Trump Flags Antitrust Concerns Over Netflix's WBD Deal

President Donald Trump warned Sunday that Netflix Inc.'s proposed $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.'s film studio, HBO streaming service, and related assets "could be a problem" due to excessive market concentration, stating the deal must undergo rigorous review and that he will personally oversee the decision-making process.

Speaking to reporters on the red carpet at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., Trump acknowledged Netflix as a "great company" led by "fantastic" co-CEO Ted Sarandos, whom he recently hosted at the White House for a two-hour discussion on the merger, reports Bloomberg.

"That has to go through a process, and we'll see what happens," Trump said. "They have a very big market share... When they have Warner Bros., that share goes up a lot. That's going to be for some economists to tell... But it is a big market share. There's no question it could be a problem." 

He added, "I'll be involved in that decision, too," signaling an unusually direct presidential role in what is typically handled by antitrust regulators like the U.S. Justice Department.

The comments, made just two days after Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery announced the blockbuster agreement on Friday, immediately chilled market sentiment. Prediction markets like Polymarket saw the odds of the deal closing by the end of 2026 drop from around 60% to 23% following Trump's remarks. 

The transaction, which values Warner Bros. Discovery's targeted assets at approximately $72 billion (with some reports citing $83 billion including synergies), would fold iconic franchises like Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, The Matrix, Lord of the Rings, and Looney Tunes into Netflix's library, boosting its global subscriber base beyond 400 million. 

It excludes Warner's cable networks like CNN and TNT, which are slated for a separate spinoff in the second half of 2026, with the full deal expected to close in 12-18 months pending shareholder and regulatory approval.

Hollywood Goes Nuclear

Two months ago, when word leaked that Warner Bros. might be sold, the town wept. Tears, eulogies, “end of an era” Instagram posts; the whole funeral vibe for a 102-year-old studio that gave us Casablanca, Batman, and Hogwarts.

Then, on Friday, Netflix dropped the match: an $82.7 billion knockout punch to buy Warner Bros. and HBO Max outright. Grief didn’t just turn to anger; it detonated.

Overnight, Netflix seized half the U.S. streaming market, the DC universe, Harry Potter, The Matrix, HBO’s crown jewels; basically every childhood memory you ever paid for. And Hollywood lost its collective mind.

The backlash hit like a freight train:

• The Writers Guild and Teamsters screamed “bloodbath,” predicting thousands of layoffs and the final gutting of wages.
• Theater owners basically declared war, spitting on Netflix’s promise of 30–45-day theatrical windows: “That’s not a release strategy, that’s a courtesy flush.”
• James Cameron called it “a disaster for cinema.” Elizabeth Warren thundered that one company now holds “dangerous cultural power.” 
• Jane Fonda fired off a letter warning of a First Amendment crisis.

Even the normally sleepy antitrust crowd is screaming for the FTC to kill the deal; especially after whispers that the Trump administration was quietly rooting for anyone except Netflix.

Ted Sarandos stepped up with a smile and the corporate equivalent of “trust me, bro”; insisting this monster merger will magically “create more jobs” and keep movie theaters alive. Half the town responded by flipping him the bird on X, the other half is already lawyering up for the mother of all regulatory fights.

Bottom line: the old Hollywood guard just watched its empire get swallowed by the red envelope. They’re not sad anymore. They’re furious. And they’re ready to burn the house down to stop it.

Here's Why Netflix-WBD Deal Spells Chaos For CNN

CNN, already reeling from years of mergers, leadership churn, and audience erosion, finds itself the "biggest loser" in this shuffle. 

Here's how the deal amplifies the network's instability:

Isolation in a Dying Cable Ecosystem: Unlike the entertainment assets that Netflix craves for streaming dominance, CNN and its cable siblings are relics of a pre-streaming era. Netflix explicitly passed on them, citing no interest in "truth to power" journalism or the channels it helped dismantle through disruption. Spun into Discovery Global under WBD CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels—who's infamous for cost-cutting like axing free lunches at meetings—the new entity inherits CNN's $1 billion+ annual losses, plummeting ratings (down 50%+ since 2020 peaks), and high production costs without synergies from Hollywood blockbusters or HBO's prestige glow.

