Media News Daily: Top Stories for 09/04/2026

Fox News Abruptly Parts Ways With Maria Bartiromo

Fox News has parted ways with longtime anchor Maria Bartiromo after more than 12 years at the network, immediately removing her name from programs including “Mornings with Maria.” NPR reports that Bartiromo’s close ties to President Donald Trump helped boost her profile and ratings but also tied her to Fox’s promotion of false claims about the 2020 election. She was named in major defamation lawsuits brought by Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic, and her programs played a prominent role in Fox’s legal troubles over election fraud claims. According to NPR, her departure followed an internal episode in which she allegedly forwarded network information about coverage plans to a Trump associate. (Read More) (NPR Rating)

MS NOW Adds Crooked Media’s “Lovett or Leave It”

MS NOW is expanding its partnership with Crooked Media by adding “Lovett or Leave It” to its Saturday lineup beginning September 12. The limited series, hosted by former Obama speechwriter and “Pod Save America” co-host Jon Lovett, will air at 11 p.m. ET following “Crooked on MS NOW” in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections. The show blends political commentary, comedy, interviews, and live-audience segments, and has generated more than 200 million listens and views across podcast and YouTube platforms. MS NOW says its Crooked Media programming has helped bring new and younger viewers to the network. (Read More) (Deadline Rating)

National Trust for Local News Expands Into Vermont

The National Trust for Local News is acquiring the Vermont Community Newspaper Group, adding five weekly newspapers serving more than a dozen northern Vermont communities to its nonprofit portfolio. The acquisition expands the Trust’s operations to a fourth state, joining newspaper holdings in Colorado, Georgia, and Maine. The Vermont owners said the sale is intended to preserve and strengthen community journalism, while the Trust plans to retain the full VTCNG staff and invest in coverage and partnerships. Nieman Lab notes that the Trust relies partly on philanthropy but earns most of its revenue through subscriptions, advertising, printing, and events, though its state subsidiaries are not yet profitable. (Read More) (Nieman Lab Rating)