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Fox News Host Clashes With Trump In Tense Interview

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President Donald Trump’s latest appearance on The Ingraham Angle turned out to be anything but routine. In a Monday night interview filmed in the Oval Office, Fox News host Laura Ingraham pressed the president repeatedly—on housing, the economy, foreign policy, and the MAGA movement itself—leading to one of Trump’s most combative televised exchanges in recent memory.

Before the interview even aired, a preview clip posted to Ingraham’s Facebook page hinted at the unusual tone. Filming amid Trump’s famously gold-adorned surroundings, she teased, “So these aren’t from Home Depot?” The moment didn’t make it to air, but it set the stage for what followed: a testy back-and-forth between two of the most influential voices in conservative politics.

Trump on Housing and the Economy

Ingraham began by raising concerns about housing affordability and the average age of first-time homebuyers now hitting 40. Trump interrupted, “We inherited that, you have to understand,” but Ingraham shot back, “Let me get to the question, though.”

She challenged Trump on his proposal for a 50-year mortgage—a concept some in the MAGA base criticized as prolonging debt. “Is that really a good idea?” she asked.

“It’s not even a big deal,” Trump said. “I mean, you go from 40 to 50 years.” Ingraham corrected him: “30 to 50 years.” Trump deflected, blaming “Joe Biden and his lousy Fed person, Jerome Powell,” before asserting, “If we had a normal person, the Fed would have really low interest rates.”

Ingraham pressed further: “Why are people saying they are anxious about the economy?” Trump dismissed the premise. “I don’t know that they are saying [that]. I think polls are fake. We have the greatest economy we ever had.”

Her question came as Republicans are still reeling from setbacks in the New Jersey and Virginia elections. “Do you think voters have the wrong perception?” Ingraham asked. Trump responded, “More than anything else, it’s a con job by the Democrats. Costs are way down.”

The $10,000 Bonus Controversy

Ingraham also questioned Trump’s Truth Social post offering a $10,000 bonus to air traffic controllers working through the government shutdown. “There are a lot of delays now, sir,” she noted.

Trump replied, “I’m not happy when I saw people refusing to do unpaid work during the shutdown. Look, life is not so easy for anybody. Our country has never done better. We should not have had people leaving their jobs. What I basically said—the ones that stayed, there were a lot of them—I’m sending them a $10,000 bonus.”

When Ingraham pressed, “Where is that money coming from?” Trump quipped, “I don’t know. I will get it from some place. I always get the money from some place, regardless. It doesn’t matter.”

Sparring Over China and Foreign Students

The discussion turned global when Ingraham cited a CNN report on China expanding its missile facilities. “China are not our friends, sir,” she said.

“They don’t want to mess around with us,” Trump countered. When Ingraham noted China’s theft of U.S. intellectual property, Trump asked, “Do you think the French are better?” Ingraham said yes. Trump shot back, “I’m not so sure.”

The tension deepened when Ingraham raised the issue of foreign students. “A lot of MAGA folks are not thrilled about this idea of hundreds of thousands of foreign students in the United States,” she said. “Why, sir, is that a pro-MAGA position?”

Trump defended the policy: “Without foreign students, you would have half the colleges in the United States go out of business.”

“So what?” Ingraham said bluntly. Trump replied, “I think that’s a big deal.”

The MAGA Movement—and Media Dynamics

Ingraham repeatedly framed questions around the “MAGA folks” critical of Trump’s ideas. Trump pushed back: “MAGA was my idea. It was nobody else’s idea. I know better than anybody else MAGA wants to see our country thrive.”

That line captured Trump’s increasingly defensive posture—not just toward Democrats, but toward members of the conservative media who now challenge him more openly. While The Ingraham Angle once provided friendly ground, Monday’s interview underscored the shifting balance between Trump and right-leaning outlets seeking to assert independence ahead of the 2024 election.

