263 thoughts on “NEWS & VIEWS ARCHIVE”

  1. Goodbye, Dolly. R.I.P.

    Jason Remington • August 25, 2026

    Singer-songwriter-actress Dolly Parton, whose glittering country music stardom was matched by her pop fame and popular parallel careers in film and TV, died today, Aug. 25. She was 80 years old, with her family not releasing a cause of death, but saying she “died peacefully today in Nashville.”

  2. Shelley Fabares dead at 82

    Jason Remington • August 23, 2026

    Shelley Fabares has died at the age of 82.

    Fabares first enjoyed success on The Donna Reed Show, where she played daughter Mary. She also had a brief career as a singer. Later, she starred in the sitcom Coach as Christine Armstrong. She also appeared in three movies with Elvis Presley.

    The Coach alum’s family — including her husband, M*A*S*H star Mike Farrell — confirmed her death in a statement shared with PEOPLE. They said Fabares died on Saturday, Aug. 22, in Los Angeles surrounded by her loved ones.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt7UYKepRLU

  3. Columbia House has announced it is shutting down

    Jason Remington • August 18, 2026

    A notice that appeared on its website stated: “After 9/15/26, The Columbia House will no longer be accepting new orders. You can still purchase books with your credit card or credits as normal.” This was first widely reported around August 17th (spotted by YouTube channel Channel 33 RPM and covered by outlets including Cord Cutters News, Pitchfork, NPR, Stereogum, and others). Customer service reportedly confirmed the news at the time.

    Columbia House originated in 1955 as the Columbia Record Club (tied to Columbia Records). It became famous for introductory deals like “12 CDs for a penny” (with ongoing purchase commitments and negative-option billing practices that drew criticism).
    It peaked in the 1990s with millions of members and high revenue before declining due to digital downloads, streaming, big-box retail, and piracy.

    Music sales ended around 2009–2010; it shifted to DVDs/Blu-rays and later operated on a much smaller scale. It survived a 2015 bankruptcy (parent company Filmed Entertainment) under new ownership/licensing (Edge Line Ventures licensing the name from Sony Music Entertainment, which still holds the trademark).
    By 2026 it offered only a very limited selection of mostly older DVD/Blu-ray titles.

    Note on the current status: CBC News reported today (August 18, 2026), that the closure notice had been removed from the website, and the outlet contacted the company for clarification on its future. As of the latest available information, the site (columbiahouse.com) continues to list a small catalog of titles, but multiple independent reports and the original announcement indicate an orderly wind-down with no new orders after September 15, 2026. Existing obligations are expected to be fulfilled.

    In short, after 71 years, the iconic mail-order club is ending its active sales operations. Check the official website directly or contact customer service for the most up-to-date details on any remaining orders or account matters, as the situation has seen some last-minute adjustments to public messaging.

  4. A good sport

    Reader Submission • August 18, 2026

    Bob Herman, Stat’s business of healthcare reporter, got an accidental email from UnitedHealth, a company he covers.

  5. ABC files First Amendment lawsuit against FCC

    Reader Submission • August 18, 2026

    ABC on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission, arguing the agency has violated its First Amendment rights by retaliating against the broadcaster for its editorial decisions.

    Why it matters: It’s a major escalation of ABC’s fight with the FCC, which it argues is motivated by broader efforts to silence a free and independent press.

    Zoom in: The lawsuit, filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, argues that in ordering an accelerated review of ABC’s local station broadcast licenses, the administration “has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts.”

    It points to statements made by FCC chairman Brendan Carr that suggest the administration has not been shy about openly coercing ABC into changing its programming.
    It cites an incident last month in which Carr said ABC’s decision not to broadcast the president’s Oval Office address was likely to be raised during its early review of ABC’s broadcast licenses.
    The network is seeking an injunction, asking the court for a temporary restraining order to stop the FCC from moving forward with its early license-renewal proceedings.
    Between the lines: In recent months, ABC has fired back at the FCC, and has pointed to the thousands of public comments filed to the agency in defense of the broadcaster as evidence that Carr is committed to politics over the public’s consensus on the broadcaster’s First Amendment rights.

    It’s also slammed the agency for targeting late-night and daytime talk shows, like ABC’s “The View,” for news interviews with political candidates.
    Zoom out: ABC’s lawsuit and its parent company Disney’s aggressive defense of its First Amendment rights mark a notable departure from its previous effort to acquiesce to political pressure from the president a few years ago.

    The big picture: ABC is the latest in a string of broadcasters to file lawsuits against the administration for targeting media companies with regulatory efforts that they argue are designed to silence critical coverage.

    The Associated Press last year sued three Trump administration officials for blocking its reporters’ access to events like Oval Office meetings and Air Force One press pools, citing a violation of its First Amendment rights. That case is ongoing.
    NPR and PBS both sued the Trump administration last year arguing its executive order to cut federal funding for public broadcasters violated their First Amendment rights.
    The New York Times has also filed federal suits against his administration. A federal judge earlier this year ruled the Pentagon’s restrictions on journalists were a First Amendment violation
    — AXIOS

  7. Stephen A. Smith Spurned & Says Award An Invitation To Fight Back

    Brookbank • August 17, 2026

    ESPN host and political commentator Stephen A. Smith received the National Association of Black Journalists’ (NABJ) “Thumbs Down” award at its Salute to Excellence gala in Atlanta on Saturday night, and he quickly vowed a strong public response.

