Media News Daily: Top Stories for 05/10/2026

Fox News Wins Additional Discovery in Smartmatic Defamation Case

A New York appeals court granted Fox News additional discovery in Smartmatic’s $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit, allowing the network to examine how federal criminal proceedings against Smartmatic and its executives may have affected the voting technology company’s business. Fox argues that Smartmatic’s alleged financial harm may stem from its own legal troubles rather than 2020 election-related broadcasts. The court cited the Justice Department’s superseding indictment, which added Smartmatic as a defendant in a foreign bribery and money laundering case, as an unusual and unanticipated development that could affect the lawsuit. (Read More) (Washington Examiner Rating)

SPLC Pleads Not Guilty in Trump Administration Fraud Case

The Southern Poverty Law Center pleaded not guilty after the Justice Department charged the civil rights organization with fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The Trump administration alleges the SPLC misled donors by using an informant program that sent money to leaders or organizers of extremist groups under investigation. The SPLC denies the allegations, arguing the program helped prevent violence, stop criminal activity, and provide useful intelligence to law enforcement. Court filings from the organization say the government knew about and benefited from the program, including in cases involving threats tied to white supremacist groups and extremist rallies. (Read More) (The Hill Rating)

ABC Challenges FCC Equal-Time Scrutiny of The View

ABC criticized the Federal Communications Commission in a court filing over its handling of equal-time rules after The View interviewed Texas Democratic state Rep. James Talarico without offering equal airtime to opposing candidates. The FCC, under Chairman Brendan Carr, has argued that daytime and late-night talk shows may no longer qualify automatically for bona fide news exemptions if their programming appears politically motivated. ABC says The View has held a valid exemption for more than two decades and warned that the FCC’s new approach creates uncertainty and chills protected speech ahead of the 2026 elections. The network also raised concerns that regulators could selectively target anti-Trump programming while leaving pro-Trump media untouched. (Read More) (Washington Examiner Rating)