Matthew Keys

For those of you who like the list I put together a loooong time ago of reputable journalists on Bluesky, it's now available as a starter pack. Here you go: go.bsky.app/22wADif

#BREAKING: A long-time investigative producer was arrested at a Raleigh TV station on Wednesday after police accused him of violating a domestic violence-based restraining order.

A federal judge has arraigned former Deadspin editor Timothy Burke @bubbaprog.xyz aprog on charges brought under a superseding indictment related to his interception and leaking of password-protected Fox News video feeds several years ago.

I've been hearing from salty Bulls fans this week, complaining that CHSN's broadcast TV feed was pulled a while ago in favor of cable-only distribution of local Bulls games. There is a lot behind that deal, but I understand why fans are upset.

The "Star Wars" altcast announced on Monday brings the total number of different ways to watch Super Bowl LXI to seven, including two completely different Spanish-language broadcasts and a special Pat McAfee version, for some reason.

Just...asking for a friend who likes wings, how's Jalen Hurts doing?

#BREAKING: Officials at the NFL say they will not punish the 2-4 Philadelphia Eagles for allowing quarterback Jalen Hurts to play with a dangerous, life-threatening blood clot, ESPN reports.

Is this the point in the election cycle where all the billionaire media owners start hedging their bets and switch to allowing more liberal voices so they can point and say, “look” when the blue wave happens?

FIRST ON THE DESK: DIRECTV has inked a distribution deal with C15 Studio to add four free, ad-supported streaming sports channels, including one covering Formula 1.

#BREAKING: The BBC is cutting 100+ news jobs and closing several domestic channels, including BBC Three and BBC Scotland, as part of deep cost-cutting measures.

❤️

6-0 baby!!

Disney just announced they’ll be doing a Star Wars altcast during the Super Bowl.

Skydance has reached a new agreement with Jon Stewart that will keep him at "The Daily Show" through 2028.

A group of news organizations are suing the Missouri Highway Patrol, seeking to overturn a policy decision that withholds the name of crash victims after decades of providing unredacted records.

Feel like Bluesky has way more work to do on this front. The company will never generate the revenue it needs to sustain its operations as long as the hivemind is allowed to engage in targeted harassment and Bluesky Social turns a blind eye to it.

Eagles QB Jalen Hurt was not allowed to sleep the evening before the London game because "he was told that sleeping posed health risks associated with the clot." Every member of the medical team needs to be fired for clearing him. Eagles fans have a lot of soul-searching to do.

Speaking of trolls, Ken White (Popehat) hasn't posted in about three months and I'm kind of surprised no one has talked about this.

A reminder that there is no federal shield law: The PRESS Act stalled in the Senate. Shield laws protecting journalists from disclosing their sources varies by state.

FIRST ON THE DESK...

C-SPAN is bringing YouTube creators into its Election Night coverage, with simulcasts from PBD Podcast and The Young Turks on its two spillover channels throughout the night.

Hopefully, Jalen Hurts decides to move to a team that values his health and safety — not one with trash coaches, medical staff, front office and fans. Eagles fans getting exactly what they deserve this week.

Fox News is backing a request for the U.S. Supreme Court to review a case involving its former correspondent Catherine Herridge, who has been ordered by a lower court to reveal sources connected to one of her investigative stories.

Breaking News: President Trump’s new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, was fired after less than a week on the job, according to people familiar with the matter. nyti.ms/4yqxU46

#BREAKING: Multiple victims, including children, in Oregon elementary school shooting.

DIRECTV, Nexstar and California Attorney General Rob Bonta are heading back to court in mid-November.

Timothy Burke, @bubbaprog.xyz, will be arraigned on charges under the superseding Grand Jury indictment on Wednesday, October 21, per court records.

#BREAKING: Shareholders approve Fox's $22 billion acquisition of Roku.

#BREAKING: A Maryland teenager is suing CBS News for $20 million after he was incorrectly identified as a vandalism suspect in the ongoing renovation blunders at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Dumb. But true.

Burke's attorneys were notified about the superseding indictment days ago. Burke would have been notified around the same time. But he only posted this to his followers after our story dropped this morning.

A federal judge has scheduled a tentative trial date for December 7, 2026. If date holds, decision in the case expected before January 3, 2027.

The FCC is fighting in court to modify a rule concerning political advertising rates, one that critics say favor Republican causes and deprives broadcasters of much-needed revenue.

"Learn to code," the trolls told me. Okay, challenge accepted. New features rolling out on @thedesk.net throughout the month. You've probably spotted a few already. More soon.

#BREAKING: Federal immigration officials raided the home of Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar early Monday morning, according to Fox News. The raid was connected to a criminal investigation over immigration-related paperwork, Fox said.

Which states protect sources? ✅ 42 states + D.C. have firm shield laws, protecting reporters from disclosing sources. 🟨 7 states have no shield laws, but court cases have set legal precedents that protect reporters, most of the time. 🛑 Wyoming is the only state that has no protections at all.

...not really sure the remote control is the problem here.

We took a look at NBA team schedules this season: 🏀 NBC Sports will produce the most national games. 🏀 The Lakers, Spurs, 76ers and Knicks are tied for the most games on national TV. 🏀 The Nets, Kings, Grizzlies, Pelicans and Bucks will only have two national games each.

Is it legal for the U.S. government to broadcast an execution? The answer is no. Is it legal for TV stations to air an execution if the government breaks the law? FCC Chairman Brendan Carr won't say.

Does it seem like there are more ads now than ever before? You're not imagining things. Marketers are rushing to buy available ad inventory against social media, search engines, streaming video platforms — and even in supermarkets and stores (retail media). Full story: thedesk.net/2026/10/warc...

A federal court has ordered the FCC to respond to a request for relief filed by @mediaanddemocracy.bsky.social in a three-year battle over the broadcast license of a Fox TV station in Philadelphia.

While everyone was focused on whether Paramount should own CNN, everyone missed another part of the picture... A combined CBS-TNT Sports gives Skydance the largest collection of premium sports rights on broadcast and cable TV. Read more: thedesk.net/2026/10/skyd...

What exactly does Skydance own now? Everything from Paramount Pictures, Pluto TV and CBS to CNN, Cartoon Network and Warner Bros Studios. Read more: thedesk.net/tag/skydance/

NEW: A group of Paramount streaming subscribers have petitioned the Supreme Court in a last-ditch effort to prevent Paramount from closing on its acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, which is slated for Tuesday.