Podcast host and independent journalist Jim Acosta ripped CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil over his reporting on the Trump administration and wished that the late Walter Cronkite would rise from the grave to “choke the sh*t” out of him.

Dokoupil recently took heavy criticism over two reports in particular. His 16-second report on President Donald Trump’s rollout of an unhinged January 6 propaganda website and a segment in which he declared “Marco Rubio, we salute you!”

Acosta did a lengthy interview with host Jennifer Welch for the I’ve Had It podcast this week, during which he torched Dokupil and CBS News head Bari Weiss as the worst examples of corporate media. He was pretty harsh:

JIM ACOSTA: Just the other day, the anchor of the CBS Evening News ended his newscast by saying, we salute you, Marco Rubio.

I mean, not only was Walter Cronkite spinning in his grave, I was hoping he would come back from the great beyond to choke the living sh*t out of him!

JENNIFER WELCH: You see where CBS put out a statement, it was like, “We love America and we won’t apologize for it.”.

And I’m like, that’s not your job. Your job isn’t to feel emotion towards America. Your job is relentless pursuit of the truth.

JIM ACOSTA: Also, get the f*ck out of here! We all love America! That’s why we’re doing this.

…

And when I saw CBS doing that, I said, what the f*ck is going on with these people? Because we all love this country. That is beside the point.

What we should be having in this country is a free press that can hold the goddamn president of the United States accountable without everybody worried whether they’re going to lose their f*cking job! You can’t have a situation like that in this country.

And that is why things like what we’re doing right now is flourishing and thriving. Because the American people can sniff this out. They can see the pandering and the nonsense.

And the other night, the anchor on the CBS Evening News on January 6th is saying, “Well, on one hand, the White House is saying that the that Nancy Pelosi is responsible for January 6th, and on the other hand, it was the rioters.”.

No, motherf*cker, we saw it on goddamn television! It was a bunch of Trump thugs that he egged on and incited and sent to the goddamn Capitol! He’s the one who did it! There is no both sides to that f*cking story! End of f*cking story!

And there was a time in this business when the anchor of the CB– I worked under Dan Rather. In the early 2000s, I was here in New York working under Dan Rather.

And there was a time in this business where the anchor of the CBS Evening News–.

If he got a call from the White House where the president of CBS News got a call from White House complaining about the story, they would say, “Go f*ck yourself!” and hang up the phone.

Watch above and watch the full interview here via the I’ve Had It podcast.

The post Jim Acosta Savages CBS Anchor Over Trump Coverage — Says Cronkite Should ‘Choke the Sh*t Out of Him’ From The Grave first appeared on Mediaite.

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A reality TV star running for mayor in Austin, Texas, ended her bid after TMZ told her on air that the election wasn’t for another two years.

According to a report from KXAN, Farrah Abraham — known for her appearances on the shows Teen Mom and 16 & Pregnant — filed paperwork to enter the mayoral race Wednesday. The next day, she appeared on TMZ to talk about her decision to run for public office. During this interview, she was informed by the hosts that the election wasn’t until 2028.

“Oh,” Abraham said when she got the news. “I was told mayoral election is 2026. I don’t know. That’s just what the office told me, as well.”

As noted by KXAN, Abraham’s team quickly rectified the issue. The report continued:

In an interview with KXAN Thursday afternoon, Abraham said her team refiled the paperwork earlier in the day to enter her in the race for District 5’s city council seat.

Abraham also told KXAN that housing affordability will be among the main issues on which she’s campaigning. She’s also concerned with “struggles faced by self-employed workers,” citing instances of her friends moving out of Austin due to rising housing costs. Abraham claimed rent for her home in downtown Austin recently doubled.

The post Reality TV Star Ends Mayoral Bid After TMZ Tells Her on Air That Election Isn’t for Another 2 Years — Decides to Run for City Council Instead first appeared on Mediaite.

If you're an Android owner who uses wireless headphones or earbuds, remove them for a second and listen up: As first reported by WIRED, millions of audio devices from reputable brands like Sony, JBL, Anker, Sonos, and even Google itself are now facing a major security vulnerability that could allow hackers to eavesdrop on your conversations or track your location. There are ways to plug the hole, but you'll need to jump through a few hoops to do it.