Observers note that Trump’s prickly demeanor may reflect deeper frustrations: inflationary pressures remain despite his attacks on Biden’s policies; conservative pundits are fracturing over strategy; and Trump’s own polling among independent voters has shown volatility. Within this context, even mild criticism from longtime allies can provoke his ire.

A Tense Exchange Symbolizing a Larger Rift

The Oval Office encounter stood in stark contrast to Ingraham’s earlier visit in March, when Trump jovially showed off his “Coke button” and griped about paving over the Rose Garden. This time, there were no laughs—just sharp exchanges between two seasoned figures who have long shaped Republican discourse.

Nancy Pelosi Attacks ‘Vile Creature’ Trump In Wild CNN Interview

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Nancy Pelosi via Gage Skidmore flickr

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called President Donald Trump “a vile creature,” adding that he is “the worst thing on the face of the earth” during an unhinged interview.

Pelosi made the comments during a sit-down interview with CNN that aired on Monday. The hostile remarks come as political violence in the United States continues to rise, following two assassination attempts on President Trump in 2024 and the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in September.

“He’s just a vile creature, and the worst thing on the face of the earth, but anyway,” Pelosi said of Trump.

“You think he’s the worst thing on the face of the earth?” asked CNN journalist Elex Michaelson.

“I do, yeah,” Pelosi replied.

She defended her harsh words about Trump, arguing that he “does not honor the Constitution of the United States.”

“In fact, he’s turned the Supreme Court into a rogue court. He’s abolished the House of Representatives. He’s chilled the press,” Pelosi added. “He’s scared people who are in our country legally.”

The 85-year-old congresswoman was not asked to explain how Trump has made the Supreme Court a “rogue court” or what she meant by arguing that the House of Representatives has been “abolished.” The CNN interview focused on California’s special election on Tuesday, when voters will cast their ballots on Proposition 50, which aims to redraw the state’s congressional maps to further favor Democrats.

On Thursday, the 20-term Congresswoman announced her retirement.

In a video posted to social media, Pelosi described her love for San Francisco, saying that in the midst of all the titles she’s held, “there has been on greater honor for me than to stand on the House floor and say I speak for the people of San Francisco.”

“I will not be seeking reelection to Congress. With a grateful heart I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative,” she added. “As we go forward my message to the city I love is this. San Francisco, know your power. We have made history, we have made progress, we have always led the way. And now we must continue to do so by remaining full participants in our democracy and fighting for the American ideals we hold dear.”

Newsweek Editor Receives Backlash For Calling For Tucker Carlson Should Be ‘Neutralized’

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Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Newsweek senior editor-at-large Josh Hammer came under fire Wednesday after publishing a column that some critics mischaracterized as calling for harm against Tucker Carlson — an accusation Hammer says is rooted in bad faith and deliberate misinterpretation.

In his Daily Mail piece, Hammer criticized Carlson for his recent interview with controversial commentator Nick Fuentes, arguing that Carlson’s platforming of Fuentes’ “repugnant beliefs” undermines what Hammer described as “the forces of civilizational sanity on the MAGA Right.”

The line that drew the most attention, however, came at the end of the article:

“The fox is now comfortably ensconced in the hen house. And unless the fox is neutralized, the victim could be the entire extant GOP coalition itself.”

Critics — many of them fellow conservatives — quickly pounced on the word “neutralized”, accusing Hammer of reckless rhetoric, particularly in light of recent violence targeting right-leaning public figures.

Conservative Figures Sound the Alarm Over Dangerous Climate

Among those voicing concern was The Blaze host Jason Whitlock, who called the phrasing “irresponsible,” noting that the statement came just weeks after the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. “Josh Hammer calls for Tucker Carlson to be neutralized,” Whitlock wrote on X. “This is a Keith Olbermann-style Twitter post, not something that should be published by a news outlet. We just witnessed the assassination of Charlie Kirk. This is irresponsible by the Daily Mail.”

The article was also condemned by Kirk’s former friend Candace Owens, who wrote, “I cannot believe the @DailyMail allowed this to be published.”

