Media News Daily: Top Stories for 08/18/2026

Trump Dismisses USS Abraham Lincoln Report as “Fake”

President Donald Trump rejected reports of poor conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, calling them “fake” during an Oval Office exchange with a CNN reporter. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied claims of food, hygiene, and mental-health problems during the carrier’s extended Middle East deployment. Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said issues involving food and hot water had been raised months earlier and addressed. Family members of service members criticized the administration’s response as dismissive, while the Lincoln is set to be replaced by the USS George Washington. (Read More) (The Hill Rating)

AI Firms Fund Attorneys General While Facing Investigations

Major AI companies have donated more than $2 million since 2025 to political organizations supporting Democratic and Republican state attorneys general, even as those officials investigate or sue the industry over child safety, deepfakes, deceptive practices, and privacy concerns. Google, Meta, Amazon, Anthropic, and xAI are among the companies cited in IRS disclosures reviewed by Sludge. The donations do not prove any enforcement decisions were influenced, but they highlight the growing tension between AI companies and state attorneys general, who are increasingly central to regulating AI as Congress moves more slowly. (Read More) (News Facts Network Rating)

Scott Jennings May Face Defamation Action Over Edited Clips

Conservative commentator Scott Jennings may face a defamation lawsuit from progressive Twitch streamer Hasan Piker over edited video clips Jennings shared online. Piker told Status that his legal team was preparing action against Jennings and Salem Media, which syndicates Jennings’ radio show. Jennings posted clips claiming Piker had said “the USA should resume lynchings against black people,” but a Snopes review found the clips were heavily edited and that Piker was sarcastically mimicking others’ views. Jennings, a former Mitch McConnell staffer and frequent CNN commentator, did not immediately comment. (Read More) (News From The States Rating)