Trump vows to pardon January 6 rioters in ‘first hour’ of 2nd term
President-elect Donald Trump promises to pardon Jan. 6 rioters in the “first hour” of his second term. The U.S. Constitution allows the president to grant pardons for federal offenses except in cases of impeachment.
On Jan. 6, 2021, a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol in an effort to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election.
1,583 rioters have been convicted of various crimes. They range from trespassing to more serious offenses like assaulting law enforcement officers, destruction of government property, and conspiracy.
On the campaign trail, Trump called January 6th prisoners “patriots.” He also called what the Justice Department did to them “unfair.”
Then, for his Time Magazine “Person of the Year” interview, the magazine asked Trump if he would pardon all the Jan. 6 defendants.
“I’m going to do case-by-case and if they were non-violent, I think they’ve been greatly punished. And the answer is I will be doing that, yeah, I’m going to look if there’s some that really were out of control,” Trump said.
While Trump did not issue a formal pledge to pardon all those involved, his comments sparked controversy.
Adam Schiff, the Democratic congressman from California, opposed the idea of Trump pardoning individuals convicted in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. He appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Jan. 5.
“If the president goes forward with pardoning vast numbers of people involved in that violence,” Schiff said. “He will begin his new administration the way he ended his last administration and that is by celebrating violence against our democracy.”
The Justice Department also released new numbers on the Jan. 6 cases Monday. They say there are approximately 300 cases in which a defendant has been charged but not yet found guilty or entered a plea.
Additionally, nearly 180 of those cases involved serious charges. They include assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement agents or officers or obstructing those officers during a civil disorder. Both of those charges are felony offenses.
Trump’s swearing-in and second term in office will begin on Jan. 20.
Football legend Herschel Walker tapped as next US ambassador to Bahamas
Herschel Walker, the Georgia football legend, could be on his way south to the Bahamas with a job outside of sports. On Tuesday, Dec. 17, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Walker to be the U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas. He will still need Senate confirmation to take over the post.
Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social, saying in part, “Herschel has spent decades serving as an ambassador to our nation’s youth, our men and women in the military, and athletes at home and abroad.”
During Trumps’ first administration, Walker served as co-chairman of the president’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.
Walker’s playing days are the stuff of legend. He led the Georgia Bulldogs to an undefeated season and a national championship in 1980, and he was the Heisman trophy winner in 1982.
During his professional career he played three seasons in the USFL on a team owned by Trump, then spent more than a decade in the NFL for four different teams.
In 2022 Walker, a Republican, tried his hand at politics. At the urging of Trump, he unsuccessfully ran to unseat Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock. His campaign suffered from a slew of allegations, including claims that he paid for abortions for two former girlfriends despite supporting a national abortion ban. Walker repeatedly denied those claims, calling his accusers liars.
In a 2022 interview with NBC News, Walker acknowledged having given a $700 check to an ex-partner but denied having known it was for an abortion. Trump said at the time that Walker was “being slandered and maligned.”
There is, however, one possible roadblock to the nomination becoming reality. The U.S. Senate has not confirmed an ambassador to the Bahamas in over a decade, despite receiving four different nominees during that time.
WGA calls on Hollywood studios to combat AI plagiarism
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is urging Hollywood studios to take immediate action against the growing issue of AI plagiarism. It’s a call to action that echoes the union’s concerns during the lengthy 2023 writer’s strike.
WGA calls out major studios
The WGA East and West recently sent a letter to CEOs of major studios. They include Netflix, Walt Disney Co., NBCUniversal, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures, Amazon MGM Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery.
In the letter obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, the WGA claims that tech companies like Apple and Meta have “looted” the studios’ intellectual property while studios have failed to act against the violations.
“After this industry has spent decades fighting piracy, it cannot stand idly by while tech companies steal full libraries of content for their own financial gain,” the letter states.
AI models trained on copyrighted material
The letter cites a November article in The Atlantic, which reported that thousands of movies and TV episodes were being used to train AI models.
The WGA accuses studios of allowing “tech companies to plunder entire libraries without permission or compensation,” ultimately harming WGA members.
AI’s growing role in Hollywood
Despite the controversy, AI continues to gain traction in Hollywood. In September, Lionsgate—the studio behind franchises like “John Wick” and “Hunger Games”—announced a partnership with the AI video startup Runway. The technology is marketed as a tool to help filmmakers and creative teams generate cinematic visuals.
Legal victories for creatives
However, artists have recently seen progress in their legal battles against AI. In August, a federal court allowed a copyright infringement claim against AI art generators to move forward.
The case, brought by concept artist Karla Ortiz, centers on how AI firms may have used copyrighted materials to train models like Stable Diffusion. The lawsuit could significantly impact the future use of AI in Hollywood.