    The award was announced during the NABJ’s annual Convention and Career Fair. NABJ described it as recognizing “especially insensitive, racist or stereotypical reporting, commentary… or practices at odds with the goals of NABJ.” For Smith (identified as a sports analyst and political commentator), the citation stated that he “has established a recurring public pattern of disparaging commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports, and media.”

    The group said such commentary “reinforces harmful narratives, undermines the fair and respectful representation of Black women in public discourse, and stands in direct conflict with NABJ’s longstanding commitment to accurate, responsible, and inclusive portrayals of Black communities.”

    NABJ President Errin Haines framed the awards more broadly as a call for accountability, noting that the organization would confront systems and people who make journalists’ jobs harder, even when it involves friends or partners. Other 2026 “Thumbs Down” recipients included FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, CBS News, The Washington Post, and media executive DuJuan McCoy (Circle City Broadcasting/WISH-TV).

    Smith, who has previously appeared at and praised NABJ events (including live First Take tapings in prior years), responded later Saturday on X (formerly Twitter). He wrote: “This is the epitome of Christmas arriving early. The @NABJ wants to call folks out, fine! You had your turn, now mine is coming. And make no mistake…..,I’m coming. Let’s see who REALLY deserves a Thumbs Down award when it comes to the Black Community, after I say my peace! Remember @NABJ, you asked for it. I’ve shut my mouth for years. Now y’all started something.”

    The move marks a notable break in the relationship between Smith—one of the most prominent Black voices in sports and political media—and the NABJ. Coverage notes prior points of tension, including Smith’s public criticism of figures such as Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), as well as comments involving Kamala Harris and Michelle Obama. NABJ did not detail specific comments in the award citation itself.

    As of the latest reports (early Monday), Smith has not yet delivered a full follow-up response beyond the social media posts, though he framed the award as the start of a broader public dispute. Reactions online and in media have been polarized.

    Reporting: thegrio.com, awfulannouncing.com, latimes.com, thewrap.com

  8. Accusations Put Gutman In Bad Light

    Brookbank • August 17, 2026

    CBS News chief correspondent Matt Gutman has been named in a wrongful-termination lawsuit filed by former ABC News field producer Samira Said, who alleges he made inappropriate sexualized remarks during two work assignments while both were at ABC.

    Said filed the complaint on August 14, in Los Angeles Superior Court. It names Gutman, American Broadcasting Companies (ABC), The Walt Disney Company, and former Los Angeles bureau chief David Herndon (plus Doe defendants). Claims include discrimination, hostile work environment harassment, retaliation, failure to provide reasonable accommodation, wrongful termination, and intentional infliction of emotional distress under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), among others. She seeks compensatory and punitive damages plus attorneys’ fees (amount exceeds $35,000; exact figure unspecified).

    Said worked as a field producer in ABC’s Los Angeles bureau from about May 2021 until her termination in March 2025. Gutman (who left ABC for CBS in early 2026) is accused of contributing to a hostile work environment based on sex/gender through two specific incidents while she was on an otherwise all-male team with him and two crew members:

    While waiting in a public queue on assignment, Gutman allegedly initiated a discussion rating a female correspondent’s appearance by assigning a numerical score based on physical attributes. The male crew joined in assessing the woman’s body and looks; they tried to involve Said, who declined and called the conversation inappropriate.

    On another occasion (a press day related to a film release), the two disagreed about whether the team should leave the work site. In front of multiple coworkers, Gutman allegedly made a sexualized insinuation that Said must have an after-hours date in the city and that this explained her reluctance to relocate. The suit calls the remark demeaning and said it reduced her professional judgment to a sexualized stereotype.

    These form part of broader claims against ABC/Disney involving alleged mishandling of medical accommodations (e.g., after COVID and covering the 2022 Uvalde school shooting, plus a later workplace injury during the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires coverage), discrimination, demotion/retaliation, and eventual termination on March 5, 2025.

    Gutman, 48, is a longtime journalist (previously ABC’s chief national correspondent) who joined CBS News as chief correspondent in January 2026 (based in Los Angeles; also lead for 48 Hours and contributor to 60 Minutes). He has won Emmy, Peabody, and other awards and authored The Boys in the Cave.

    CBS News and a representative for Gutman have declined to comment (or stated they had not seen the complaint at the time of some reports). ABC has not publicly commented in the coverage reviewed. The allegations are unproven in court; Gutman has not been accused of criminal conduct. Said’s attorneys have said they hope the suit leads to “meaningful change” in workplaces.

    Reporting from outlets including USA Today, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, TheWrap, TMZ, and others that reviewed the complaint. The case is in its early stages.

  9. Nexstar begins replacing TEGNA board

    Brookbank • August 17, 2026

    (August 6) U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley that said the composition of the Board contravened a hold separate order issued as part of a broader antitrust lawsuit.

    This week: Four of five current or former Nexstar executives appointed to TEGNA’s Board of Directors have resigned, and the fifth will do so when a new Board is created, the company said in a court filing.

  10. ABC Leans Liberal Says Terry Moran

    Brookbank • August 17, 2026

    Former ABC News correspondent Terry Moran admitted on Friday that his longtime network was liberal and struggled to understand President Donald Trump’s supporters because its newsroom lacked political viewpoint diversity.

    Co-host of “The Fifth Column” podcast Michael C. Moynihan asked Moran directly, “Is ABC News a liberal institution?”

    “Yes. But I think, I think like a lot of mainstream media, it’s because of lack of viewpoint diversity,” Moran said. “That was one of the problems in covering Trump. Nobody had voted for him.”

    FOX News

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