By Haley Lyons
Edited by Elissa D. Hecker
Entertainment
Judge Temporarily Pauses Paramount-Warner Bros. Deal
A federal judge temporarily blocked Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery while the court considers a lawsuit by 12 states alleging that the merger violates antitrust laws.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/business/media/paramount-warner-bros-deal.html
Paramount Agrees to Delay Warner Bros. Merger for Months
Paramount agreed to freeze its $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery until June 2027 at the latest while a federal judge considers lawsuits from 12 state attorneys general seeking to block a deal that would unite two major movie studios, HBO Max and Paramount+, and networks including CBS and CNN.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/business/media/paramount-warner-bros-merger-delayed.html
Sony Music Fires Off Supersized Infringement Lawsuit Against Udio - Doubling Down on Fair Use Arguments, DMCA Claims, and More
Sony Music filed a new copyright infringement lawsuit against Udio alleging the unauthorized use of more than 30,000 recordings and arguing that the company used copyrighted music to train its AI models without permission.
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2026/07/20/sony-music-udio-infringement-lawsuit-second/
Influencer Tate Brothers, in Federal Custody, Watch Their Powerful Backers Go Quiet
Andrew and Tristan Tate, manosphere influencers, were arrested in Miami on a British extradition request, and many of their former allies on the American right have publicly distanced themselves as they face new criminal charges in Britain. The Trump administration said it does not plan to intervene in the extradition process, while the brothers remain in federal custody and continue to deny the allegations.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/us/tate-brothers-trump-tucker-carlson.html
Arts
G.O.P Lawmakers Join White House in Challenging a Smithsonian Museum
Republican lawmakers questioned the director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History over a White House report accusing the museum of promoting radical activist ideology and undermining faith in American institutions. The museum’s director rejected the report’s characterization, saying it did not fairly or accurately reflect the museum’s work.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/arts/design/trump-republicans-smithsonian-american-history.html
Trump orders warnings to be placed at ‘inaccurate’ Smithsonian history museum.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing warning signs and temporary exhibits to be placed outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, arguing that the museum presents an inaccurate portrayal of American history and should be revised to reflect his administration’s findings.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07/24/us/trump-news#smithsonian-signs-trump-executive-order
Judges Reject Biden’s Effort to Keep Memoir Recordings Private
A federal appeals court rejected former President Joe Biden’s effort to block the Justice Department from releasing recordings and transcripts of interviews conducted for his 2017 memoir, finding he had not met the requirements for an injunction.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/us/politics/biden-recordings.html
Texas Book List: See What Students Will Be Required to Read
Texas approved a statewide reading list requiring public school students in kindergarten through 12th grade to read classics, excerpts from the Bible, and works focused on American history.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/us/texas-schools-required-reading-books.html
Man Who Attacked Salman Rushdie Faces Terrorism Charges in Federal Trial
Hadi Matar, a man convicted of attempted murder for stabbing Salman Rushdie in 2022, is now on trial on federal terrorism charges. Prosecutors argue that he carried out the attack in service of Hezbollah and in response to Iran’s fatwa against Rushdie, while his lawyers say he acted on his own, not under the control of a terrorist organization.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/nyregion/salman-rushdie-hadi-matar-terror-trial.html
The Debate Over Ancient Iranian Jewelry Worn by Zendaya
Zendaya’s decision to wear earrings made from ancient Iranian gold discs sparked debate among archaeologists and cultural preservation experts, who raised concerns about repurposing ancient artifacts into fashion.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/style/zendaya-odyssey-earrings-jewelry.html
The Rise of Fashion Slop
Fashion brands are increasingly relying on algorithms and artificial intelligence to design clothing, contributing to the decline of creative, designer-led fashion and prioritizing money over art and craft.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/opinion/fashion-slop-boring.html
The Artist and Filmmaker Helping Trump Reshape Washington
Matthew Taylor, a senior adviser at the National Endowment for the Humanities, has become a key player in advancing Trump’s efforts to reshape Washington’s cultural institutions, consulting on the White House’s report criticizing the Smithsonian and helping oversee projects like the National Garden of American Heroes.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/arts/design/matthew-taylor-artist-filmmaker-trump-washington.html
Europe Cancels Venice Biennale Funding Over Russia’s Return
The European Commission canceled a $2.3 million grant to the Venice Biennale after Russia’s return to the art exhibition, saying its participation was inconsistent with European democratic values.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/arts/design/european-commission-venice-biennale-russia.html
Sports
Tennis is the first major women’s sports league to require genetic testing
The Women’s Tennis Association became the first major women’s sports league to require genetic sex testing, introducing SRY gene screening for female athletes as part of its new eligibility policy.
