Media News Daily: Top Stories for 02/17/2026

W.Va. Senate Passes Bill Banning Media Monitoring Services

The West Virginia Senate approved Senate Bill 531, the “First Amendment Preservation Act,” in a 30-2 vote. It prohibits state agencies from contracting with media outlets or firms that use bias-rating or fact-checking services like MBFC for ad placements. Supporters, including Senate Judiciary Chair Tom Willis and Sen. Mike Azinger, say it prevents viewpoint discrimination and prevents public funds from going to organizations like NewsGuard (MBFC does not accept public funds). The bill requires bidders to certify they don’t use such monitoring. Critics, including Senate leaders Woelfel and Garcia, argue it might violate the First Amendment and target a specific company. Read More (Parkersburg News and Sentinel Rating)

X Announces AI Bot Crackdown Amid Ongoing Spam Concerns

X, formerly Twitter, announced efforts to fight bots and spam, including better detection of AI bot profiles and scraping. Head of Product Nikita Bier said accounts showing non-human interactions may face suspension, even in experiments, though legitimate bots might eventually be supported via the API. This follows Elon Musk’s longstanding concerns about bot prevalence, with Musk claiming over 20% of activity was bots before his purchase, though external reports question this and past crackdowns’ effectiveness. The company states the new measures aim to cut crypto spam and boost platform integrity. Read More (Social Media Today Rating)

Anderson Cooper Departing CBS’s 60 Minutes After Nearly Two Decades

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper announced he is stepping down from his role as a correspondent for CBS’s 60 Minutes after nearly 20 years, citing the challenge of balancing responsibilities at both CBS and CNN alongside family life. Cooper joined the investigative program in 2007 while continuing to host “Anderson Cooper 360°” on CNN. He will remain a host at CNN following his departure from CBS. His exit comes amid broader changes at the network under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, who has overseen restructuring efforts and internal debate over editorial direction. Read More (Washington Examiner Rating)