Media News Daily: Top Stories for 02/23/2026

This page hosts daily news stories about the media, social media, and the journalism industry. Get the latest Hirings and Firings, Media Transactions, Controversies, Censorship Issues, and more.

Trump Warns Netflix Over Board Member Susan Rice

President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that Netflix would “pay the consequences” if it does not remove board member Susan Rice, who has served on the company’s board since 2018. Trump’s remarks followed Rice’s appearance on the “Stay Tuned with Preet” podcast, hosted by Preet Bharara, where she warned corporations that align with Trump could face accountability if Democrats regain power. Trump criticized Rice as a “political hack” and reposted commentary from activist Laura Loomer alleging conflicts surrounding Netflix’s reported acquisition of Warner Bros. The deal would require federal regulatory approval, and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos reportedly met with Trump prior to its announcement. Read More (TechCrunch Rating)

Publishers Block Wayback Machine Over AI Scraping Fears

At least three major outlets, The New York Times, The Guardian, and Reddit, have blocked the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine from accessing their content, citing concerns that AI companies could scrape archived material without authorization. Representatives from the organizations said the archive’s open access could enable AI firms to extract intellectual property through its API. In response, Mark Graham, director of the Wayback Machine, defended the nonprofit’s mission, stating it employs safeguards against abuse and is working with publishers to address concerns while preserving public access to digital history. Read More (MediaPost Rating)

C-SPAN Denies Viral Caller Was President Trump

C-SPAN clarified that a caller identifying himself as “John Barron” during a Friday broadcast was not President Trump, following widespread online speculation. The network stated the call originated from a central Virginia phone number and occurred while Trump was attending a public White House meeting. The caller, who commented after the Supreme Court struck down several of Trump’s tariffs, used rhetoric reminiscent of the president’s style. “John Barron” was previously reported by The Washington Post as a pseudonym Trump used in the 1980s when speaking to reporters. Read More (The Hill Rating)