https://19thnews.org/2026/07/tennis-women-genetic-sex-testing/
Newsletter, Image, Likeness Vol. 194: The Argument Everyone Opposing The Protect College Sports Act Is Making
The newsletter contends that opposition from the SEC, Big Ten, lawmakers, and athlete advocates centers on concerns that the bill provides sweeping legal protections to the NCAA without adequate oversight, leaving uncertainty over whether federal college sports legislation will pass this Congress.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/newsletter-image-likeness-vol-194-argument-everyone-opposing-heitner-rcnye/
What are the SEC’s breakaway choices? From going nuclear to the mild option
The SEC is considering options ranging from forming its own football playoff and making independent rules to pursuing greater self-governance within the NCAA, as conference leaders express frustration with the current college sports system.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7461727/2026/07/21/sec-breakaway-options-greg-sankey/
Once the ‘Worldwide Leader in Sports,’ ESPN’s latest layoffs cement its new identity
ESPN’s latest layoffs underscore its post-2013 shift away from the “Worldwide Leader in Sports” identity, as the network increasingly rewards high-profile personalities over the longtime employees who helped build its brand.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7464865/2026/07/23/espn-layoffs-jimmy-pitaro-david-lloyd/
Media/Technology
U.S. Sought Phone Records of Times Journalists and Their Relatives
The Trump administration sought the phone and text message records of several New York Times journalists and their relatives as part of its effort to identify the confidential sources behind reporting on the security capabilities of Trump’s new Air Force One.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/business/media/new-york-times-subpoenas-phone-records.html
U.S. Withdraws Subpoenas Issued to New York Times Journalists
The Justice Department withdrew subpoenas seeking phone records and grand jury testimony from New York Times journalists after a federal judge questioned the government's handling of the subpoenas and compliance with legal procedures.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/business/media/new-york-times-subpoenas-withdraw.html
In Rush to Track Down Leaks, Justice Dept. Reversed Its Own Process
A federal judge’s questioning prompted the Justice Department to withdraw subpoenas issued to New York Times reporters, raising questions about whether prosecutors followed longstanding procedures in a leak investigation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/us/politics/doj-new-york-times-subpoenas-leaks.html
Bellwether Lawsuit Against Meta Over Social Media Addiction Is Dropped
A Florida teenager dropped his bellwether lawsuit accusing Meta of creating addictive social media features, providing the company with a reprieve in one of several major cases alleging its platforms contributed to youth addiction and mental health harms.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/technology/meta-social-media-lawsuit.html
OpenAI Says Its A.I. Models Went Rogue and Attacked a Digital Library
OpenAI disclosed that two of its artificial intelligence models escaped a testing sandbox and successfully hacked into Hugging Face while attempting to complete a cybersecurity evaluation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/technology/openai-attack-hugging-face.html
Google Is Building an A.I. Fence Around the Internet It Once Championed
As Google incorporates more artificial intelligence, users are spending more time in AI Mode and leaving Google less often, leading to declines in search traffic. Critics say the shift threatens the open web, while Google maintains that its A.I. search features continue to send billions of clicks to websites each week.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/technology/google-ai-open-web.html
The Fake Influencers Selling Wellness on Your Feed
A New York Times investigation found hundreds of A.I.-generated doctors, healers, and wellness influencers on social media promoting supplements with misleading health claims, often targeting people with promises of medical benefits.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/technology/100000011001849/ai-influencers-health-supplements-fake-ads.html
What Happened When Meta Used A.I. to Ban Accounts on Facebook and Instagram
The increasing use of artificial intelligence by Meta to decide which accounts violated its content rules led to the mistaken suspension or deletion of some Facebook and Instagram accounts. Users often struggled to reach anyone at the company to appeal those decisions.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/technology/meta-ai-facebook-instagram-accounts.html
Suno hack reveals AI music training data scraped from YouTube, Deezer, and Genius
A reported security breach at Suno revealed source code suggesting the company trained its AI music models using content scraped from platforms including YouTube Music, Deezer, and Genius, potentially adding weight to ongoing copyright lawsuits over its training practices.
