Media News Daily: Top Stories for 07/28/2026

Kaitlan Collins Responds to Trump’s WHCD Insults

CNN anchor and chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins addressed President Trump’s insults during and after the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, saying, “It’s really not about me.” Speaking with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, Collins said she tries to keep the focus on the reporting, the questions asked, and the lack of answers rather than turning the exchange into a personal feud. Trump had singled out Collins during the dinner, criticized her award, and later shared an AI-generated image targeting her on Truth Social. CNN defended Collins as a trusted journalist known for strong White House reporting. (Read More) (Newsweek Rating)

Meta Still Leads Social Media Reach

Meta remains the dominant force in social media reach, with Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp each reaching 3 billion monthly active users, according to company milestones. Meta’s broader family of apps reported 3.56 billion total users in Q1 2026, though that marked a slight decline from the previous quarter. Threads has grown to 500 million monthly active users, closing in on X, which is estimated at 550 million. The report also highlights continued growth for Pinterest, Snapchat, Reddit, and LinkedIn, while noting that total user counts are only one measure of where brands and marketers should focus attention. (Read More) (Social Media Today Rating)

Atlantic Seeks Dismissal of Kash Patel Lawsuit

The Atlantic has asked a federal court to dismiss FBI Director Kash Patel’s defamation lawsuit over an article that reported concerns about his job performance, including alleged drinking and unexplained absences. Patel accused the magazine and writer Sarah Fitzpatrick of publishing a malicious and defamatory article. In its motion, The Atlantic argued the lawsuit is meritless and an attack on First Amendment protections for reporting on public officials. Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg said the magazine will vigorously defend its journalism and is also seeking discovery from the FBI and the Justice Department if the case proceeds. (Read More) (Mediaite Rating)