Podcasters or journalists: Who will ask questions in Trump’s press briefings?
The White House briefing room, a space where journalists gather daily to ask questions, may soon look different under the incoming Trump administration. Karoline Leavitt, President-elect Trump’s pick for press secretary, suggested this week that the briefing room could be restructured.
Leavitt said the Trump administration has possible plans to make room for more nontraditional media voices, such as podcasters, influencers and internet personalities. She argued the room should reflect the media habits of Americans in 2024, not the 1980s.
“President Trump won this election by utilizing nontraditional, non-legacy media voices outside of the Beltway,” Leavitt told Fox News. “That is clearly who the American people are listening to and digesting their news. I think it would be irresponsible of us not to include some of those voices in the media room.”
The suggestion has sparked pushback from some members of the White House press corps. One anonymous reporter told The Hill that the move could create chaos.
“It would be a total mess. I would expect people would probably boycott the briefings, though that would put certain outlets in a tough spot,” the reporter said.
Traditionally, the briefing room has been reserved for major networks. Typically, mainstream media, NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox, along with wire services like The Associated Press, Reuters and CNN have front-row seats. The New York Times, The Washington Post and NPR, are typically seated in the second row.
The White House communications office determines which reporters are granted credentials to attend briefings.
Leavitt, who would oversee the press briefings, is not the only one hinting at a shakeup.
Donald Trump Jr., the president-elect’s son, suggested the makeup of journalists allowed into the White House could change as well.
“We’ve had the conversation about opening up the press room to independent journalists,” Trump Jr. said during a “Triggered” podcast episode. “If The New York Times has lied, they’re the functioning arm of the Democratic Party. Why not open it up to people with larger viewerships? We’ve had that conversation, they said great idea, Don, and so that may be in the works. That’s going to blow up some heads, so we’ll see.”
‘Risk and uncertainty’ as Syrian rebels oust Assad after decades in power
Syrian rebels oust dictator Bashar al-Assad, who has fled the country after nearly 25 years in power. And the suspected killer of a health care CEO in New York City is still at-large after eluding a massive manhunt for almost a week. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Dec. 9, 2024.
‘Risk and uncertainty’ as Syrian rebels oust Assad after decades in power
It’s the dawn of a new era in Syria. After more than a decade of civil war in the country, President Bashar al-Assad was ousted after rebel groups overtook the capital in a coup on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Now Syria and its people are left with the question of what comes next as countries around the world, including the United States, react to the changing landscape.
Syrians could be seen celebrating in the streets as word spread that Assad had fled the country. State media reported the president and his family landed in Russia Sunday evening and Assad has been granted political asylum in Moscow.
The toppled leader, who had been in power since 2000 and whose family had ruled for five decades, was forced to vacate after rebel forces quickly captured city after city leading to them taking control of Damascus.
Since the civil war broke out in the wake of the pro-democracy Arab Spring demonstrations of 2011, Assad’s forces have been accused of brutal severe human rights violations, including using chemical weapons against their people. They’ve been held responsible for the deaths of more than 5,000 people and the displacement of millions of others.
The rebels who led to Assad’s ouster were headed by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Jolani called the coup “a victory for the whole Islamic nation.”
Jolani’s group used to be linked to Al Qaeda. Though it has cut those ties, the U.S. still designates it a terrorist group.
President Joe Biden spoke from the White House Sunday, calling the end of Assad’s regime a “fundamental act of justice.” Biden added the U.S. will support Syria’s neighbors Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq should any threat arise from this period of transition.
Biden referred to this as a time of “risk and uncertainty.”
“We will remain vigilante. Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses,” Biden said. “We’ve taken note of statements by the leaders of these rebel groups in recent days and they’re saying the right things now. But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words but their actions.”
Biden said Assad’s downfall came in part due to allies Iran, Russia and Hezbollah being weaker today than when Biden began his term.
President-elect Donald Trump issued a statement on his Truth Social platform Sunday, saying Iran and Russia are in weakened states right now and calling for the end of the war in Ukraine. However, in a post on Saturday, Dec. 7, Trump said the U.S. should not get involved with Syria, saying, “This is not our fight. Let it play out.”
Iran’s president said it is up to the Syrian people to decide the future of their country.
Amid the time of transition in Syria, the U.S. showed it will continue its efforts against ISIS in the region. U.S. Central Command said it launched a series of airstrikes Sunday targeting ISIS camps and leaders in central Syria, confirming 75 “targets” had been hit. U.S. officials said it will not allow ISIS to take advantage of the current situation in Syria.
