Media News Daily: Top Stories for 12/29/2025

Judge Blocks Government From Detaining Hate Speech Researcher

A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the U.S. government from detaining Imran Ahmed, founder and CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate. The order, issued on December 25 by Judge Vernon Broderick in New York, prevents the federal government from arresting or deporting Ahmed, who is a British national with permanent U.S. residency. Ahmed was targeted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who accused him and others of being part of the “global censorship-industrial complex.” The Center has been critical of online hate speech and misinformation, producing the 2021 “Disinformation Dozen” report and other critiques of platforms like X (formerly Twitter). X had previously sued the Center unsuccessfully. (Read More) (MediaPost Rating)

YouTuber Nick Shirley Spurs Federal Response With Fraud Allegations in Minnesota

Nick Shirley, a conservative YouTuber with over 1 million subscribers, has drawn national attention with viral videos alleging widespread fraud in Minnesota’s child care programs. His footage, including a segment outside a seemingly abandoned daycare misspelled as a “Learing Center,” has been widely circulated in pro-MAGA circles and reposted by figures like Vice President JD Vance. The FBI acknowledged Shirley’s reports and confirmed ongoing investigations into large-scale fraud, with over $9 billion potentially misappropriated across state-run programs. Notably, 82 of the 92 defendants charged so far are Somali American. This marks another instance where Shirley’s social media content has seemingly influenced federal law enforcement actions. (Read More) (Axios Rating)

29 Attorneys General Defend Virginia Social Media Restrictions for Teens

A coalition of 29 attorneys general, led by Florida, is backing a Virginia law limiting social media use by minors, against opposition from major tech companies. The law, SB 854, requires platforms to verify users’ ages and restricts under-16s to one hour of daily use without parental consent. Set to take effect January 31, 2026, the law is being challenged by NetChoice—an industry group representing firms like Google and Meta—on First Amendment grounds. The state and its allies argue the law is narrowly tailored to protect children’s mental health without censoring content. A court hearing is scheduled for January 16. (Read More) (MediaPost Rating)