How the "WhisperPair" attack works

The vulnerability was first discovered by Belgium's KU Leuven University Computer Security and Industrial Cryptography Group, and is being dubbed "WhisperPair." It takes advantage of Android's Fast Pair feature, which allows for convenient, one-tap connections to nearby Bluetooth devices, similar to what might pop up on your iPhone screen if you open an AirPods case near it. Unfortunately, according to the researchers, they've discovered that it's possible for a malicious actor to essentially hijack the pairing process, giving them a hidden window into your audio device while still letting it connect to your phone or tablet, leaving you none the wiser.

"You’re walking down the street with your headphones on, you're listening to some music. In less than 15 seconds, we can hijack your device," KU Leuven researcher Sayon Duttagupta told WIRED.

OK, so a hacker can listen in on your headphones. Big whoop. But yes, actually. Big whoop indeed.

How this puts you at risk

Once a hacker pairs with your audio device, they can use it to eavesdrop on your microphones, listen in on any private conversations that might be coming through your speakers, play their own audio at whatever volume they want, and, if your device has Google Find Hub support, possibly even track your location.

That last vulnerability is the most concerning to me, although it's also the hardest for hackers to pull off. Right now, it's only been documented in the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 and five Sony products, and requires you to have not previously connected them to an Android device or paired them with a Google account.

Still, even without location tracking, it's certainly not ideal for a hacker to essentially have access to a microphone in your house at all times.

How to protect yourself

The researchers reached out to Google, which has come up with a series of recommended fixes—but here's where the problems come in: These fixes need to be implemented by the accessory makers on an individual basis, and you'll likely need to install them manually.

What that will look like differs based on what device you have. JBL, for instance, told WIRED that it has started pushing out over-the-air updates to plug the vulnerability, while Logitech said it has "integrated a firmware patch for upcoming production units." Lifehacker is reaching out to other companies with affected products, and I will update this post when we hear back.

To ensure you get your device's fixes when they roll out to you, the researcher who discovered WhisperPair suggests downloading its corresponding app—something most audio devices offer these days. “If you don't have the [Sony app], then you'll never know that there's a software update for your Sony headphones,” KU Leuven researcher Seppe Wyns told WIRED.

On the plus side, if you happen to own an affected Google audio device, you should be in the clear—the company says it has already sent out fixes for them. Unfortunately, Google isn't magic. The company also said it tried to update Find Hub to block the location tracking vulnerability for all devices, whether their manufacturer has updated them or not. Unfortunately, the KU Leuven researchers said they were able to bypass that one-size-fits-all fix within a few hours.

Unfortunately, Fast Pair can't be disabled, so until your device's manufacturer rolls out its own update, it will be vulnerable. There is a panic button you can hit if you notice unusual behavior in the meantime, as the researchers say that factory resetting your audio device will clear it of any hackers who have already paired to it. Unfortunately, that still leaves it vulnerable for new hackers going forward.

The risk is real but mostly theoretical for now

On the bright side, while the concerns here are quite real, Google says you don't need to worry too much yet. The company told WIRED it has, "not seen any evidence of any exploitation outside of this report's lab setting." That means the researchers in question might be the first people to discover WhisperPair, although the researchers themselves are being a bit more cautious, as they question Google's ability to observe audio hijacking for devices from other companies.

On that note, if you're a smug iPhone user reading this, you shouldn't feel too comfortable: WhisperPair could affect you too. While the vulnerability can't originate on an Apple device, if you happen to connect a device that has already been hacked on an Android to your iPhone or iPad, then you're in the same boat.

How to know if you're at risk

I wish I could offer a simple solution that would instantly beef up the security on all of your devices, but unfortunately, staying safe from WhisperPair will take some vigilance on your part—in particular, looking out for an update from your device's manufacturer. To check whether the WhisperPair vulnerability affects you, visit the researchers' website and search for your device. It'll tell you the manufacturer, whether it's vulnerable, and what steps you can take to plug the vulnerability. Note that the short list that first pops up under the search bar doesn't include every vulnerable device, so don't assume you're safe just because you don't see yours there—search for it first.

The View’s Alyssa Farah Griffin warned of dire repercussions in Minneapolis if President Donald Trump makes good on his threat to invoke the Insurrection Act to quell demonstrations.

Protests have grown in Minneapolis since the ICE-involved shooting death of 37-year-old Renee Good last week. A second shooting happened Wednesday after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said an officer “feared for his life” after being attacked by protesters.

Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday, “If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State.”

