Oliver Darcy
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oliverdarcy.bsky.social
Oliver Darcy
@oliverdarcy.bsky.social
170K followers 380 following 970 posts
writing @status.news, a nightly newsletter covering the Fourth Estate, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood.

subscribe: http://status.news/subscribe

inbox: oliver@status.news
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oliverdarcy.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
nataliekorach.bsky.social
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...
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
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
status.news
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...
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
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
status.news
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...
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
oliverdarcy.bsky.social
James Cameron really could use an editor.
December 31, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
nataliekorach.bsky.social
“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...
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
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
status.news
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...
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
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
nataliekorach.bsky.social
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...
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
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
status.news
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...
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
oliverdarcy.bsky.social
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...
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
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
passantino.bsky.social
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
oliverdarcy.bsky.social
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...
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
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
nataliekorach.bsky.social
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-...
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
oliverdarcy.bsky.social
Another @nataliekorach.bsky.social scoop.
December 15, 2025 at 1:30 AM
oliverdarcy.bsky.social
"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-...
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
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
status.news
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
December 12, 2025 at 4:17 PM
oliverdarcy.bsky.social
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?...
December 12, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
status.news
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...
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
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
passantino.bsky.social
“Never would I have imagined that the Washington Post would deliberately warp its own journalism.”

“it is making intolerable journalistic mistakes that impugn the reputation of The Post.”

"It’s a total disaster.. I think the newsroom is embarrassed."
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 4:39 AM
oliverdarcy.bsky.social
"It’s a total disaster," one Postie candidly told @status.news. "I think the newsroom is embarrassed."

Story here: 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 4:03 AM
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
status.news
Penske Media cuts mark the latest tremors in a brutal year for media jobs, as rolling layoffs and mergers leave newsrooms across the industry in an anxious holding pattern.

Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/media-layo...
Media’s Unhappy Holidays
Penske Media cuts mark the latest tremors in a brutal year for media jobs, as rolling layoffs and mergers leave newsrooms across the industry in an anxious holding pattern.
www.status.news
December 11, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
nataliekorach.bsky.social
Scoop: Penske Media outlets, including Variety and Rolling Stone, quietly made editorial staff cuts over the last week, as the broader media industry braces for a distinctly joyless holiday season and another wave of layoffs in the new year
www.status.news/p/media-layo...
Media’s Unhappy Holidays
Penske Media cuts mark the latest tremors in a brutal year for media jobs, as rolling layoffs and mergers leave newsrooms across the industry in an anxious holding pattern.
www.status.news
December 11, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
carlquintanilla.bsky.social
“.. Once upon a time, a chief executive openly signaling that he’d reorient a newsroom to appease a sitting president would be a five-alarm corporate scandal ..”

@status.news
@oliverdarcy.bsky.social $PSKY
www.status.news/p/cnn-paramo...
December 10, 2025 at 11:27 AM
oliverdarcy.bsky.social
Once upon a time, a chief executive openly signaling that he’d reorient a newsroom to appease a sitting president would be a five-alarm corporate scandal.

Today, Paramount doesn't even bother to answer questions about it.

More in @status.news: www.status.news/p/cnn-paramo...
The CNN Sacrifice
Inside Hudson Yards, CNN staffers are once again panicking about the possibility that David Ellison—who seems willing to compromise the network's integrity—may prove successful in his bid to purchase ...
www.status.news
December 10, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Reposted by Oliver Darcy
status.news
What began as quiet courtship by David Ellison has morphed into a hostile takeover attempt of Warner Bros. Discovery—with the battle only likely to get messier in the days ahead.

Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/david-elli...
Ellison’s Endgame
What began as quiet courtship by David Ellison has morphed into a hostile takeover attempt of Warner Bros. Discovery—with the battle only likely to get messier in the days ahead.
www.status.news
December 9, 2025 at 3:39 AM