Oliver Darcy
@oliverdarcy.bsky.social
writing @status.news, a nightly newsletter covering the Fourth Estate, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood.
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inbox: oliver@status.news
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inbox: oliver@status.news
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
"In conversations Tuesday with more than a half-dozen staffers and network insiders, two themes emerged again and again: deep embarrassment, coupled with growing alarm about where one of television’s most storied newscasts is heading" www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
The Dokoupil Debacle
A chaotic on-air rollout, cringe social media posts, and MAGA-friendly editorial choices have turned Tony Dokoupil’s “CBS Evening News” debut into a source of embarrassment and growing alarm inside th...
www.status.news
January 7, 2026 at 3:13 AM
"In conversations Tuesday with more than a half-dozen staffers and network insiders, two themes emerged again and again: deep embarrassment, coupled with growing alarm about where one of television’s most storied newscasts is heading" www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
Inside CBS News, staffers are overwhelmingly depressed at the state of affairs after Dukoupil’s debut.
A "total disaster," as one network insider put it. A "total shit show," another told @status.news
www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
A "total disaster," as one network insider put it. A "total shit show," another told @status.news
www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
The Dokoupil Debacle
A chaotic on-air rollout, cringe social media posts, and MAGA-friendly editorial choices have turned Tony Dokoupil’s “CBS Evening News” debut into a source of embarrassment and growing alarm inside th...
www.status.news
January 7, 2026 at 3:07 AM
Inside CBS News, staffers are overwhelmingly depressed at the state of affairs after Dukoupil’s debut.
A "total disaster," as one network insider put it. A "total shit show," another told @status.news
www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
A "total disaster," as one network insider put it. A "total shit show," another told @status.news
www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
The rollout of Tony Dokoupil's rebooted "CBS Evening News" is not going over well inside the network. It's a "total disaster," as one insider put it. Or a "total shit show," as another told me.
Much more in @status.news: www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
Much more in @status.news: www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
The Dokoupil Debacle
A chaotic on-air rollout, cringe social media posts, and MAGA-friendly editorial choices have turned Tony Dokoupil’s “CBS Evening News” debut into a source of embarrassment and growing alarm inside th...
www.status.news
January 7, 2026 at 3:02 AM
The rollout of Tony Dokoupil's rebooted "CBS Evening News" is not going over well inside the network. It's a "total disaster," as one insider put it. Or a "total shit show," as another told me.
Much more in @status.news: www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
Much more in @status.news: www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
"In conversations Tuesday with more than a half-dozen staffers and network insiders, two themes emerged again and again: deep embarrassment, coupled with growing alarm about where one of television’s most storied newscasts is heading.”
More in @status.news www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
More in @status.news www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
The Dokoupil Debacle
A chaotic on-air rollout, cringe social media posts, and MAGA-friendly editorial choices have turned Tony Dokoupil’s “CBS Evening News” debut into a source of embarrassment and growing alarm inside th...
www.status.news
January 7, 2026 at 4:20 AM
"In conversations Tuesday with more than a half-dozen staffers and network insiders, two themes emerged again and again: deep embarrassment, coupled with growing alarm about where one of television’s most storied newscasts is heading.”
More in @status.news www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
More in @status.news www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
A chaotic on-air rollout, cringe social media posts, and MAGA-friendly editorial choices have turned Tony Dokoupil’s “CBS Evening News” debut into a source of embarrassment and growing alarm inside the network’s newsroom.
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
The Dokoupil Debacle
A chaotic on-air rollout, cringe social media posts, and MAGA-friendly editorial choices have turned Tony Dokoupil’s “CBS Evening News” debut into a source of embarrassment and growing alarm inside th...
www.status.news
January 7, 2026 at 2:59 AM
A chaotic on-air rollout, cringe social media posts, and MAGA-friendly editorial choices have turned Tony Dokoupil’s “CBS Evening News” debut into a source of embarrassment and growing alarm inside the network’s newsroom.
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
The rollout of Tony Dokoupil's rebooted "CBS Evening News" is not going over well inside the network. It's a "total disaster," as one insider put it. Or a "total shit show," as another told me.
Much more in @status.news: www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
Much more in @status.news: www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
The Dokoupil Debacle
A chaotic on-air rollout, cringe social media posts, and MAGA-friendly editorial choices have turned Tony Dokoupil’s “CBS Evening News” debut into a source of embarrassment and growing alarm inside th...
www.status.news
January 7, 2026 at 3:02 AM
The rollout of Tony Dokoupil's rebooted "CBS Evening News" is not going over well inside the network. It's a "total disaster," as one insider put it. Or a "total shit show," as another told me.
Much more in @status.news: www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
Much more in @status.news: www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
After carrying out a military operation that deposed Venezuela's authoritarian leader, the Pentagon is still choosing to ice out journalists in favor of sycophantic media figures.
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/pentagon-p...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/pentagon-p...
The Pentagon’s Pet Press
After carrying out a military operation that deposed Venezuela's authoritarian leader, the Pentagon is choosing to ice out journalists in favor of sycophantic media figures.
www.status.news
January 6, 2026 at 2:46 AM
After carrying out a military operation that deposed Venezuela's authoritarian leader, the Pentagon is still choosing to ice out journalists in favor of sycophantic media figures.
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/pentagon-p...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/pentagon-p...
Some news: In an attempt to convey supposed transparency, the Pentagon told me that Pete Hegseth has granted anonymous background interviews on Venezuela to some "mainstream media outlets"—all while the Trump admin trashes anonymous sourcing. More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/pentagon-p...
The Pentagon’s Pet Press
After carrying out a military operation that deposed Venezuela's authoritarian leader, the Pentagon is choosing to ice out journalists in favor of sycophantic media figures.
www.status.news
January 6, 2026 at 2:51 AM
Some news: In an attempt to convey supposed transparency, the Pentagon told me that Pete Hegseth has granted anonymous background interviews on Venezuela to some "mainstream media outlets"—all while the Trump admin trashes anonymous sourcing. More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/pentagon-p...
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
After years of railing against U.S. intervention abroad, MAGA media is now contorting itself to defend, or avoid criticizing, Trump’s America First foreign policy in practice as it plays out in Venezuela
www.status.news/p/maga-media...
www.status.news/p/maga-media...
MAGA Media Goes to War
Donald Trump’s Venezuela operation, and his open discussion of oil as a motivation, has become a stress test for MAGA Media and the movement’s long-standing rejection of foreign intervention.
www.status.news
January 5, 2026 at 2:36 AM
After years of railing against U.S. intervention abroad, MAGA media is now contorting itself to defend, or avoid criticizing, Trump’s America First foreign policy in practice as it plays out in Venezuela
www.status.news/p/maga-media...
www.status.news/p/maga-media...
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
Incoming “CBS Evening News” anchor Tony Dokoupil's public mission statement decrying “academics and elites” offers the clearest sign yet of where the network is headed under its new leadership.
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
The Dokoupil Doctrine
The incoming “CBS Evening News” anchor’s public mission statement decrying “academics and elites” offers the clearest sign yet of where the network is headed under its new leadership.
www.status.news
January 3, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Incoming “CBS Evening News” anchor Tony Dokoupil's public mission statement decrying “academics and elites” offers the clearest sign yet of where the network is headed under its new leadership.
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/tony-dokou...
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
From Donald Trump’s continued assault on the press to the open war for Warner Bros. Discovery—and A.I.’s disruption of everything—these are the big questions hanging over media in 2026.
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/26-questio...
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/26-questio...
26 Questions for 2026
From Donald Trump’s continued assault on the press to the open war for Warner Bros. Discovery—and A.I.’s disruption of everything—these are the big questions hanging over media in 2026.
www.status.news
January 1, 2026 at 11:29 PM
From Donald Trump’s continued assault on the press to the open war for Warner Bros. Discovery—and A.I.’s disruption of everything—these are the big questions hanging over media in 2026.
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/26-questio...
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/26-questio...
James Cameron really could use an editor.
December 31, 2025 at 10:11 PM
James Cameron really could use an editor.
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
“We are not out to…win followers on social media,” Bari Weiss said after pulling 60 Minutes' CECOT story
But Status has learned that those working on Tony Dokoupil’s Evening News kickoff tour have been urged to prioritize content built for social
www.status.news/p/cbs-news-b...
But Status has learned that those working on Tony Dokoupil’s Evening News kickoff tour have been urged to prioritize content built for social
www.status.news/p/cbs-news-b...
CBS’ New Year Reset
With a stalled “60 Minutes” segment, Tony Dokoupil’s national tour kicking off, and ratings pressure mounting, Bari Weiss enters 2026 needing to prove the network is driven by the news and not the Ell...
www.status.news
December 29, 2025 at 2:26 AM
“We are not out to…win followers on social media,” Bari Weiss said after pulling 60 Minutes' CECOT story
But Status has learned that those working on Tony Dokoupil’s Evening News kickoff tour have been urged to prioritize content built for social
www.status.news/p/cbs-news-b...