Whitlock’s remarks reflect a growing anxiety across conservative media as political violence against the right has intensified. In addition to the shocking murder of Kirk, former President Donald Trump has survived multiple assassination attempts — including a rally shooting this summer that left several attendees wounded. Other conservative officials and commentators have faced threats, doxxing campaigns, and physical harassment in recent months.

Republicans argue that these attacks are part of a broader cultural and political escalation — one amplified by a media ecosystem that downplays or outright ignores violence directed at conservatives, while eagerly condemning right-wing rhetoric as “dangerous.”

Hammer Pushes Back: “Quit Lying”

In response to the online backlash, Hammer took to social media to clarify his meaning and denounce what he described as willful misrepresentation.

“One has to be truly stupid or willfully disingenuous (or both, as the case may be) to think that ‘neutralized’ here means anything other than its most common usages,” he wrote. “Quit lying.”

He later posted a screenshot of a dictionary definition of “neutralize,” which reads: “To make (something) ineffective; counteract; nullify.” Hammer emphasized that his critique of Carlson was political — not personal — and that he was calling for Carlson’s influence to be curtailed, not for violence of any kind.

Trump Addresses Reports He Will Name New White House Ballroom After Himself

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President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed media reports suggesting he planned to name the new White House ballroom — which will replace the outdated East Wing — after himself.

The report, published by ABC News, claimed the 90,000-square-foot facility would be called “The President Donald J. Trump Ballroom.” But Trump quickly set the record straight.

“I don’t have any plan to call it after myself, that was fake news,” Trump told reporters. “We’re probably going to call it the presidential ballroom or something like that. We haven’t really thought about a name yet.”

Trump’s comments come as construction continues on what is expected to be a major modernization of the White House complex — a project the administration says will better serve official state events and visiting dignitaries.

A Vision for Renewal and National Pride

According to ABC News, roughly $350 million has been raised for the ballroom’s construction, exceeding the projected $300 million cost. President Trump suggested that surplus funds could support another ambitious initiative: an iconic arch to be built at the entrance of Washington, D.C., near the Lincoln Memorial.

“You know, we’re going to be building the arc,” Trump said. “And we’ve raised a lot of money for the ballroom, so maybe we’ll put — the arc is going to be incredible for Washington, D.C. So maybe we use it for the arc.”

The administration expects the ballroom to be completed before the end of Trump’s term in 2029. Supporters say the project symbolizes renewal and the continuation of America’s tradition of strength and elegance at its seat of power.

Demolition Meets Predictable Backlash

Earlier this week, crews finished demolishing the East Wing — a move that drew predictable criticism from establishment voices and Democratic allies. A YouGov poll found about half of Americans disapprove of the demolition, while many others see it as a step forward for modernization and security.

Among the most vocal critics was USA Today, which published an opinion piece by Chelsea Clinton condemning the construction. She claimed it represented “a reflection of how easily history can be erased when power forgets purpose.”

Former White House aide Michael LaRosa, who worked for Jill Biden, echoed the sentiment, calling the demolition “sad” and “heartbreaking.” Still, even he admitted, “I don’t think that there’s any question a ballroom is probably needed.”

The East Wing: History Meets Modern Necessity

While some opponents point to the East Wing’s historical roots, Trump’s supporters argue that progress and preservation are not mutually exclusive. The East Wing dates back to the early 1800s, when Thomas Jefferson added colonnades that were criticized even then as “aristocratic.”

Over the years, the space evolved — from Teddy Roosevelt’s renovations to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s additions, including a movie theater and a bunker used during national emergencies. That bunker, known as the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, was used by George W. Bush’s cabinet on 9/11 and by President Trump during the 2020 unrest.

