A federal appeals court panel upheld the dismissal of Donald Trump’s $475 million defamation lawsuit against CNN. The court found Trump’s claims regarding CNN’s use of “the Big Lie” to be “unpersuasive” and determined that the term did not constitute a false statement of fact. The judges, including those nominated by Trump, stated that the term was susceptible to multiple interpretations and that CNN’s use of it, therefore, did not support a defamation claim. This decision is the latest in a series of failed lawsuits by Trump against media outlets reporting on his claims.
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The BBC has declared it will defend itself against President Trump’s threatened lawsuit, dismissing his claims of reputational damage and potential damages up to $5 billion. The broadcaster’s legal response centers on the argument that the Panorama program, “Trump: A Second Chance?,” did not air in the United States due to licensing restrictions, thus preventing any harm to his reputation within the US. Furthermore, the BBC implemented geo-blocking on its iPlayer platform, ensuring the program was inaccessible to American viewers.
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President Donald Trump is seeking to overturn the jury’s verdict in a civil lawsuit where he was found liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll and later defaming her. His legal team argues that the $5 million verdict was based on “indefensible evidentiary rulings,” allowing “inflammatory propensity evidence.” Trump’s lawyers claim the trial judge warped federal evidence rules to support Carroll’s claims, which they call a “politically motivated hoax.” The appeal to the Supreme Court follows a denial by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, who upheld the original verdict.
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The case involved a California prison psychologist who received a threat from an inmate and subsequently lost her job after raising safety concerns. A jury awarded Dr. Beth Fischgrund $16.8 million due to the employer’s alleged failure to protect her, firing her, and defaming her by spreading rumors. The inmate, who reportedly threatened the psychologist, was not removed from the unit, and Fischgrund was subsequently let go and faced reputational damage. The court determined the state failed to address the risk properly, resulting in severe emotional damage to the psychologist.
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The Supreme Court has declined to hear Alex Jones’ appeal of the $1.4 billion judgment against him, stemming from his false claims that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax. Jones, who was found liable for defaming and inflicting emotional distress upon the victims’ families, argued that he should have been granted a trial before a judge issued a default judgment against him. The court’s rejection means the massive judgment, awarded by a Connecticut jury in 2022, will stand, alongside a nearly $50 million judgment from a Texas court.
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The Supreme Court has upheld the $1.4 billion judgment against Alex Jones for his false claims that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax. Jones had appealed, arguing a trial should have been held to assess the allegations by the victims’ families; however, the justices did not comment on their order. Jones filed for bankruptcy and is also appealing a separate $49 million judgment in Texas. Currently, the liquidation of Infowars’ assets is underway, with efforts to sell off assets moving to a Texas state court.
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A federal judge dismissed Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group regarding Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” ruling the lyrics were opinion within the context of a rap battle. Judge Jeannette A. Vargas stated that the song’s accusations, though serious, would not be perceived as factual by a reasonable listener due to the heated and hyperbolic nature of the feud. The lawsuit, filed in January, alleged the track, which explicitly branded Drake as a pedophile, contained false and defamatory allegations, but the court sided with UMG, leading Drake’s legal team to announce plans to appeal the decision. The song, recognized for its success, was the culmination of a rap battle that included escalating personal insults.
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A judge has dismissed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s defamation lawsuit against blogger David Vickery due to insufficient evidence. The case stemmed from Vickery’s reporting on Kennedy’s appearance at an anti-lockdown rally in Berlin, which was attended by groups with neo-Nazi affiliations. The court found Kennedy’s team failed to refute the core premise of Vickery’s report and dismissed other claims as misrepresentations of events. The judge stated that the evidence did not support the claim that the blogger defamed Kennedy.
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The FBI cuts ties with the Anti-Defamation League, FBI director says. This news is certainly a significant development, and it’s sparked a lot of reactions, to say the least. It really does feel like a dramatic turn of events, especially considering the historical partnership between the two organizations. The question of why this happened is on everyone’s mind, and it seems like there’s a complex mix of factors at play.
It appears the situation has been brewing for a while, and the fallout from the ADL’s actions, particularly their handling of certain controversies, contributed to the shift. The ADL’s initial response to Elon Musk’s actions and the subsequent online commentary seems to have been a major sticking point.… Continue reading
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan ruled that MyPillow founder Mike Lindell defamed Smartmatic by making false claims that its voting machines rigged the 2020 presidential election. The judge, however, deferred the question of whether Lindell acted with “actual malice,” which is required for Smartmatic to collect damages. Lindell repeatedly stated in documentaries and media appearances that the machines were rigged, specifically in Los Angeles County where Smartmatic was used. Smartmatic is now seeking substantial damages from Lindell, as it aims to hold him accountable for spreading lies.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood