Media News Daily: Top Stories for 12/31/2025

ICE Accuses Politico Reporter of Inciting Violence Over Minnesota Fraud Post

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) accused Politico’s senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein of “inciting violence against federal agents” following a post on X referencing “stand-your-ground” laws in the context of a federal daycare fraud investigation in Minnesota. Gerstein clarified that his comment warned of potential risk, not advocacy for violence. ICE’s remarks come amid a Department of Homeland Security probe into widespread fraud in Minnesota’s social services, where over $18 billion may have been misused. Read More – The Hill Rating

Disney Fined $10 Million for Violating Children’s Privacy on YouTube

Disney will pay $10 million to settle claims it violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by improperly collecting data from children on YouTube without parental consent. The Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission accused Disney of failing to flag child-directed content and targeting ads illegally. The settlement includes strict compliance measures and prohibits future COPPA violations on YouTube. Disney stated the violations were limited to third-party platforms, not Disney-owned services. Read More – Washington Examiner Rating

CBS Faces Backlash After 60 Minutes Censors Torture Report Amid Corporate Pressure

CBS News is under scrutiny after Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss pulled a scheduled 60 Minutes segment about migrants being deported to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, citing the need for “more legwork” to present a “genuine debate.” The move has been widely criticized as politically motivated, with context pointing to CBS’s recent ownership shift under David Ellison and mounting pressure from the Trump administration. Despite internal vetting and promotions, the story was withheld just before broadcast, raising concerns about editorial independence at CBS News. Read More – Mother Jones Rating