Trump Seeks To Proceed With $10B Lawsuit Over Wall Street Journal

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The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

President Donald Trump’s legal team has requested a Florida federal judge reject a request from the Wall Street Journal to dismiss a $10 billion defamation lawsuit over the paper’s reporting on the bawdy letter allegedly penned by Trump that appeared in a birthday book for disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

In a court filing late Monday, Trump’s lawyers argued that the July article and surrounding coverage were a “deliberate smear campaign designed to damage President Trump’s reputation” and subject the president to “public hatred and ridicule.” They also requested oral arguments over the Journal’s recent motion to dismiss.

“Defendants did not publish the Article on the front page of The Wall Street Journal based on a mere harmless joke between friends,” Monday’s filing said. “Indeed, such an assertion strains credulity beyond repair. The Article, and the surrounding media around it, were all a deliberate smear campaign designed to damage President Trump’s reputation.”

Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for aiding and participating in Epstein’s trafficking of underage girls, told Justice Department officials in August that Epstein had asked her to organize contributions to his 50th birthday book from friends and associates, but said she could not recall if Trump, then a private citizen, was among those who responded.

Last month, the House Oversight Committee released records from Epstein’s estate that included a copy of a birthday book with the alleged letter from Trump that the newspaper had described.

Trump then filed a lawsuit against the Journal in July, and has continued to assert the letter is fake and that the signature on the letter is not his.

Acknowledging the release of the letter by the House Oversight panel, Trump’s lawyers alleged that the Wall Street Journal was still “deliberate and malicious” in its reporting by claiming that the letter was not only authored by Trump but also “on-brand” for the president. 

The Wall Street Journal has stood by its reporting.

“Because Plaintiff has publicly admitted that he was Epstein’s friend in the early 2000s, his reputation cannot be harmed by the suggestion that he was friends with Epstein in 2003. Indeed, he was listed in the Birthday Book as a ‘friend’ of Epstein. The fact that his relationship with Epstein may now be a political liability — over 20 years after the Birthday Book was presented to Epstein — does not change this conclusion,” the Journal contended in its request for dismissal.

While the Journal’s reporting included a denial from President Trump, his lawyers argued in Mondays filing that the publication still acted with a “reckless disregard for the truth” because the request for comment was rushed and the reporting allegedly cast doubt on the president’s claim. 

Federal Prosecutors ‘At Work’ To Bring Charges Against John Bolton

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The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Federal prosecutors are reportedly preparing charges against former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton, a longtime critic of President Trump, over his handling of classified materials — a move that comes after months of internal resistance from within the Justice Department.

According to CNN’s Katelyn Polantz, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland met over the weekend to hammer out the details of a potential indictment. Citing unnamed sources, Polantz reported that the Maryland team had initially pushed back against DOJ leadership’s push to charge Bolton, but those objections have now “lifted,” and the team is “at work” on the case.

The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Appearing on CNN’s The Situation Room with anchor Pamela Brown, Polantz explained that the disagreement was “about when to charge” Bolton — suggesting that some inside the DOJ were concerned about timing rather than substance.

“From what I had learned through sources,” Polantz said, “was that the dispute was over timing — whether to charge John Bolton very soon or prepare an indictment very soon to take it through the grand jury, or whether there needed to be more time since those searches of his home and office only took place a couple of weeks ago.”

In late August, FBI agents raided Bolton’s Maryland home and private office, seizing materials reportedly marked “secret,” “confidential,” and “classified,” including documents referencing weapons of mass destruction. Investigators also collected electronics and files labeled “Trump I–IV,” according to court filings.

Bolton — who has been a vocal Trump critic since leaving the administration — has denied any wrongdoing. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, said the items taken were “decades old” and insisted that his client “did nothing inappropriate.”

Fox News To Join Other Networks In Rejecting Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon Media ‘Pledge’

Not happening…

Fox News is reportedly planning to join a coalition of news organizations to reject the War Department’s order that will sharply curtail press freedom at the Pentagon.

The move follows a late Friday memo from Hegseth demanding reporters sign a new “In-Brief for Media Members” agreement or surrender their Pentagon access cards by Tuesday.

