Media News Daily: Top Stories for 09/17/2025

Court Rules Jimmy Kimmel’s Use of Santos Videos Was Fair Use

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of ex-Congressman George Santos’s lawsuit against comedian Jimmy Kimmel, ruling that Kimmel’s use of Cameo videos ordered under pseudonyms for a segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live! constituted fair use. Santos argued the videos were misused for mockery in the “Will Santos Say It?” segment. However, the court found the segment transformative, focusing on satirical commentary about Santos’s willingness to say outlandish things for money. The court also rejected Santos’s breach of contract and fraud claims, citing lack of standing and failure to allege any specific harm. Read More (Reason Rating)

Chris Cuomo Urges Tech Giants to Reform Algorithms After Political Violence

In the aftermath of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, NewsNation host Chris Cuomo publicly called on Elon Musk and other tech leaders to adjust social media algorithms to reduce political extremism online. Cuomo emphasized that platforms should stop profiting from divisive content and warned about the real-world consequences of online radicalization. He challenged the notion that extreme content is merely a reflection of user demand, calling for responsible leadership among tech executives. Read More (The Hill Rating)

Karen Attiah Fired from Washington Post Over Social Media Posts on Charlie Kirk’s Death

The Washington Post has fired columnist Karen Attiah, citing violations of its social media policy after her posts about the death of Charlie Kirk. Attiah condemned political violence but also criticized media reactions that she felt demanded “performative mourning” for figures like Kirk. The Post claimed her posts disparaged protected groups and could endanger colleagues, though critics—including the Washington Post Guild—accused the paper of overreach and inconsistency with its stated editorial values. Attiah, who was the paper’s last full-time Black opinion columnist, said the firing violated principles of free speech and journalistic integrity. Read More (Poynter Rating)