Dashed Hopes for a Lifeline Merger: Prior rumors of a full WBD sale had CNN staff buzzing about potential synergies, like pairing with CBS News under a Paramount buyout (which Ellison pursued aggressively). That dream evaporated; now, CNN faces an uncertain solo future. Discovery Global could be resold piecemeal by mid-2026, inviting more bidder roulette, or forced into drastic pivots like deeper digital bets amid cord-cutting (U.S. pay-TV subs fell 7 million in 2025 alone).

Internal Turmoil and Morale Plunge: CNN's Atlanta and NYC newsrooms woke to "hamster wheel" chaos, with staffers likening it to the disastrous 2001 AOL-Time Warner merger that birthed endless layoffs and identity crises. Since Jeff Zucker's 2022 exit amid scandal, the network has cycled through leaders, struggling to blend legacy journalism with partisan edge—losing trust and viewers to Fox News (unchanged owners since 1996) and digital upstarts. A December 5 all-hands call from WBD brass only heightened anxiety, as one insider quipped: "Jarring to wake up with a new boss—or no job at all."

Broader Industry Ripples: Hollywood's contraction threatens indirect hits; Georgia's film tax credits (key for Atlanta's 1,000+ CNN jobs) might see uneven boosts from Netflix's U.S. production promises, but a "shaky economic ground" looms if antitrust blocks the deal. CNN's digital arm could gain from Warner IP crossovers, but that's speculative amid the network's reinvention mandate.

Trump Rips CNN's ‘Nasty’ Kaitlan Collins

President Trump blasted CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins as “stupid and nasty” in a fiery Truth Social post Saturday morning, accusing her of ignorance for questioning why his privately funded White House ballroom project has ballooned past $300 million.

The Spark:  Collins' Reporting

• During Friday night's episode of her CNN show The Source, Collins highlighted the visible construction chaos at the White House, noting a "giant crane" on-site and questioning why the ballroom's price tag had ballooned to over $250-300 million—double the initial estimates from late 2024.
• She framed it as part of a weekly recap on Trump's administration priorities, tying it to broader debates on government spending during the recent 43-day shutdown. Collins didn't directly confront Trump on camera about it but pressed him at the Kennedy Center red carpet event on Friday about unrelated foreign policy issues, like U.S. aggression toward Venezuela.
• Critics, including Democrats on her show, have dubbed the project "Trump's Taj Mahal," arguing it diverts focus from economic woes like rising grocery prices and tariff impacts.

Trump's response outburst, posted around 6 a.m. ET Saturday. Trump insisted the 90,000-square-foot East Wing replacement is “under budget and ahead of schedule,” just “much bigger and more beautiful” than originally planned, with zero taxpayer dollars involved.

Kaitlan Collins

He misspelled Collins’ name as “Caitlin Collin’s,” called her question “stupid,” and escalated to attacking CNN as “FAKE NEWS” with ratings “so low they are not even relevant anymore.”

In a response on her Instagram Story, Collins wrote, “Technically my question was about Venezuela,” in reference to the administration’s bombing of alleged drug smuggling vessels off the coast of the Latin American country.

Venezuelan president-turned-dictator Nicolás Maduro has said the real reason for the U.S. military actions is the country’s oil reserves, considered the largest in the world. The State Department has denied that claim, insisting the Caribbean boat strikes, which have killed over 80 people, are part of a campaign to stop the import of cocaine and fentanyl into the U.S.

New York Post Graphic

The ballroom, announced after Trump’s 2024 reelection, was initially estimated at $150 million. Private donors including Amazon, Meta, and Apple are footing the bill. Critics have labeled it a vanity project amid lingering economic concerns; supporters call it a legacy upgrade to America’s most famous residence.

The public feud quickly went viral, reigniting Trump’s long-running antagonism toward Collins and drawing sharp reactions across X, with MAGA accounts cheering and media defenders condemning the personal attack. Collins has not yet responded.

TV Ratings: A November To Remember For Fox News

FOX News Channel (FNC) continued its dominant run throughout November 2025, pacing ahead of NBC and CBS in weekday primetime viewership year-to-date. 