https://routenote.com/blog/suno-hack-reveals-ai-music-training-data-scraped-from-youtube-deezer-and-genius/
‘Is This Supposed to Be Fun?’ Trump Hurls Insults at Correspondents’ Dinner
Trump’s speech at the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner mixed attacks on journalists and political opponents with occasional jokes, underscoring the increasingly strained relationship between his administration and the press.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/25/us/politics/trump-white-house-correspondents-dinner-speech.html
Stocks and the Economy Are Increasingly Relying on the A.I. Boom
The artificial intelligence boom is driving record stock market gains while fueling investment in semiconductor factories, data centers, power plants, and other infrastructure across the economy. Economists warn that if investor confidence in artificial intelligence falters, the resulting decline in spending and investment could increase the risk of a recession.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/business/economy/stocks-economy-ai.html
ChatGPT Led to a Man’s Near-Fatal Health Crisis, Lawsuit Claims
Scott Withers, a Florida pastor, sued OpenAI, alleging that ChatGPT provided dangerous medical advice that discouraged him from seeking treatment and delayed care for a life-threatening pulmonary embolism. The lawsuit claims the chatbot offered diagnoses and treatment recommendations, failed to reliably activate its safety features, and contributed to his near-fatal health crisis.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/well/openai-chatgpt-health-lawsuit.html
Trump’s Plan for Science: More Money for A.I., Less for Universities
The Trump administration proposed overhauling federal scientific research by shifting funding away from universities toward individual researchers and private companies while prioritizing artificial intelligence, robotics, and nuclear energy. Democrats argued that the administration has weakened scientific research through staff cuts, funding freezes, and reduced support for research programs and universities.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/us/politics/trump-research-funding-artificial-intelligence.html
As A.I. Backlash Grows, Trump Says Firms Should Pay More for Electricity
Over 200 companies and politicians signed a voluntary pledge backed by the Trump administration to have data centers pay a greater share of electricity infrastructure costs to prevent artificial intelligence from driving up consumers’ electric bills.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/climate/trump-ai-data-centers.html
France Joins a Global Move Toward Restricting Social Media for Children
France passed a law banning access to social media for children under 15, becoming the first European country to enact such a restriction as governments respond to concerns about the effects of social media on minors.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/world/europe/france-social-media-ban.html
Google Hit With $1 Billion Fine for Abusing Its Power in Europe
The European Union fined Google $1 Billion for abusing its dominance as a search engine by unfairly boosting its own services in search results and using restrictions in Google Play that harmed competition.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/business/google-eu-fine-search-competition.html
General News
Small Business Sue Just Hours After Trump’s Latest Tariffs
Two small businesses sued the Trump administration over its new tariffs on imports from more than 80 countries, arguing that the administration misused Section 301 of the Trade Act to recreate a tariff system that courts had already ruled illegal.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/business/trump-tariffs-small-businesses-lawsuit.html
Trump Holds Off on Major Escalation Against Iran as Advisors Raise Concerns
Trump has delayed plans to escalate military action against Iran after advisers warned that expanded hostilities could dangerously deplete U.S. air defense munitions, while the administration continues to consider diplomacy and economic pressure.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/25/us/politics/trump-iran-military.html
Pentagon Withheld Dozens of U.S. Military Injuries in Iran War
The Pentagon failed to disclose three Iranian attacks in Jordan that injured dozens of U.S. service members and damaged several helicopters before a separate attack killed two U.S. soldiers. Later, the Pentagon said through a social media post that the number of U.S. military casualties from Iranian attacks since July 7 had risen to nearly 100.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/us/politics/troops-injured-jordan-iran-war.html?login=google&auth=login-google
New U.S. Tariffs Aimed at Over 80 Countries Go Into Effect
The Trump administration imposed new tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on imports from more than 80 countries under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, citing foreign governments’ failure to adequately address forced labor while continuing its broader effort to reshape U.S. trade policy.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/business/economy/trump-tariffs.html
New Tariffs As Old Ones Expire Latest on Trump’s Trade War
The Trump administration replaced its expired global 10% tariff with new Section 301 tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on imports from more than 80 countries.
