Media News Daily: Top Stories for 12/18/2025

Salem Radio Network Names New Hosts for Conservative Midday Slot

The Salem Radio Network has announced that Scott Jennings and Alex Marlow will take over the noon–3pm ET weekday slot formerly held by the late Charlie Kirk. Marlow, editor-in-chief at Breitbart News, will anchor the noon–1pm hour, followed by Jennings from 1–3pm. This time block, once dominated by Rush Limbaugh, remains crucial in conservative talk radio. Jennings, known for defending Donald Trump on CNN, and Marlow, a prominent MAGA media figure, are expected to bring sizable audiences. Salem anticipates the new lineup will air on over 300 stations with more than 1.2 million weekly listeners. The “Charlie Kirk Show” will continue as a podcast, now co-hosted by Turning Point USA’s Andrew Kolvet and Blake Neff. Read More (Axios Rating)

Rubio Defends Susie Wiles Amid Vanity Fair Profile Controversy

Senator Marco Rubio has condemned a recent Vanity Fair profile on White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, claiming it distorted her remarks and manipulated images. The article, based on 11 interviews with Wiles, depicted her as candidly assessing Trump’s cabinet and leadership style. Wiles dismissed the piece as a “disingenuously framed hit piece.” Rubio and others in Trump’s orbit swiftly defended her, praising her loyalty and effectiveness. Vanity Fair writer Chris Whipple, however, stands by the reporting, insisting it was fully contextualized and factual. The piece has drawn significant attention for offering a rare glimpse into Wiles’s influential yet largely private role. Read More (The Hill Rating)

Meta Pushes Back Against Mike Huckabee’s CBD Endorsement Lawsuit

Meta Platforms is urging a federal appeals court to uphold a lower court ruling dismissing former Governor Mike Huckabee’s lawsuit over unauthorized CBD ads using his likeness. Huckabee alleged Meta allowed ads to run featuring fake endorsements, including one mimicking a Fox News site. A Delaware judge ruled that Huckabee failed to show Meta knew the ads were unauthorized. Huckabee argued that Meta’s long-standing awareness of similar celebrity complaints should count as recklessness. Meta countered that Arkansas’s publicity law only applies when a platform has direct knowledge of misuse. Read More (MediaPost Rating)