Since the start of the year, FNC has averaged 3,193,000 viewers in weekday primetime, ranking as the second highest-rated network in all of television and outperforming CBS (3,190,000 viewers) and NBC (3,142,000 viewers). FNC (2,439,000) also topped ESPN (2,435,000 viewers) in weekday primetime viewership in November despite head-to-head competition with NFL and College Football programing.

In the month of November, FNC averaged 2 million viewers in primetime (8-11 PM/ET), according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel, and delivered 1.4 million viewers across total day. FNC commanded 57% of the cable news share in total day and 58% in primetime. FNC also ranked number one in cable news among Asian, Hispanic, and upscale viewers throughout total day for the month.

CNN and MS Now both recorded historic lows throughout November. MS Now averaged 599,000 viewers in total day, marking its lowest November performance since 2015. In the 25-54 demo, the network delivered 55,000 viewers, its weakest November since 1997. In primetime, MS Now averaged 945,000 viewers, also its lowest November since 2015, and posted 88,000 in the 25–54 demo, the smallest audience for the month since 1997.

Meanwhile, CNN delivered its lowest November total day viewership since 2013 with 429,000 viewers. The network drew 70,000 25–54 demo viewers in total day, marking its worst November since 1997. CNN also posted its third-lowest November primetime audience with 556,000 viewers and delivered 100,000 viewers in the 25–54 demo, its weakest November primetime performance since 1997.

As the number one show on television at 5 PM/ET, The Five secured a staggering 3.628 million viewers and 293,000 in 25-54 demo in November, surpassing NBC’s Law and Order: SVU (3.619 million viewers) and ABC’s 9-1-1: Nashville (3.026 million viewers). At 8 PM/ET Jesse Watters Primetime led all of primetime with 3 million viewers and 272,000 in the 25-54 demo, outpacing broadcast offerings including NBC’s Happy Place (2.9 million viewers) and CBS’s DMV (2.9 million viewers).

FNC’s hit late-night program Gutfeld! continued its dominance across all of late-night television, securing 2.5 million viewers, 270,000 in the 25-54 demo and 172,000 in the 18-49 demo. Gutfeld! once again outperformed every broadcast and cable late-night competitor, surpassing CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2 million viewers), ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1.9 million viewers), NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.2 million viewers), NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers (782,000 viewers), and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show (436,000 viewers).

FNC’s Hannity remained dominant at 9 PM/ET with 2.4 million viewers and 224,000 in the 25-54 demo. Additionally, The Ingraham Angle (weeknights, 7 PM/ET) posted 2.5 million viewers and 224,000 in the 25-54 demo, with Laura Ingraham continuing her reign as the highest rated woman in cable news. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher led its timeslot with 1.4 million viewers.

The network’s nightly newscast Special Report with Bret Baier (weeknights, 6 PM/ET) averaged over 2.7 million viewers and 245,000 in the 25-54 demo, continuing to close the gap with the broadcast competition. In November, Special Report led CBS Evening News in 13 top markets across the country including Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. The show also beat ABC’s World News Tonight in five markets including New Orleans, Jacksonville and St. Louis.

FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends (weekdays, 6-9 AM/ET) finished the month with 1.3 million viewers and remained the number one cable news program in the mornings with both categories for the 57th consecutive month in the 25-54 demo, beating CNN and MS Now combined in viewers, per usual. FOX & Friends led CBS Mornings in 23 major markets throughout November including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston and Washington DC. FOX & Friends also topped ABC’s Good Morning America in 17 markets including Washington DC, Baltimore, New Orleans and Cleveland and defeated NBC’s The Today Show in five markets including Atlanta, Jacksonville and Charlotte during November.

FNC’s daytime lineup continued to crush the competition, led by two-hour morning news program America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino (weekdays, 9-11 AM/ET), which saw 1.8 million viewers. The Faulkner Focus at 11 AM/ET, anchored by Harris Faulkner, notched 1.8 million viewers while Outnumbered at 12 PM/ET earned 1.8 million viewers. America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith garnered 1.7 million viewers from 1-3 PM/ET. Martha MacCallum’s The Story (weekdays, 3 PM/ET) averaged 1.8 million viewers. Additionally, The Will Cain Show continued to grow the timeslot at 4 PM/ET seeing 2.1 million viewers. In fact, every single FNC daytime show between 9 AM – 5 PM/ET outpaced broadcast offerings including NBC’s Today with Jenna & Friends (1,406,000 viewers), ABC’s GMA3 (1,374,000 viewers) and NBC News Daily (1,351,000 viewers).

