By Jessie Schuster
Edited by Elissa D. Hecker
Entertainment
Paramount Extends Deadline for Warner Bros. Discovery Shareholders to Back Hostile Bid; WBD Says Base has Already Snubbed “Inferior Scheme”
Paramount extended its deadline for Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders to back its bid in attempts to give the media giant more time to oppose Warner Bros’ proposed merger with Netflix.
https://deadline.com/2026/01/paramount-extends-deadline-warner-bros-discovery-netflix-1236692082/
Matthew McConaughey Trademarks ‘Alright, Alright, Alright!” and Other IP as Legal Protections Against ‘AI Misuse’
As part of a proactive attempt to protect his voice and likeness from unauthorized use by AI, Matthew McConaughey has secured eight trademarks covering some of his iconic catchphrases.
https://variety.com/2026/biz/news/matthew-mcconaughey-trademarks-alright-alright-alright-ai-misuse-1236631214/
U.S. Suspends Immigrant Visa Applications for 75 Countries
The Trump administration has indefinitely suspended the processing of immigrant visa applications from 75 countries, affecting artists seeking residency in the U.S.
https://musiciansunion.org.uk/news/us-suspends-immigrant-visa-applications-for-75-countries
Bandcamp Announces Ban of AI Music
The Bandcamp streaming service has announced that it will ban music that’s largely generated by AI from its platform and prohibit using AI tools to impersonate artists or styles, aiming to ensure the music hosted on the platform is created by humans.
https://pitchfork.com/news/bandcamp-announces-ban-on-ai-music/
Bruce Springsteen Tells ICE to ‘Get the F-k Out of Minneapolis’ at Surprise NJ Show Appearance
NJ icon Bruce Springsteen made a surprise appearance in Red Bank, where he was not shy about criticizing ICE’s presence in Minneapolis, as outrage has spread across the country over the shooting of Renee Good.
https://nypost.com/2026/01/19/entertainment/bruce-springsteen-tells-ice-to-get-the-f-k-out-of-minneapolis-at-surprise-nj-show-appearance/
Rep. Maxwell Frost Assaulted at Sundance Film Festival
Florida Democratic Representative Maxwell Frost recounts being punched by a man at a Sundance Film Festival party in Park City. Police say the attacker made racist remarks before being arrested and charged with assault.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/25/maxwell-frost-sundance-florida/88347985007/
Arts
Philadelphia Sues After Slavery Exhibits Were Taken Down From President’s House Site
Philadelphia is suing the federal government after slavery exhibits documenting the lives of nine people enslaved by George Washington were removed from the President’s House site in Independence National Historical Park, arguing that the removal violates a cooperative agreement and erases history.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/philadelphia-sues-slavery-exhibits-taken-presidents-house-site-rcna255535
Metropolitan Opera House Announces Layoffs and Salary Cuts Amid Financial Woes
The Metropolitan Opera House in New York is cutting staff, reducing executive salaries, and trimming its performance programs in attempts to stabilize its finances amid delayed funding.
https://abc7ny.com/post/metropolitan-opera-house-announces-layoffs-salary-cuts-amid-financial-woes-ny-times-reports/18440938/
Sports
Ryan Wedding, Former Olympian Turned FBI Most Wanted Fugitive, Arrested
Former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding was arrested in Mexico and faces federal charges in the U.S. after becoming one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted fugitives accused of leading a transnational drug trafficking ring.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/ryan-wedding-former-olympian-turned-fbi-wanted-fugitive/story?id=129488890
Washington Post Cancels On-Site Coverage for Milan-Cortina Games
The Washington Post has unexpectedly canceled its on-site coverage plans for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games. The news broke after the Post informed staff that it will not send reporters to the event just weeks before the Olympic Games via email.
https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/01/25/washington-post-cancels-onsite-coverage-for-milancortina-games/
NCAA Approves Uniform Patches, Opening Up New Revenue Streams
The NCAA has announced a new revenue stream that could generate millions for athletic departments by allowing up to two commercial patches on team uniforms starting this August.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/47707398/ncaa-approves-uniform-patches-opening-new-revenue-streams
The Match That Could Change Football Forever
The OFC Pro League match between Bula FC and Vanuatu United could reshape soccer in Oceania by pioneering a professional, cross-border league.
https://observer.co.uk/news/sport/article/ofc-bula-vanuatu-the-match-that-could-change-football-for-ever
Japan’s Prime Minister Avoids Challenging Sumo’s Gendered Ring Ban
Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has avoided challenging the long-standing ban that bars women from entering the sumo wrestling ring.
https://unseen-japan.com/takaichi-sumo-ring-women-prohibition/
Media & Technology
FBI Can’t Examine Devices it Took from Washington Post Reporter for Now, Judge Rules
A federal judge ruled that the FBI cannot examine the devices it seized from a Washington Post reporter during a leak investigation, temporarily blocking the bureau from accessing the reporter’s electronics.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fbi-cannot-examine-devices-took-washington-post-reporter-judge-rules-rcna255286
Five Things to Know About the TikTok Deal
The U.S. and China have approved a deal that transfers control of TikTok’s U.S. operations to a new majority-American owned entity to keep the app running and avoid a national ban, raising questions about data security, algorithm changes, and what the shift means for users and creators.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/22/5-things-to-know-about-the-tiktok-deal-00743316
FTC Says it Will Appeal Meta Antitrust Decision
The FTC announced that it will appeal a November ruling that sided with Meta and rejected the FTC’s antitrust case accusing Meta of illegally maintaining a monopoly through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.
