Media News Daily: Top Stories for 05/19/2026

Jury Rejects Elon Musk’s OpenAI Lawsuit

A California federal jury unanimously rejected Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, ruling that Musk waited too long to bring the case under the statute of limitations. Musk had accused OpenAI of abandoning its nonprofit mission and prioritizing profits through its partnership with Microsoft. The billionaire vowed to appeal, arguing the ruling was based on a technicality rather than the merits of the case. The verdict marks a major victory for OpenAI as the company prepares for a possible IPO later this year. Read More (The Hill Rating)

Social Media Firms Settle School Addiction Lawsuit

Snap, YouTube, and TikTok have agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by public schools alleging that social media addiction disrupted student learning and contributed to a youth mental health crisis. The lawsuit claimed schools were forced to spend significant resources addressing the effects of excessive social media use. Meta did not join the settlement and is scheduled to face trial in June as part of a broader wave of more than 1,200 lawsuits filed nationwide against major tech platforms. Read More (MediaPost Rating)

New York Times Sues Pentagon Again Over Press Rules

The New York Times has filed a second lawsuit against the Pentagon, challenging new rules requiring reporters to be escorted while inside the building. The newspaper argues the policy violates constitutional protections for press freedom and limits independent reporting on military operations. Pentagon officials defended the restrictions as necessary for national security. The legal battle follows earlier disputes over media access rules implemented under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Read More (CBS News Rating)