The order forbids journalists from soliciting tips, photographing, or even sketching what they see inside the building.

David B. Gleason from Chicago, IL, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Networks are coordinating through the Pentagon press pool to issue a unified response to publicly oppose the measure, according to Status’ Oliver Darcy.

Darcy reported Tuesday that Fox News, where Hegseth worked for almost a decade prior to his nomination, has “no plans to agree to the draconian rules,” citing sources.

The move will set up “a showdown with his former employer,” according to Darcy.

Darcy’s reporting was later backed up by CNN’s chief media analyst Brian Stelter, who wrote in his Reliable Sources newsletter, “CNN has already said that its journalists will not accept the new restrictions. I’m told that Fox News, NBC, ABC, CBS and CNN will issue a joint statement later today saying much the same thing.”

The push by Hegseth has now been slammed across the board by newspapers and networks — such as The New York TimesThe Atlantic, CNN, Newsmax and The Guardian — with the only outlet reportedly agreeing to the new terms being One America News.

The Pentagon Press Association condemned the policy, saying: “This Wednesday, most Pentagon Press Association members seem likely to hand over their badges rather than acknowledge a policy that gags Pentagon employees and threatens retaliation against reporters who seek out information that has not been pre-approved for release.”

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell dismissed concerns on Monday, accusing reporters of a “full-blown meltdown” in a statement to Status and insisting the policy “is what’s best for our troops and the national security of this country.”

Rosie O’Donnell’s Obsession With Donald Trump Leaves Even Her Therapist Puzzled

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By David Shankbone - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3937757

Actress and liberal activist Rosie O’Donnell once again lashed out at President Donald Trump — so intensely, in fact, that even her own therapist doesn’t understand the depth of her anger.

Appearing Monday on MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace’s podcast The Best People, O’Donnell described Trump as a “madman” and insisted he’s a threat to every American. She admitted that she cannot comprehend how millions of Americans don’t share her deep-seated hostility.

“I don’t know, Nicolle, how it is that some people cannot see it,” O’Donnell said. “My therapist said, ‘Why are you so upset?’ And I said to her, why are you not?”

Wallace responded sympathetically, saying, “Yeah, I have that conversation too.”

O’Donnell went on to warn of alleged harm the president is causing — such as supposedly cutting Medicaid funding — claiming ominously, “What he’s done now hasn’t even hit us yet. And if he’s not stopped now, we have lost our country.” O’Donnell did not clarify what she meant by “stopping” the president.


A Long-Running Feud That’s Consumed O’Donnell

O’Donnell’s public fixation on Trump dates back years. One of the most famous flashpoints came during the 2015 GOP primary debate when Trump, pressed by Megyn Kelly on his sharp remarks about certain women, quipped he was “only” referring to O’Donnell — a moment that drew cheers and laughter from the audience.

The animosity only grew. Earlier this year, O’Donnell followed through on past threats to leave the United States, moving to Ireland after Trump’s reelection. She claimed she would only consider returning “when you know it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America.”


Downward Spiral Fueled by Political Rage

By O’Donnell’s own admission, her obsession with Trump has taken a toll on her mental health. She described the move overseas as necessary for her “sanity,” a stark indication of how politics have dominated her personal life. Friends and observers have noted how O’Donnell, once a beloved comedian and talk show host, has seen her public image sour and her career stall as she’s poured more energy into anti-Trump activism than entertainment. Even O’Donnell acknowledged her therapy sessions are consumed by her fury over one man — and that her therapist is confused by the intensity of it.


A Media Narrative That Fell Flat

O’Donnell blamed Trump’s popularity on what she called “lies” from the media and pop culture, singling out Mark Burnett’s hit show The Apprentice for portraying him as a successful businessman and leader. “Thanks to Mark Burnett’s ‘Apprentice’ show that lied to the American people, that sold fiction as fact … people were confused and lied to. And then they listened to Fox News and they were more lost,” she said.