Trump promises to pardon Jan. 6 rioters on first day in office
In his first network TV interview since winning the election, President-elect Trump touched on some of his biggest campaign promises and his plans to start following through with them immediately when he takes office in January.
In an interview with NBC News’ Kristen Welker for Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” Trump said, “A lot of it will have to do with economics. A lot’s gonna do with energy. A lot’s having to do with the border. We’re gonna immediately strengthen up the border and do a real job.”
Trump also doubled down on his promise to pardon Americans jailed for their role in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, saying they had no other choice than to plead guilty. Department of Justice records show more than 1,500 people have been arrested or charged in connection with that attack and nearly 900 have pleaded guilty.
While Trump said he will not tell his nominees for FBI director and attorney general to go after his political rivals, he did share his opinion on what should happen to lawmakers who were on the House’s select committee to investigate January 6.
“Everybody on that committee, for what they did, honestly, they should go to jail,” he said.
After that interview, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY), who was on the committee, issued a statement saying, “Donald Trump’s suggestion that members of congress who later investigated his illegal and unconstitutional actions should be jailed is a continuation of his assault on the rule of law and the foundations of our republic.”
Trump did reiterate multiple times during Sunday’s interview he has no plans to go after political rivals, but as we’ve reported here at Straight Arrow News, President Biden is considering preemptive pardons for Cheney and others who were part of the House Jan. 6 investigation, as well as Dr. Anthony Fauci and Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Police release new images of suspect in NYC deadly shooting
The manhunt for the killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson enters a new week.
Over the weekend, the NYPD released new images of the apparent suspect. Police identify the man in the pictures as “a person of interest” wanted for questioning for the fatal shooting outside a Hilton hotel Wednesday, Dec. 4.
One image shows the masked man in the back of a taxi. Another shows him walking on the sidewalk outside a vehicle. Police are hoping these images, along with others released last week, will help lead to the gunman.
Authorities reportedly traveled to Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 7, and have been searching a lake near Central Park. On Friday night, Dec. 6, reports said investigators found a backpack believed to belong to the shooter. Inside they found two items: a Tommy Hilfiger jacket and Monopoly money.
Jay-Z accused of raping 13-year-old girl alongside Diddy
Music mogul Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has been accused of raping a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs. In a civil suit filed Sunday, the anonymous accuser claimed the assault happened in 2000 at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party.
The federal lawsuit was originally filed in October only listing Combs as a defendant, but it was refiled Sunday to include Carter.
Jay-Z, who is married to Beyonce, denied the accusation and said in a statement directed at the attorney who filed the suit, “These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!!”
Combs’ lawyer also responded, calling the suit a “shameless” publicity stunt.
In September, federal prosecutors in New York criminally charged Combs with racketeering, sex trafficking and other offenses. He is in jail awaiting trial, which is scheduled to start May 5.
Kennedy Center honors Coppola, Grateful Dead, The Apollo
President Biden was among those in attendance — a tradition President Trump did not continue during his first term in office, saying he did not want to be a political distraction as some attendees had threatened to boycott his appearance. As Trump gets ready to start his second term in office, there are questions about whether federal funding for the arts might be on the chopping block.
Reports: Juan Soto, Mets agree on largest contract in pro sports history
Former New York Yankees star outfielder Juan Soto is staying in the Big Apple, but moving leagues in reportedly the largest deal in professional sports history.
But should Soto decide not to opt out, his pay will reportedly go up an extra $4 million a year for the remainder of the deal — meaning in the end, this could be an over $800 million deal.
The agreement also reportedly includes a $75 million signing bonus. Soto’s deal surpasses the record set just last year by Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract.
Note: The headline has been corrected to Assad. A previous version had the incorrect name.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the multimillion dollar deal with NBC
For millions of Americans, it’s tradition. They gather in front of the TV on Thanksgiving morning and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. For more than 70 years, NBC has broadcast the family event.
This year, about 30 million Americans are expected to tune in to see the marching bands, floats and balloons, including Snoopy, Minnie Mouse and Spiderman. Companies pay Macy’s for a place in the parade in exchange for advertising and publicity.
The parade also means big bucks when it comes to broadcasting. The Wall Street Journal reports that NBC and Macy’s are now negotiating a new contract that will take effect next year and keep the parade on NBC and its streaming service, Peacock, for the next decade. NBC is on track to pay $60 million a year for those rights. That’s a big jump from the $20 million it pays now.
Many people have heard about the high costs associated with airing a commercial during the Super Bowl each year. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is similar.
According to advertising and research data firm Guideline, a TV spot’s price is about $900,000 this year. Last year, NBC pulled in $52 million in advertising. NBC pays out roughly $7 million in costs to broadcast the parade.
Analysts say all that money is indicative of the value of live programming to media companies in an era when many viewers are flocking to streaming.