https://apnews.com/article/ftc-meta-appeal-antitrust-752463c7783ba14b00b686fe0c933f88
Snapchat’s Parent Company Settles Lawsuit on Social Media Addiction Allegations
Snap Inc. has settled a high-profile lawsuit accusing the platform of fostering social media addiction and harming users’ mental health.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/snapchats-parent-company-settles-lawsuit-on-social-media-addiction-allegations/
Grok Could Have Produced Three Million Sexual Deepfakes in 11 Days, Says Estimate
A study found that Grok AI has generated an estimated 3M sexualized deepfakes in just 11 days, including a disturbing amount that depict minors. The revelation has sparked global outrage and regulatory scrutiny over non-consensual AI content.
https://www.politico.eu/article/grok-x-3-million-sexual-deepfake-11-days/
White House Shares an Altered Photo of Arrested Minnesota Protester Nekima Levy Armstrong
The White House shared a digitally altered photo on its official X account showing Minnesota civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong appearing to cry messily during her arrest at an anti-ICE protest, even though the original image showed her with a neutral expression.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/white-house-shares-altered-photo-arrested-minnesota-protester-nekima-l-rcna255595
The Social Media Minefield Continues: Drew Barrymore Slapped with Copyright Infringement Suit Over Song Used in Instagram Post
Drew Barrymore has been sued for copyright infringement for using an uncleared song in an Instagram post promoting her Flower Beauty brand.
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2026/01/18/drew-barrymore-copyright-lawsuit-instagram/
Eightfold AI Sued for Alleged Covert Candidate Ranking
A proposed class-action lawsuit alleges that AI hiring platform Eightfold AI secretly compiles and scores detailed candidate profiles for employers without telling job seekers, claiming this violates U.S. and California consumer reporting laws by producing “reports” without required disclosures or consent.
https://www.hrdive.com/news/eightfold-ai-lawsuit-job-candidate-consumer-reports/810332/
The Trump Administration Admits Even More Ways DOGE Accessed Sensitive Personal Data
New court filings reveal that members of the Trump administration’s DOGE accessed and potentially shared sensitive Social Security data without proper authorization, raising serious privacy and legal concerns about how Americans’ personal information was handled.
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/23/nx-s1-5684185/doge-data-social-security-privacy
General News
Trump Can’t Deport Foreign Students Based on Speech, Judge Rules
The Trump administration is facing legal and political blowback over its aggressive targeting of foreign college students’ visas, particularly alleging that some were revoked or enforcement actions taken because of their political speech, raising serious constitutional concerns about how international students are treated in the U.S.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/23/trump-foreign-students-rubio-free-speech/88317502007/
House Passes Sprawling Spending Package As Democrats Split Over ICE Funding
The House passed a $1.2 trillion spending package that would fund most of the federal government through the fiscal year, but the vote highlighted deep divisions among Democrats over including funding for ICE, with most opposing that portion, while a handful broke with their party to help secure passage.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-passes-sprawling-spending-package-democrats-split-ice-funding-rcna255273
‘Heartbroken, Horrified’: Democrats Outraged Over Minneapolis Shooting
The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis has left Democrats horrified, with many calling for a full investigation and greater accountability in response to the horrific killing.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/24/democrats-minneapolis-shooting-reaction
U.S. Withdraws from World Health Organization
After 78 years of membership, the U.S. has formally completed its withdrawal from the WHO, ending its funding and participation.
https://nypost.com/2026/01/23/health/us-completes-withdrawal-from-world-health-organization/
Judge Denies Lawmaker Request for ‘Independent Monitor’ to Oversee Epstein Files Release
Lawmakers have requested that a federal judge appoint a special master to oversee and expedite the release of the Epstein files, but the DOJ now argues that the judge lacks this authority.
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/01/21/congress/epstein-files-release-request-00738707
Nine Democrats Vote to Hold Bill Clinton in Contempt of Congress for Evading Epstein Testimony
Nine Democrats joined Republicans on the House Oversight Committee in voting to hold former President Clinton in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify under oath in the panel’s Epstein investigation.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/21/9-democrats-vote-to-hold-bill-clinton-in-contempt-of-congress-for-evading-epstein-testimony-00739940
Trump Administration Announces Expansion of ‘Mexico City’ Aid Restrictions to Include DEI and Gender
At the annual March for Life rally, the Trump administration announced an expansion of the Mexico City Policy, broadening its ban on U.S. foreign aid for groups tied to abortion services to also include organizations that promote gender identity issues and DEI.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-vance-march-for-life-mexico-city-policy-abortion-dei-gender-rcna255639
Five Arrested in Connection With Shooting of Indiana Judge and His Wife
Five people have been arrested in connection with the shooting of Tippecanoe County Judge Steven Meyer and his wife, Kimberly, at their home following an extensive multi-agency investigation that found at least one suspect was scheduled to appear in the judge’s courtroom days after the attack.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/5-arrested-connection-shooting-indiana-judge-wife-rcna255555