Trump Targets Journalists and Authors in Billion-Dollar Lawsuit

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Trump Targets Journalists and Authors in Billion-Dollar Lawsuit

Trump continues his streak of lawsuits against news media companies with a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against New York Times journalists who authored a book and articles focusing on his finances and role in the show, The Apprentice. The book, published by Penguin Random House, and NYT articles published ahead of the last election. We’ve seen major news corporations and other formidable institutions settle out of court. Lawsuits are costly, time-consuming, and the president wields great power but, in my opinion, settling sets a terrible precedent and damages reputations. Law firm Paul, Weiss lost major partners after entering a deal with Trump to remove an executive order against the firm. The optics of a law firm fearing the courtroom is yikes, and you have to wonder if it was worth it. I think not. Katie Fallow, deputy litigation director at Columbia University’s Knight First Amendment Institute, told AP News, “Trump’s new lawsuit appears designed not to vindicate any genuine reputational harm, but to impose crushing legal costs on media organizations and create a chilling effect that will deter future critical coverage of Trump’s conduct and business dealings.” The NYT and PRH so far sound committed to standing by its writers.

The Housemaid Adaptation Has a Trailer

The adaptation of The Housemaid, Freida McFadden’s dark domestic thriller, has a trailer and it is tense. Starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried (who kinda look like the same person to me), the book and film follows Millie, the housemaid for the wealthy Winchester family, and Nina, her employer. Millie, desperate for work and to escape her past, can’t afford to leave her job even as she discovers horrifying secrets about the Winchester family. Based on the success of the book, the talent attached, and our collective hunger for domestic thrillers, I’m predicting this movie, out December 19th, will do very well in the box office.

A New Digital Comics Platform Marrying Webtoon and Disney

Popular digital comics company Webtoon has reached a tentative agreement with Disney to create a new digital platform. The platform will host both Webtoon comics and Disney’s catalog of Marvel, Star Wars, and other comics. According to Publishers Weekly, “the new platform will include a mix of vertical and traditional formats for archived comics, current comic book runs, and original stories.” Web comics have really taken off, so Disney cozying up to a popular, established space for the form makes sense. A final agreement is pending but Disney’s impending 2% equity stake in Webtoon has already sent the company’s stock soaring.

Horrifying New Historical Fiction for Fall

Let’s hear it for crisp mornings and hot beverages. Fall is nigh and if you’re looking for some historical fiction to get you in the Halloween spirit, we’ve got a selection of anticipated new releases out this fall featuring demons, witches, spirit mediums, and haunted houses.