FNC also continued to excel against the competition throughout the weekend for the month, winning every hour with total viewers and the 25-54 demo, defeating CNN and MS Now by double to triple-digits among both categories on both days. On Saturdays, Saturday in America with Kayleigh McEnany (Saturday, 10 AM-12 PM/ET) was the most watched cable news show of the day drawing 1.3 million viewers. FOX & Friends Weekend (6-10 AM/ET) followed with 1.2 million viewers. My View with Lara Trump (Saturday, 9 PM/ET) posted 1 million viewers and Life, Liberty & Levin (weekends, 8 PM/ET) in primetime with 1 million viewers.

Report: Tony Dokoupil Named Lead Candidate For CBS Evening News

CBS News' Tony Dokoupil

CBS Mornings co-host Tony Dokoupil is the leading internal candidate to replace Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson as anchor of CBS Evening News, multiple sources tell Status.

The 44-year-old Dokoupil has emerged as the frontrunner as new CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss seeks to stabilize the flagship broadcast after the DuBois-Dickerson duo delivered disappointing ratings and will exit the desk later this month—less than a year after taking over from Norah O’Donnell.

O’Donnell, 51, who stepped down as Evening News anchor earlier this year, remains with the network in a contributor role but is not in contention for a return, insiders say.

DuBois, 60, announced his departure this week, while Dickerson, 57, revealed his exit in October—just days after Weiss, the 41-year-old founder of the anti-woke Free Press, was installed as editor-in-chief by new Paramount owner David Ellison.

Ellison, 42, son of billionaire Trump supporter Larry Ellison, completed an $8 billion acquisition of Paramount over the summer and quickly moved to overhaul CBS News leadership.

Weiss had reportedly pursued high-profile external hires such as Fox News’ Bret Baier and CNN’s Anderson Cooper, but both remain under contract elsewhere, leaving the network turning inward, with Dokoupil now the preferred choice among current CBS talent.

Dokoupil's career kicked off as a senior writer for Newsweek and The Daily Beast from 2007 to 2013, where he tackled topics like digital privacy and marijuana legalization. He joined NBC News in 2013 as a senior writer and MSNBC reporter before switching to CBS News in August 2016 as a New York-based correspondent. 

There, he contributed to CBS Sunday Morning with features on public school teachers' struggles, suicide prevention, and rehab programs for pilots—earning acclaim for blending hard-hitting journalism with human interest.

CBS News Poaches Matt Gutman From ABC News

Matt Gutman, ABC News’ chief national correspondent, is departing the network after his contract expired to join CBS News in a high-profile correspondent role.

The move marks the first major on-air hire by Bari Weiss since she was named editor-in-chief of CBS News in October, according to sources familiar with the decision who were not authorized to speak publicly. 

Gutman did not respond to requests for comment.

Matt Gutman

Although there had been speculation that Gutman was in the running to anchor “CBS Evening News,” sources say he is joining as a correspondent. CBS has not yet named replacements for departing evening news anchors John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, who are both set to leave later this month.

ABC News chose not to counter CBS’s offer after Gutman’s contract came up for renewal, people familiar with the talks said.

Gutman, who is based in Los Angeles, has been with ABC News since 2008, starting as a radio correspondent before being promoted to chief national correspondent on the television side in 2018. He previously worked at the Jerusalem Post, where he covered the West Bank.

He has earned journalism awards for his reporting on the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting and the 2018 Thai cave rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach. Gutman also spent 18 months reporting from Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and covered the deadly Los Angeles wildfires in January.

NPR Lawsuit Challenges Trump E-O Defunding Public Broadcasting

U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss heard oral arguments last week in National Public Radio, Inc. v. Trump, a First Amendment lawsuit seeking to block President Trump’s May 1, 2025 executive order that immediately halts all federal funding to National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

The order directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) – the primary conduit for federal dollars to public media – to cease all direct and indirect funding to both organizations. The White House justified the move by accusing NPR and PBS of delivering “biased and partisan news coverage” and disseminating “radical, woke propaganda disguised as news.”