How media highlighted or omitted illegal status of Laken Riley murderer
A judge ruled Wednesday, Nov. 20, that Jose Ibarra is guilty of murdering Georgia college student Laken Riley. The case gained national attention due to the brutal nature of the crime and Ibarra’s status as an undocumented migrant from Venezuela. Ibarra was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Key moments from the trial included DNA evidence, including traces found under Riley’s fingernails and a jacket with her hair linked to Ibarra. Prosecutors argued that Ibarra attacked Riley while she was jogging on the University of Georgia campus in February, dragging her into the woods, beating her with a rock and leaving her partially naked and covered in leaves.
Ibarra’s defense claimed the evidence was circumstantial and suggested his brothers were responsible for the crime. During the trial, a recorded prison phone call was played where Ibarra’s wife questioned why a person would not call 911 if they saw someone dying.
Despite the defense’s claims, the judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to convict Ibarra. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Ibarra crossed into the United States through El Paso, Texas, in September 2022. His illegal status became a focal point in media coverage, adding to the national debate over immigration laws, especially during an election year.
Some media outlets chose to emphasize Ibarra’s legal status in their headlines, while others did not.
News outlets with a left-leaning bias, such as NBC and CBS, omitted this detail in the headline, while others like ABC and CNN referred to him by his name or as “suspect.”
Right-leaning outlets, including the New York Post and Fox News, led with Ibarra’s status as an undocumented immigrant. The Wall Street Journal, rated by media watchdog group AllSides as having no political bias, included his migrant status in its top line.
Across all outlets, regardless of political bias, Ibarra was described as an undocumented immigrant or as having entered the country illegally. The importance of highlighting this detail varied, with NBC mentioning it in the ninth paragraph and Fox News in the first sentence.
As of Monday, Nov. 18, 471 people had written to the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services regarding Smith’s hearing, NBC News reported. Only six of the letters were in favor of her release.
Smith’s ex-husband and the father of the children will also take part in the hearing and is expected to argue against letting her out, as is the former prosecutor who oversaw this case.
For Smith to be released, a simple majority of the seven-person parole board must approve it.
Comcast to spin off its NBCUniversal cable channels
Digital assets including Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes will also be part of the new standalone company. In its press release, Comcast is referring to the company as “SpinCo.”
Comcast’s NBCUniversal division is keeping cable network Bravo, the NBC broadcast network, its Peacock streaming service, and all other assets, like NBC Sports and the Universal theme parks.
“This transaction positions both SpinCo and NBCUniversal to play offense in a changing media landscape,” said Mike Cavanagh, President of Comcast. “Taken together, the entirety of NBCUniversal will be on a new growth trajectory, fueled by our world-class content, technology, IP, properties and talent – all working in concert with each other as an integrated media company.”
SpinCo will be led by Mark Lazarus, current Chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group, who will serve as the company’s Chief Executive Officer. Anand Kini, current Chief Financial Officer of NBCUniversal and EVP of Corporate Strategy at Comcast, will be its Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer.
Cavanagh previewed this move during an earnings call on Oct. 31.
“We are now exploring whether creating a new well-capitalized company, owned by our shareholders and comprised of our strong portfolio of cable networks, would position them to take advantage of opportunities in the changing media landscape and create value for our shareholders,” Cavanagh said. “We are not ready to talk about any specifics yet, but we’ll be back to you as and when we reach firm conclusions.”
Comcast said over the last twelve months, which ended Sept. 30, 2024, SpinCo generated approximately $7 billion in revenue. Comcast said it is targeting to complete the spinoff in approximately one year.
Warner Bros. Discovery, NBA settle with new deal; ‘Inside the NBA’ to ABC: Reports
Warner Brothers Discovery is back in the game when it comes to the NBA. Though the company will no longer be airing games on its TNT network after this season, The Wall Street Journal and other outlets report the two sides have come to an agreement to keep NBA programming in the Warner Bros. family.
The reports said the new deal will settle Warner Brothers Discovery’s breach of contract lawsuit, which it filed against the league after the NBA signed rights deals with Disney’s ESPN, Comcast’s NBC, and Amazon.
This 11-year agreement will see NBA content remain on Warner Bros. Discovery’s digital platforms Bleacher Report and House of Highlights. It also gives Warner Brothers Discovery the right to distribute games overseas in places such as northern Europe and parts of Latin America, excluding Mexico and Brazil.
Reports said Warner Brothers Discovery also struck a deal with Disney to license its popular TNT show “Inside the NBA,” featuring former-players-turned-commentators Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley starting next season. The show will air throughout the season on ABC and ESPN.
The deals are expected to be officially announced this week.