Top of the Ticker: CNN has been found liable by a Florida jury in its defamation case brought by Navy veteran Zachary Young. Young had accused the network of inflicting financial harm as a result of displaying his face onscreen alongside a Nov. 2021 story that discussed a “black market” that smuggled Afghanistan citizens out of the country at high fees before the Taliban took control.
CNN was set to pay $5 million in defamation damages, but has reached an undisclosed settlement with Young. “We remain proud of our journalists and are 100% committed to strong, fearless, and fair-minded reporting at CNN, though we will, of course, take what useful lessons we can from this case,” a CNN spokesperson told TVNewser.
Covering Trump: ABC News announced its White House reporting team that will cover the next four years of the Donald Trump administration. Mary Bruce will continue in her role as chief White House correspondent joined by Rachel Scott, who is being promoted to senior political correspondent reporting on the White House and Congress. They will work with a group of White House correspondents comprising Selina Wang, Karen Travers, and MaryAlice Parks. NBC News and CNN revealed their new White House and Capitol Hill teams earlier this week.
ABC News Announces White House Team Covering President-Elect Donald Trump and the New Administration
https://t.co/Z2cPjzNOVl pic.twitter.com/pdnZ8NQupp— ABC News PR (@ABCNewsPR) January 17, 2025
Family Matters: On Wednesday, NBC News anchor and correspondent Sheinelle Jones broke her silence regarding her extended absence from the Today show. In an Instagram post, Jones—who has not appeared on the morning show since Dec. 18—said that she has been “taking time to deal with a family matter.” The update was shared by her Today colleagues Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin who wished her well.
