTUS is rebranding/dramatically expanding. In a memo to staff this morning, the organization said it plans to "launch this new version of NOTUS under a new name" and double staff from 50 to 100.

Exclusive: Newsom calls FCC chairman’s threats ‘sick’ The California governor argued people from all political perspectives should be concerned about federal regulators weighing in on news content.

Newsom calls FCC chairman’s threats ‘sick’

www.semafor.com/article/03/1...

Exclusive: Why (and how) everyone is cold-calling the president Plus, what happened when Semafor’s Max Tani gave him a ring.

Why (and how) everyone is cold-calling the president

www.semafor.com/article/03/1...

Grimes has joined LinkedIn...

Exclusive: Politico founder plots new Washington newspaper war A damaged Washington Post could face a big new challenger.

New: Politico founder Robert Allbritton has been discussing significantly expanding his publication NOTUS to fill the void in DC media left by Washington Post cuts. Allbritton has even considered a potential NOTUS name change, though plans are fluid.

www.semafor.com/article/03/0...