But Status has learned that those working on Tony Dokoupil’s Evening News kickoff tour have been urged to prioritize content built for social
www.status.news/p/cbs-news-b...
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
As her first major CBS News town hall draws underwhelming ratings, Bari Weiss gets a public crash course in the metrics of TV success. Now, Status has learned she’s delayed a planned address to staffers about the network’s future.
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/bari-weiss...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/bari-weiss...
Weiss’ Wake-Up Call
As her first major CBS News town hall draws underwhelming ratings, Bari Weiss gets a public crash course in the metrics of television success. Now, Status has learned she’s delayed a planned address t...
www.status.news
December 18, 2025 at 2:18 AM
As her first major CBS News town hall draws underwhelming ratings, Bari Weiss gets a public crash course in the metrics of TV success. Now, Status has learned she’s delayed a planned address to staffers about the network’s future.
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/bari-weiss...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/bari-weiss...
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
Scoop: After an underwhelming ratings performance for Bari Weiss’ town hall with Erika Kirk, the CBS News editor in chief quietly delayed a planned address to staffers about the network’s future, pushing it back to January instead
www.status.news/p/bari-weiss...
www.status.news/p/bari-weiss...
Weiss’ Wake-Up Call
As her first major CBS News town hall draws underwhelming ratings, Bari Weiss gets a public crash course in the metrics of television success. Now, Status has learned she’s delayed a planned address t...
www.status.news
December 18, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Scoop: After an underwhelming ratings performance for Bari Weiss’ town hall with Erika Kirk, the CBS News editor in chief quietly delayed a planned address to staffers about the network’s future, pushing it back to January instead
www.status.news/p/bari-weiss...
www.status.news/p/bari-weiss...
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
FCC Chair Brendan Carr will be on Capitol Hill for rare Congressional testimony on Wednesday—a hearing in which fellow commissioner Anna Gomez will sharply criticize the agency under his watch, Status has learned.
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/brendan-ca...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/brendan-ca...
Carr’s Collision Course
FCC Chair Brendan Carr will be on Capitol Hill for rare Congressional testimony on Wednesday—a hearing in which fellow commissioner Anna Gomez will sharply criticize the agency under his watch, Status...
www.status.news
December 17, 2025 at 12:43 AM
FCC Chair Brendan Carr will be on Capitol Hill for rare Congressional testimony on Wednesday—a hearing in which fellow commissioner Anna Gomez will sharply criticize the agency under his watch, Status has learned.
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/brendan-ca...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/brendan-ca...
FCC boss Brendan Carr is set to testify on Capitol Hill Wednesday—and fellow commissioner Anna Gomez, who will appear on Capitol Hill with him, is set to sharply criticize the agency under his watch.
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/brendan-ca...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/brendan-ca...
Carr’s Collision Course
FCC Chair Brendan Carr will be on Capitol Hill for rare Congressional testimony on Wednesday—a hearing in which fellow commissioner Anna Gomez will sharply criticize the agency under his watch, Status...
www.status.news
December 17, 2025 at 12:46 AM
FCC boss Brendan Carr is set to testify on Capitol Hill Wednesday—and fellow commissioner Anna Gomez, who will appear on Capitol Hill with him, is set to sharply criticize the agency under his watch.
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/brendan-ca...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/brendan-ca...
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
What's a Fox News conservative doing hosting a prime time show on the supposedly "straightforward, fact-based" NewsNation? How Fox execs misread the situation and what its rival might actually be signaling with Katie Pavlich's hire, via @status.news www.status.news/p/katie-pavl...
Nexstar’s Pavlich Play
Fox News executives assumed Katie Pavlich would renew her contributor contract, but its smaller rival—with business before Donald Trump’s FCC—spoiled their plans during negotiations, Status has learne...
www.status.news
December 16, 2025 at 4:46 AM
What's a Fox News conservative doing hosting a prime time show on the supposedly "straightforward, fact-based" NewsNation? How Fox execs misread the situation and what its rival might actually be signaling with Katie Pavlich's hire, via @status.news www.status.news/p/katie-pavl...
Here's how the Katie Pavlich-Fox News-NewsNation negotiations unfolded—and why the Nexstar-owned network likely wanted to poach the conservative commentator to begin with.
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/katie-pavl...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/katie-pavl...
Nexstar’s Pavlich Play
Fox News executives assumed Katie Pavlich would renew her contributor contract, but its smaller rival—with business before Donald Trump’s FCC—spoiled their plans during negotiations, Status has learne...
www.status.news
December 16, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Here's how the Katie Pavlich-Fox News-NewsNation negotiations unfolded—and why the Nexstar-owned network likely wanted to poach the conservative commentator to begin with.