NPR attorneys argued that the president’s action constitutes unlawful viewpoint discrimination and retaliation against protected speech. Lead trial counsel Theodore J. Boutrous Jr. told the court:

“The executive order flagrantly violates NPR and its member stations’ First Amendment rights. The president is not making any secret of his views – the order and its accompanying materials explicitly target NPR because of displeasure with its editorial content and news coverage.”

Boutrous emphasized that the order is “blatantly unconstitutional on its face” because it singles out NPR and PBS for punishment based solely on the administration’s disagreement with their journalism.

Steve Zansberg, a First Amendment attorney representing Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio, and KSUT Tribal Radio alongside NPR, said after the hearing:

“I think our side argued very persuasively that this is retaliatory discrimination against NPR as a result of the president’s dissatisfaction with its speech. The government offered no legitimate, non-viewpoint-based justification for cutting off all funding.”

The Trump administration defended the order by asserting that the president has broad authority over discretionary spending and that taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize media outlets the administration deems biased.

Judge Moss, an Obama appointee who has previously ruled against Trump-era policies, pressed both sides on the scope of presidential power over congressionally authorized appropriations and whether the executive order amounts to impermissible censorship. He gave no indication of when he will rule but described the case as presenting “serious constitutional questions” that require prompt resolution.

The lawsuit, filed shortly after the May 1 order, asks the court to declare the directive unconstitutional and permanently enjoin its enforcement. A decision is expected in the coming weeks, though no specific timeline was provided.

Hundreds of public radio and television stations across the country rely on CPB grants that flow through NPR and PBS. A sustained funding cut could force layoffs, reduced programming, and the closure of some rural and minority-serving stations, according to affidavits filed by the plaintiffs.

Cross-Platform Media Takes on New Meaning

Audiences are increasingly loyal to individual podcast and radio personalities rather than to specific platforms, following their favorite creators across radio, podcasts, YouTube, TikTok, TV, live events, merchandise, and more — creating what industry insiders call an emerging “audio multiverse.”

A new Audacy Insights report highlights this shift, noting that listeners are now “choosing voices we trust, storytellers we obsess over, personalities we keep in our daily rotation” instead of sticking to traditional channels. 

As a result, many shows are evolving into full 360-degree franchises — no longer just a program, but an entire universe.

One prominent example is Audacy’s own “The Sports Junkies” morning show on 106.7 The Fan (WJFK-FM) in Washington, D.C., which now extends far beyond radio into podcasts, television appearances, and consumer products.

The rise of video podcasting is accelerating the trend. Audacy reports that 42% of listeners now prefer podcasts that include a video component, and 48% say they feel more connected to hosts when they see them in other formats. This has led to the popular phrase: “You have to watch this podcast.”

While Audacy describes itself as remaining “audio-first,” it is actively embracing hybrid models that combine audio with visual elements, opening new advertising opportunities such as in-studio branding, product placement, live-stream sponsorships, and short-form social video clips.

Ultimately, the company says, this creator-led ecosystem is “rewiring how influence is built and how brands break through,” giving advertisers broader, more engaged ways to reach highly loyal fans across multiple platforms. 

“The creator effect is real,” Audacy concludes.

Xperi to Unveil New Daily In-Car Radio Audience Ratings

Xperi Inc., a leader in audio and media technology, has announced plans to unveil enhanced daily in-car radio audience ratings through its updated DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal. 

This marks a significant upgrade in real-time analytics for radio broadcasters, drawing from data across nearly 9 million vehicles in the U.S., providing unprecedented granularity on listener behavior during commutes and road trips.

