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Correction City: Debra O'Connell, Almin Karamehmedovic and Karen Travers attend the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 25, 2026. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage)
Welcome to the latest edition of Breaker. If this email has been forwarded, you can subscribe here and send your questions and complaints here. If you have a tip, contact the 24/7 Breaker Tip Hotline via text or Signal # 551 655 2343. Anonymity guaranteed!
In tonight’s edition, ABC News has had a week they would rather forget. From a federal court fight with the FCC to issuing corrections on two different editorial screw-ups, tonight we go inside The House of Mouse network to find out where the problems lie.
Also, in a case of “Old Home Week,” The New York Times has parachuted in a number of veteran hands to help out on their business desk as reporters await an announcement from the masthead on who their new editor will be. We also have a scooplet about their new A.I. reporter poached from a rival publication.
Plus, former WBD CEO David Zaslav has found himself with a lot of time and money on his hands since closing the Paramount merger. Tonight we present our short list of ideas and investments to keep Zas on his toes in semi-retirement.
Finally, we have our comprehensive reading, watching, and listening list so you can unplug at the weekend and not miss a media yarn.
Mentioned tonight: Almin Karamehmedovic, Kim Godwin, Ryan Lizza, Olivia Nuzzi, David Zaslav, Mark Thompson, David Ellison, Jeff Zucker, Steven Newhouse, Roger Lynch, Graydon Carter, Ellen Pollock, Michael Hirschorn, David Shipley, Nick Summers, Joe Plambeck, Beth Wilkinson, Aaron Parnas, Katie Zacharia, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Shawn McCreesh, Hillary Clinton, Kara Swisher, Ben Mullin, Bryan Curtis, Aaron Sorkin, Cristina Silva, Debra Kamin, Megan DiTrolio, Rachel Jupp, Michael Savage, River Page, Phillip Picardi, Adam Morgan, Ian Hislop, Decca Aitkenhead, Sophie Gilbert, Megyn Kelly, Marina Hyde, Charlotte Tobitt, Christy Tanner, Liam Quigley, Steve Jackson, Elizabeth Pipko, Khadijah Sharif-Drinkard and more.
Inside ABC News’ Troubles
(Exclusive.) On Monday, ABC News issued an apology to independent journalist Aaron Parnas over a quote they falsely attributed to him on “Good Morning America First Look.”
“In our original reporting on GMA First Look, we mistakenly attributed a social post to Aaron Parnas. The post didn't belong to Mr. Parnas. The story has been corrected. We apologize for the error,” the correction said.
The apology followed Parnas calling the Disney-owned network out on social media over the error. It was the second journalistic blunder in as many weeks at ABC.
Last week ABC removed a story about Donald Trump Jr. with no explanation. The story highlighted Trump Jr’s financial ties to defense companies, including 1789 Capital, a major stakeholder in Anduril.
People familiar with the matter say the piece was published “prematurely,” with Anduril later demanding a series of corrections to the yarn after claiming it “misstated 1789 Capital’s investment in Anduril’s fundraising round.” The piece was eventually edited and republished days later with a missing byline and a correction.
An investigation into that situation is ongoing and may lead to disciplinary action against those involved, according to people familiar with the situation.
It came in the same week as ABC and the F.C.C. went to battle in a federal court over issues of free speech and jurisdiction. Disney was hoping to block the F.C.C. from undertaking an early review of its broadcast licenses.
At a two-hour hearing Tuesday, ABC attorney Beth Wilkinson said the license renewal process was having a chilling effect on the network.
“Our editorial decisions are being affected right now,” Wilkinson told the judge. “We are watching everything that we do.”
ABC News insiders who spoke with Breaker blame the recent errors on …
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The Gray Lady’s Old Flames
(Exclusive.) While New York Times business reporters anxiously await news of who their new boss is following Ellen Pollock’s departure, the cavalry has arrived courtesy of two industry veterans.
Former Washington Post Opinion Editor David Shipley, who rejoined The Gray Lady last year as editor-at-large and helmed the Times 175th special reports, has taken up the role as acting…
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The rest of this newsletter is for paid subscribers.
⁘ Unlock full access to our twice-weekly newsletter and archive.
⁘ As credited in The New York Times, CNBC, Axios, The New York Post, CNN, Bloomberg, The Guardian, and more.