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/katie-pavl...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/katie-pavl...
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
New: An August vesting milestone gives Axios co-founders Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen the ability to cash out from their deal with Cox, opening the door to a possible exit and exposing some future vulnerabilities
www.status.news/p/axios-cox-...
www.status.news/p/axios-cox-...
Axios’ Future: Why It Matters
Three years after selling to Cox, incentives for Axios’ co-founders have vested, opening the door to a possible exit—a scenario Cox execs have begun informally planning for, Status has learned.
www.status.news
December 15, 2025 at 1:30 AM
New: An August vesting milestone gives Axios co-founders Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen the ability to cash out from their deal with Cox, opening the door to a possible exit and exposing some future vulnerabilities
www.status.news/p/axios-cox-...
www.status.news/p/axios-cox-...
Another @nataliekorach.bsky.social scoop.
Three years after selling to Cox, incentives for Axios’ co-founders have vested, opening the door to a possible exit—a scenario Cox execs have begun informally planning for.
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/axios-cox-...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/axios-cox-...
Axios’ Future: Why It Matters
Three years after selling to Cox, incentives for Axios’ co-founders have vested, opening the door to a possible exit—a scenario Cox execs have begun informally planning for, Status has learned.
www.status.news
December 15, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Another @nataliekorach.bsky.social scoop.
"Studios shouldn’t kid themselves thinking the siren song of ready cash comes with no strings attached," @brianlowry.bsky.social writes.
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/hollywood-...
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/hollywood-...
Hollywood’s Saudi Serenade
With its backing of Paramount’s WBD bid and Vision 2030 plan, Saudi Arabia wants to establish a major foothold in media. But in Hollywood, buyer and seller should beware.
www.status.news
December 12, 2025 at 9:37 PM
"Studios shouldn’t kid themselves thinking the siren song of ready cash comes with no strings attached," @brianlowry.bsky.social writes.
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/hollywood-...
More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/hollywood-...
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
The latest episode of Power Lines just dropped.
This week: We discuss Donald Trump's outrageous demand that CNN be sold to new owners, Bari Weiss' interview with Erika Kirk, POLITICO's softball Trump interview, and more.
Watch: youtu.be/K8-V44NOB34?...
Listen: www.status.news/power-lines
This week: We discuss Donald Trump's outrageous demand that CNN be sold to new owners, Bari Weiss' interview with Erika Kirk, POLITICO's softball Trump interview, and more.
Watch: youtu.be/K8-V44NOB34?...
Listen: www.status.news/power-lines
December 12, 2025 at 4:17 PM
The latest episode of Power Lines just dropped.
This week: We discuss Donald Trump's outrageous demand that CNN be sold to new owners, Bari Weiss' interview with Erika Kirk, POLITICO's softball Trump interview, and more.
Watch: youtu.be/K8-V44NOB34?...
Listen: www.status.news/power-lines
This week: We discuss Donald Trump's outrageous demand that CNN be sold to new owners, Bari Weiss' interview with Erika Kirk, POLITICO's softball Trump interview, and more.
Watch: youtu.be/K8-V44NOB34?...
Listen: www.status.news/power-lines
Times are tough right now for MAGA Media personality Tim Pool.
@passantino.bsky.social and I discuss, with our beanies.
Watch Power Lines on YouTube: youtu.be/K8-V44NOB34?...
@passantino.bsky.social and I discuss, with our beanies.
Watch Power Lines on YouTube: youtu.be/K8-V44NOB34?...
December 12, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Times are tough right now for MAGA Media personality Tim Pool.
@passantino.bsky.social and I discuss, with our beanies.
Watch Power Lines on YouTube: youtu.be/K8-V44NOB34?...
@passantino.bsky.social and I discuss, with our beanies.
Watch Power Lines on YouTube: youtu.be/K8-V44NOB34?...
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
Staffers at The Washington Post revolted en masse after the newspaper debuted an error-prone A.I. podcast feature, according to Slack messages obtained by Status.
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/washington...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/washington...
The Post’s A.I. ‘Disaster’
Staffers at The Washington Post revolted en masse after the newspaper debuted an error-prone A.I. podcast feature, according to Slack messages obtained by Status.
www.status.news
December 12, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Staffers at The Washington Post revolted en masse after the newspaper debuted an error-prone A.I. podcast feature, according to Slack messages obtained by Status.
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/washington...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/washington...