Key Details of the Unveiling:

• Launch and Scope: The new features, building on the portal's October 2025 update, go live imminently and deliver daily metrics—such as audience share, time spent listening, cume ratings, and occasions—for 250 U.S. markets. This includes near-real-time insights (within 24 hours) and hourly listening flow data, eliminating reliance on surveys or memory-based reporting.
• 
  Data Scale and Accuracy: Powered by Xperi's DTS AutoStage platform in over 12 million global vehicles (9 million in the U.S.), the system captures passive, in-car listening from HD Radio and connected car tech. It offers sample sizes up to 50,000+ vehicles in top markets like New York and Los Angeles, and at least 4,000 in smaller ones, enabling heat maps and geographic segmentation for precise targeting.
• Benefits for Broadcasters: Stations can access this free tool by registering with basic info (logo, format, streaming URL, and playout feed), allowing them to optimize programming, refine ad strategies, and prove engagement to advertisers—levels of data previously exclusive to streaming platforms. Early applications have shown boosts, like 40% audience share growth for Christmas music stations over Thanksgiving 2025, tracked from 1.3 million vehicles.

Broader Context:

Xperi's move addresses radio's need for "big data" parity with digital media, where AM/FM still dominates in-car listening at 86-88% share amid rising video (up 25% YoY) and gaming trends. 

Executives like Joe D’Angelo, Xperi's SVP of Broadcast Radio, hail it as an "inflection point" for the industry, empowering stations to deepen audience ties and compete in a connected vehicle era. 

Chicago Tops List of U.S. Cities with Worst Traffic Congestion in 2025

Chicago drivers endured the nation's most severe traffic jams in 2025, losing an average of 112 hours annually to congestion—equivalent to more than four full workdays and costing commuters about $2,063 in lost productivity. This marked a 10% increase from 2024, overtaking New York City for the top spot, according to INRIX's 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard released last week. 

The report, which analyzed travel data from nearly 1,000 cities across 37 countries, highlighted a broader U.S. trend: the typical driver wasted 49 hours in traffic, up from 43 hours the previous year, contributing to a national economic hit of $85 billion.

New York City ranked second, with unchanged delays of 102 hours per driver ($1,800 cost), while Philadelphia climbed to third amid a 31% surge in congestion. Baltimore experienced the steepest year-over-year jump at 31%, landing in 13th place. The scorecard attributed rising delays to post-pandemic shifts, including a return to office work and increased weekend leisure trips to urban cores—evident in cities like Houston (up 25% in downtown traffic) and Dallas (up 12%). Ten U.S. cities cracked the global top 25 for worst congestion, underscoring America's ongoing urban mobility challenges despite some international hotspots like Istanbul (105 hours lost) leading worldwide.

The report warns that without smarter infrastructure, such as data-driven signal optimization and expanded public transit, costs could escalate further.

Google's 2025 Year in Search: AI Dominates Global Curiosity

In 2025, Google's annual Year in Search report revealed a world gripped by artificial intelligence, explosive sports rivalries, and shocking political events, with queries starting with "tell me about..." surging 70% from the previous year and "how do I..." searches hitting a record high. 

Google's own AI assistant, Gemini, claimed the top spot as the most trending global search, reflecting humanity's insatiable hunger to understand and harness emerging technologies amid breakthroughs that reshaped daily life.

The full global trending searches list, based on spikes in interest from January to November 2025 compared to 2024, painted a picture of interconnected obsessions: technology, entertainment, geopolitics, and culture. Here's the top 10:

These trends weren't just numbers—they captured 2025's pulse. AI's dominance extended beyond Gemini, with "What is quantum computing?" and "How does Gemini work?" among the year's spiked queries, underscoring a 25% rise in practical "how-to" searches as people integrated tools into work and play. 

Geopolitical flashpoints, like the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June and India's "Operation Sindoor" retaliation after a Pahalgam terror attack, fueled news categories, while sports icons Terence Crawford, Rory McIlroy, and Shedeur Sanders topped athlete searches alongside the FIFA Club World Cup.

Entertainment offered escapism amid the chaos: Films like Anora (with Mikey Madison's Oscar buzz) and The Minecraft Movie led cinema trends, while Colleen Hoover's Regretting You adaptation dominated books. 

Viral oddities, such as Gen Alpha slang explanations (e.g., "Does '6-7' make you feel old?") and quirky toys like Labubu, added levity, often bubbling up in national lists rather than global ones.

Regionally, the U.S. echoed global AI interest but leaned into domestic drama, with DeepSeek at #7 and policy debates amplifying Kirk-related queries. India fixated on cricket and botanical escapes like Lalbagh Garden, while Europe highlighted romance novels and historical shifts like the papal transition. 

