Media News Daily: Top Stories for 09/30/2025

YouTube Settles Trump Lawsuit Over Account Ban for $24.5 Million

YouTube has agreed to a $24.5 million settlement in a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump in 2021 after the platform suspended his account following the January 6 Capitol attack. Of the total, $22 million will be directed to the Trust for the National Mall to support the construction of a new White House State Ballroom—a project Trump has promoted as being partially funded by “patriot donors.” The remaining $2.5 million will be distributed among other plaintiffs. YouTube is the last of the three major tech platforms to settle lawsuits from Trump; Meta and X (formerly Twitter) previously agreed to $25 million and $10 million settlements, respectively. (Read More) (The Hill Rating)

Judge Halts Kari Lake-Led Layoffs at Voice of America

A federal judge has blocked mass layoffs planned at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), overseen by acting CEO Kari Lake. The layoffs would have affected 532 employees, including most of Voice of America’s staff. Judge Royce Lamberth criticized the administration’s “disrespect” for the court and warned of potential contempt proceedings. The agency had canceled a 15-year lease in March and faced legal challenges from VOA journalists over the gutting of its operations. The court’s earlier injunction demanded the restoration of programming to fulfill USAGM’s mission. (Read More) (Axios Rating)

RSF Files Fifth ICC Complaint Against Israel for War Crimes Against Journalists in Gaza

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has submitted its fifth complaint to the International Criminal Court (ICC) since October 2023, presenting evidence that the Israeli military has deliberately targeted Palestinian journalists in Gaza. RSF documented at least 30 attacks between May 2024 and August 2025, resulting in 25 deaths and 5 injuries. In many cases, journalists were killed while working or because of their profession. RSF accuses Israeli authorities of legitimizing these attacks through defamatory labeling and lack of evidence. (Read More) (Reporters Without Borders Rating)