https://www.nytimes.com/article/trump-tariffs-trade.html
Iranian Threat to Air Force Once Prompted Plane Swap During NATO Summit
Trump switched from the Qatari-donated Air Force One to the older presidential aircraft after the Secret Service identified a credible threat from Iranian proxy forces, raising renewed questions about the security capabilities of the donated jet.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/us/politics/trump-plane-iran-threat.html
Trump Administration Admits Canceling Grants to States That Did Not Vote for Him
Court filings revealed that the Trump administration canceled more than $7.5 billion in clean energy grants based solely on whether recipient states backed Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, rather than on programmatic or performance-based factors.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/business/trump-state-grants-canceled.html
Measles Cases Hit New Record in U.S., as Vaccination Rates Wane
The United States has recorded a record 2,318 confirmed measles cases in 2026, the highest since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000, as vaccination rates have declined.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/well/measles-record-united-states-numbers.html
Trump Officials Withhold $1 Billion in Medicaid Funds From 2 States
The Trump administration withheld an additional $1 billion in Medicaid funds from California and Minnesota, alleging fraudulent activity in their public health insurance programs and requiring the states to provide documentation supporting certain claims before the funding is released.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/us/politics/trump-administration-medicaid-california-minnesota-fraud.html
Judge Tosses Justice Department Challenge to Minnesota Immigration Laws
A federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s challenge to Minnesota laws that limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, ruling that the policies do not interfere with the federal government’s authority.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/us/minnesota-immigration-lawsuit.html
Democrats Demand Information From Law Firm Over Its Deal With Trump
Top congressional Democrats demanded documents from the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom regarding its agreement with the Trump administration, signaling plans to investigate similar deals if Democrats regain power after the midterm elections.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/us/politics/democrats-demand-information-from-law-firm-over-its-deal-with-trump.html
Trump Attacks Nation’s Top Scientific Body Over Climate Chapter in Manual
Trump criticized the National Academies of Sciences over a climate science chapter in a reference manual for federal judges and ordered officials to scrutinize the federal funding that supported the publication.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/climate/climate-change-manual-national-academy-science.html
1,700 H.I.V. Treatment Sites Closed After Trump Aid Cuts, a Study Finds
Studies found that the Trump administration’s cuts to PEPFAR led to the closure of at least 1,700 H.I.V. treatment sites and reductions in prevention and treatment services.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/health/hiv-trump-cuts-pepfar.html
U.S. Attorney Chosen by Judges Challenges Trump’s Power to Fire Him
Roger Rogoff, a judicially appointed U.S. attorney in Washington State, filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s authority to fire him, arguing that he cannot be removed until a Senate-confirmed successor is appointed.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/us/roger-rogoff-doj-lawsuit.html
Government Overhauls Teen Pregnancy Program to Focus on Marriage and Starting Families
The Trump administration canceled dozens of federal teen pregnancy prevention grants and introduced new criteria requiring programs to emphasize abstinence, marriage, and starting families. The changes have prompted lawsuits from several grant recipients, who argue the new requirements conflict with the purpose of the federally mandated program.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/us/politics/teen-pregnancy-prevention-trump.html
Oil Firms Knew for Decades of Methane’s Danger to Planet, Documents Suggest
A report by the Center for Climate Integrity cites decades of industry documents indicating that oil and gas companies knew their operations were releasing more methane than they publicly reported. The report also alleges that industry groups promoted natural gas as a clean fuel despite internal research raising concerns about methane emissions.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/climate/methane-natural-gas-leaks-flaring.html
Monkeys Understand Shapes in Almost the Same Way as Humans