Globally, searches for green spaces, such as Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, hinted at a post-pandemic yearning for nature.

Ultimately, 2025's searches weren't about volume—Google emphasized spikes over absolutes, filtering out perennials like "weather" to spotlight what was uniquely transformative. As AI blurred lines between curiosity and capability, these trends signal a future where searches evolve from questions to conversations, urging creators and marketers to chase emerging waves before they crest. 

For the interactive full breakdown, visit Google's Trends site.

2025 Kennedy Center Honors Recipients Visit Trump

President Donald Trump personally awarded the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors medals to five performing-arts legends in the Oval Office Saturday, calling them “perhaps the most accomplished and renowned class” ever and becoming the first sitting president to host the traditionally nonpartisan ceremony at the White House.

The 2025 class includes a mix of rock, country, disco, Broadway, and film icons:

• Sylvester Stallone: Acclaimed actor known for the Rocky and Rambo franchises, celebrated for his contributions to American cinema.
• George Strait: Country music legend, often called the "King of Country," with over 100 million records sold and a record-tying 44 No. 1 hits.
• Gloria Gaynor: Disco pioneer and Grammy winner, best known for her anthem "I Will Survive," which has become a symbol of resilience.
• KISS: Rock band members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss (with a representative for the late guitarist Ace Frehley), honored for their theatrical live shows, makeup personas, and massive cultural impact since the 1970s.
• Michael Crawford: British actor-singer famed for originating the role of the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, earning multiple Olivier and Tony Awards.

President Trump presents medallions to the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors recipients: George Strait, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, Sylvester Stallone, and Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley (accepted by his daughter).

Watch OAN Live here:… pic.twitter.com/UCaFZbSNL6

— One America News (@OANN) December 6, 2025Trump, who named himself chairman of the Kennedy Center board earlier this year and fired its previous leadership, was “about 98% involved” in choosing the class, breaking with the bipartisan selection process used since the honors began in 1978. 

He hosted the medal ceremony himself instead of at the usual State Department dinner and attended the gala taping the next day (December 7) at the Kennedy Center.

The move continues Trump’s aggressive overhaul of the institution he criticized for programming, finances, and appearance; ticket sales have reportedly plummeted since the takeover.

The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors gala, featuring tributes and performances, will air later in December on CBS and Paramount+.

Audacy Stations Unite For Country Cares For St. Jude Kids Radiothon

                                             Michael Strahan- Kelsea Ballerini- Jordan Davis

                                                           Sofia Vergara- Riley Green- Lainey Wilson

Seven Audacy stations this week will continue their partnership with St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and participate in the 36th annual “Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon,” in support of its life-saving mission: Finding cures. Saving Children.®

For the first time, CMA, ACM, Billboard Music Award Winner and the highest RIAA-certified country artist of all time, Luke Combs, will host an Audacy Country St. Jude takeover hour on December 11 at 12:00 p.m. local time. Combs will encourage listeners to join him in supporting St. Jude and their efforts to end childhood cancer by becoming a "Partner In Hope."

Programming will run from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time on December 11 and from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time on December 12. Participating stations include U.S. 101 (WUSY-FM) in Chattanooga, US99 (WUSN-FM) in Chicago, 99.5 WYCD (WYCD-FM) in Detroit, KMLE Country 107.9 (KMLE-FM) in Phoenix, Y108 (WDSY-FM) in Pittsburgh, 103.7 KSON (KSON-FM) in San Diego and Froggy 101 (WGGY-FM) in Wilkes-Barre.

The two-day radiothon will be hosted by personalities home to each local brand and award-winning Audacy talent Katie Neal and Holly Hutton & Rob Stone.

Listeners can tune in to participating Audacy Country stations and connect with them via the social platforms listed below.