But even her friendly host, Wallace, tried to soothe O’Donnell’s despair. Wallace claimed Trump is “more unpopular now than he’s ever been,” citing RealClearPolitics polling showing his approval rating around 45.4 percent — though that’s still formidable given years of relentless media opposition.

Watch:

YouTube Agrees To Pay Over 20 Million To Settle Trump Lawsuit

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YouTube has agreed to pay Donald Trump $24.5 million after preventing him from posting new videos to his channel after the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots.

According to the filing, $22 million will be used to support Trump’s construction of a White House State Ballroom and will be held in a tax-exempt entity called the Trust for the National Mall.

Tyler Merbler, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Another $2.5 million will go to the other plaintiffs in the lawsuit — including the American Conservative Union, Andrew Baggiani, Austen Fletcher, Maryse Veronica Jean-Louis, Frank Valentine, Kelly Victory and Naomi Wolf — according to the filing.

“This Notice of Settlement and Stipulation of Dismissal shall not constitute an admission of liability or fault on the part of the Defendants or their agents, servants, or employees, and is entered into by all Parties for the sole purpose of compromising disputed claims and avoiding the expenses and risks of further litigation,” the filing stated.

YouTube suspended Trump’s account following the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, saying at the time that an uploaded video violated its policy for inciting violence. It restored Trump’s channel more than two years later, citing that voters could “hear equally from major national candidates in the run-up to an election.”

Trump’s lawsuit alleged that YouTube prevented him from “exercising his constitutional right of free speech” by banning him indefinitely from the platform.

YouTube, which is owned by Google parent company Alphabet, is the latest social media company to agree to settle with Trump this year over the suspension of his accounts following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Meta agreed to settle with Trump by making a donation of $22 million to his presidential library and paying $3 million in legal fees in January.

The Wall Street Journal quotes Trump lawyer John P. Coale, who brought the suits with lead litigation attorney John Q. Kelly.

“If he had not been re-elected, we would have been in court for 1,000 years,” Coale said, suggesting that Trump’s return to power motivated the social media companies to settle. “It was his re-election that made the difference.”

The report said the settlement comes as Google is “under pressure from the Justice Department to break up its ad businesses after a federal judge ruled this spring that the company had created a monopoly in advertising.”

Sinclair Ends Jimmy Kimmel Ban

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The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A quick turnaround…

On Friday, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced that it will end its preemption of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and the show will return on Friday. 

“Our objective throughout this process has been to ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience. We take seriously our responsibility as local broadcasters to provide programming that serves the interests of our communities, while also honoring our obligations to air national network programming,” Sinclair said in a statement.

“Over the last week, we have received thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders representing a wide range of perspectives. We have also witnessed troubling acts of violence, including the despicable incident of a shooting at an ABC affiliate station in Sacramento. These events underscore why responsible broadcasting matters and why respectful dialogue between differing voices remains so important,” the statement continued. “In our ongoing and constructive discussions with ABC, Sinclair proposed measures to strengthen accountability, viewer feedback, and community dialogue, including a network-wide independent ombudsman.”

Sinclair added that proposals “were suggested as collaborative efforts between the ABC affiliates and the ABC network.”

“While ABC and Disney have not yet adopted these measures, and Sinclair respects their right to make those decisions under our network affiliate agreements, we believe such measures could strengthen trust and accountability,” the company said. 

“Our decision to preempt this program was independent of any government interaction or influence. Free speech provides broadcasters with the right to exercise judgment as to the content on their local stations. While we understand that not everyone will agree with our decisions about programming, it is simply inconsistent to champion free speech while demanding that broadcasters air specific content,” Sinclair continued. “As a company rooted in local stations, Sinclair remains committed to serving our communities with programming that reflects their priorities, earns their trust, and promotes constructive dialogue. We look forward to continuing to work with ABC to deliver content that serves a broad spectrum of our communities.”

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.