A new study found that monkeys understand the abstract qualities of geometric shapes in much the same way as humans, suggesting that geometric intuition evolved long before humans.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/science/monkeys-cognition-shapes-geometry.html
New York Faces Half a Trillion in Storm Prevention Costs, Report Finds
A new report found that New York could spend $519 billion on climate-related infrastructure by 2050 as stronger and more frequent storms increase the need for flood protection, sewer upgrades, and other resilience projects.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/nyregion/new-york-storm-damage-repair-cost-climate-change.html
Veteran Who Attacked Federal Building Was Targeting ICE, Authorities Say
Law enforcement officials said an Army veteran set a fire, ignited fireworks and waved an air rifle outside a federal building in Lower Manhattan while targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement. One civilian and two officers were injured before he was taken into custody.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/nyregion/nyc-explosion-federal-plaza-manhattan.html
Governor Resists U.S. Demand for Names of Noncitizens on Voting Rolls
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill rejected the Justice Department’s demand to provide the personal information of thousands of noncitizens who were mistakenly added to the state’s voter rolls, arguing they were registered through a software error and that the federal government could weaponize the data.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/nyregion/new-jersey-noncitizen-voter-justice-department.html
Intimidation Charges Dismissed Against Louisiana Attorney General
A special prosecutor dismissed felony charges against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill over letters warning New Orleans officials they could be removed from office for defying state law, ending a case tied to a broader dispute over the city’s judicial system.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/us/louisiana-indicment-liz-murrill-new-orleans.html
Trump Administration Drops Subpoena Demanding List of Jews From Penn
The Trump administration withdrew its subpoena seeking the names of Jewish people and related campus groups at the University of Pennsylvania, abandoning its effort to compel the university to disclose the information while its antisemitism investigation remains ongoing.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/us/eeoc-subpoena-penn-jewish-list.html
End of the Line for Penn Station? A Trump Official Calls for a New Name.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy identified renaming Penn Station as a Trump administration priority as part of the station’s redevelopment, although he did not propose a new name.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/nyregion/penn-station-name-trump.html
Judge Strips Protections For Imperiled Lizard at Trump Administration’s Behest
A federal judge removed endangered species protections for the dune’s sagebrush lizard at the Trump administration’s request, reversing a 2024 Biden-era listing and clearing the way for a new review of the species’ status.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/climate/dunes-sagebrush-lizard-trump.html
Employers Fear Labor Shortage as Many Immigrants Lose Protected Status
Employers are warning of labor shortages as the Trump administration moves to end Temporary Protected Status for about one million immigrants, leaving many workers in construction and health care at risk of losing their legal work authorization and facing deportation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/26/us/trump-tps-labor-shortage.html
Donald Trump Jr.’s Investment Firm Posts Staggering Returns of 200%
Donald Trump Jr.’s investment firm, 1789 Capital, reported returns of roughly 200% after investing in artificial intelligence and defense technology companies that have rapidly increased in value.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/business/donald-trump-jr-1789-capital.html
Model Scout Who Connected Women to Epstein Is Found Dead in France
Model scout Daniel Siad, who introduced Jeffrey Epstein to young women and was expected to be questioned by French prosecutors, was found dead in France as authorities continued investigating his alleged connections to Epstein.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/world/europe/epstein-daniel-siad-dead-model-scout.html
Chief Prosecutor of International Court is Removed After Sexual Misconduct Charge
The International Criminal Court removed Chief Prosecutor Karim A. A. Khan after a 20-month investigation found he committed serious misconduct and breached his duty by sexually harassing a subordinate.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/world/europe/karim-khan-icc.html