• U.S. 101 (WUSY-FM): X, Facebook and Instagram
• US99 (WUSN-FM): X, Facebook and Instagram
• 99.5 WYCD (WYCD-FM): X, Facebook and Instagram
• KMLE Country 107.9 (KMLE-FM): X, Facebook and Instagram
• 103.7 KSON (KSON-FM): X, Facebook and Instagram
• Froggy 101 (WGGY-FM): X, Facebook and Instagram

FCC Extends Foreign Sponsorship ID Deadline

The FCC has granted U.S. radio broadcasters a six-month extension on complying with new foreign sponsorship identification rules, pushing the deadline from December 8, 2025, to June 7, 2026, in response to industry lobbying and legal challenges. 

The rules, aimed at enhancing transparency for ads funded by foreign entities, were upheld in court but face potential rollback under the incoming Trump administration, which has signaled deregulation of media ownership and sponsorship disclosures. Broadcasters argued the original timeline was too aggressive, risking noncompliance fines during the holiday season when political and advocacy ads surge.

The extension provides breathing room but underscores ongoing tensions between federal regulators and the $20 billion radio industry, which relies on local ads for 80% of revenue.

Announced Thursday, the delay follows a federal judge's ruling affirming the rules' constitutionality, yet broadcasters like the NAB continue to press for revisions, citing First Amendment concerns over mandatory disclosures that could chill international sponsorships. Legal experts predict the Trump FTC and DOJ may fast-track reviews, potentially exempting domestic-focused stations, but for now, the extension averts immediate disruptions to ad sales—radio's core economic driver amid declining national spot revenue.

Radio History: Dec 8

➦In 1927…The term "Grand Ole Opry" was used for the first time to refer to the Saturday Night aired on WSM, Nashville. The show was originally named WSM Barn Dance, and George D. Hay billed himself as "The Solemn Old Judge."

The Barn Dance was broadcast after NBC's Music Appreciation Hour, a program featuring classical music and grand opera. On this day in, the final music piece on the Music Appreciation Hour depicted the sound of a rushing locomotive. After the show ended, "Judge Hay" opened the WSM Barn Dance with this announcement:

“ Friends, the program which just came to a close was devoted to the classics. Doctor Damrosch [host of the program] told us that there is no place in the classics for realism. However, from here on out for the next three hours, we will present nothing but realism. It will be down to earth for the 'earthy'. ”

Hay then introduced the man he dubbed "The Harmonica Wizard," DeFord Bailey, who played his classic train song, "The Pan American Blues," named for the crack Louisville and Nashville Railroad passenger train The Pan-American. After Bailey's performance, Hay commented, "For the past hour, we have been listening to music taken largely from Grand Opera. From now on we will present the Grand Ole Opry."

➦In 1940...the first NFL championship game heard nationally aired on the Mutual Broadcasting System. Red Barber called the game  and the Bears beat the Redskins, 73-0, in the most one-sided NFL final ever.

➦In 1941…A Presidential Address was delivered at 12:30 p.m. to a Joint Session of Congress by U. S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, one day after the Empire of Japan's attack on the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii. Roosevelt described the previous day as "a date which will live in infamy."

Within an hour of the speech, Congress passed a formal declaration of war against Japan and officially brought the U.S. into World War II. Britain and Canada also declared war on Japan, although both countries already had been fighting World War II in Europe against Germany.

➦In 1962…DJ-promoter Alan Freed appeared at his payola trial in NYC and admitted to receiving money from record labels to play their songs on the air.

He was found guilty, fined $300, and given six months probation, but the irreparable damage to his reputation and career had been done.

Dick Clark, host of ABC-TV's "American Bandstand," was also questioned but was cleared of all charges.

➦In 1962...During the 1962–63 New York City newspaper strike,WABC 95.5 FM  programmed news for 17 hours daily. This was  about two-and-a-half years before 1010 WINS launched its own around-the-clock, all-news format in April 1965.

The all-news effort on WABC-FM was followed by stints with Broadway show tunes and general freeform programming, including broadcasts of New York Mets baseball games.

➦In 1980...John Lennon, formerly of The Beatles, was fatally shot in the archway of the Dakota, his residence in New York City.

The perp was Mark David Chapman, who stated that he was incensed by Lennon's lifestyle and public statements, especially his much-publicized remark about the Beatles being "more popular than Jesus" and the lyrics of his later songs "God" and "Imagine". Chapman also said he was inspired by the fictional character Holden Caulfield from J. D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye.