Media News Daily: Top Stories for 02/15/2026

CBS News Considering New Round of Layoffs, Could Affect at Least 15% of Staff

CBS News is considering a new round of layoffs that could impact at least 15% of its workforce, according to Variety. The potential cuts come as editor in chief Bari Weiss continues restructuring efforts under Paramount Skydance, with discussions reportedly ongoing and implementation possible between March and May. Approximately 11 producers from “CBS Evening News” have already accepted buyouts. Weiss has indicated a strategic shift away from “commodity” news toward differentiated, streaming-focused content designed to attract audiences to Paramount+, while maintaining legacy programs like “60 Minutes” and “CBS Sunday Morning,” which still draw strong ratings and advertising revenue. Read More (Variety Rating)

Anthropic’s Claude AI Reportedly Used in U.S. Venezuela Operation

Anthropic’s Claude AI model was reportedly used by the U.S. military during an operation targeting former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, according to reporting cited by LiveMint. The operation, conducted with support from Palantir Technologies, allegedly involved capturing Maduro and bombing sites in Caracas. Anthropic declined to confirm the model’s use in the classified mission, reiterating that its policies prohibit facilitating violence, weapons development, or surveillance abuses. The report also notes the Pentagon contract with Anthropic is valued at up to $200 million, while CEO Dario Amodei has previously expressed concerns about AI’s role in lethal applications. Read More (LiveMint Rating)

Pentagon Threatens to Cut Anthropic Over AI Safeguards Dispute

The Pentagon is considering severing its relationship with Anthropic amid disputes over the company’s refusal to allow its AI models to be used for “all lawful purposes.” Defense officials are reportedly pushing AI developers to remove restrictions for military use in weapons development, intelligence collection, and battlefield operations, while Anthropic maintains firm limits on fully autonomous weapons and mass domestic surveillance. Tensions intensified following questions about Claude’s involvement in the Maduro operation, and while other firms such as OpenAI, Google, and xAI have shown greater flexibility in Pentagon negotiations, officials acknowledge replacing Claude in classified environments could prove difficult due to its specialized integration. Read More (Axios Rating)