“Governor [Tim] Walz said about a week ago that he has the Minnesota National Guard on standby, so they’re prepared to deploy in case these altercations between protesters and ICE keep getting more violent and it’s necessary,” Griffin said.

She called it a “prudent action” by the governor, who was roundly criticized for delaying Guard deployment during the 2020 George Floyd protests.

“Now, the state National Guard is very, very, very different than federalizing U.S. Troops and putting them into American streets,” Griffin said, continuing:

I see the Insurrection Act as the most extreme step that a president could take to deal with quelling domestic protests. The last time I believe it was used was during the Rodney King protests in 1992. President Trump — I’ve said this before — he talked about doing it in the summer of 2020 — was ultimately talked out of it by General [Mark] Milley, Mark Esper and others, and it was a good thing because what happens is this: So, say governor Walz has the Minnesota National Guard who are there to make sure protesters aren’t getting injured and ICE officers aren’t getting injured. Then you bring in a federalized force that answers to the federal government. You could have tremendous clashes. You could have a lot of confusion about authority, and it makes this tinderbox situation even more dangerous.

Whoopi Goldberg added, “But that’s — I feel like that’s what he wants.”

“It is, and that’s what the mayor is referencing,” Sara Haines said of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D). “He said, ‘We cannot meet Donald Trump’s chaos with our own version of chaos.’ He said, ‘Be peaceful, don’t take the bait.'”

Watch the clip above via ABC.

The post Alyssa Farah Griffin Warns of ‘Tremendous Clashes’ if Trump Takes ‘Extreme Step’ of Invoking the Insurrection Act first appeared on Mediaite.

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As is usually the case after Consumer Electronics Show (CES), older flagship tech products have began to drop in price—including TVs. One of is Samsung's beloved "The Frame" TV. The 65-inch model from 2024 is currently on sale for $997.99 (originally $1,997.99), a more than 50% discount and the lowest price it has been, according to price-tracking tools.

The biggest size, the 85-inch series, is also seeing a record low price, and is currently $2,374.95 (originally $4,297.99). The newer Pro version of The Frame TV that was introduced last year is also discounted, with the 65-inch version going for $1,099.99 (originally $1,799.99), but there are no bigger sizes of that model.

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Samsung’s The Frame smart TVs have come a long way since their 2017 debut. Launched to appeal to the crowd that wants a big TV but doesn’t want that TV to dominate their decor, its main feature is an anti-reflective matte display that gives it a “framed artwork” vibe—and with 4K picture quality. As the name implies, the allure of this TV is that it can double as a digital art frame thanks to its anti-glare matte display and customizable frame.

If you're skeptical a TV can really look like art, my brother fooled me into thinking his 2022 model was an actual painting. The matte screen does a good job of making the TV look unlike a TV while not impacting the viewing experience (it's actually great for bright rooms that might otherwise result in a lot of glare on the screen). That version received only an "average" review from PCMag, mainly due to poor contrast and the price. The 2024 version offered notable improvements, including a 120Hz refresh rate and 4K resolution with a Quantum 4K processor. The latest 2025 Pro version also adds wireless connectivity, which makes it easier to hang on the wall with no cable clutter.

You can buy frames separately to suit your taste—this guy on TikTok even kitted his out with a Harry Potter theme.

Tricia McLaughlin, the Department of Homeland Security’s primary spokesperson, joined Fox News’s America’s Newsroom on Wednesday and was asked to react to popular podcaster Joe Rogan’s latest criticism of ICE.

Anchor Dana Perino introduced the topic, “Joe Rogan—he’s got questions about what’s happening, and it’s probably echoing what many people are thinking. So let’s listen to him and get your reaction.” Perino then played a clip from Rogan’s show from earlier in the week:

I see the perspective of the people that say, “Hey, there was an illegal program moving people in here to get votes, moving people in here to get congressional seats, and we’ve got to change that.” I can also see the point of view of the people that say, “Yeah, but you don’t want militarized people in the streets just roaming around, snatching people up, many of which turn out to actually be U.S. citizens that just don’t have their papers on them. Are we really going to be the Gestapo? Where’s your papers? Is that what we’ve come to?”

“So I know you and I talk a lot about communications and PR, and how would the department respond to that concern that he raised?” Perino asked.

“Well, this answer is very straightforward. If Tim Walz or Mayor Frey would let us in their jails, we wouldn’t have to be there at all. Currently, there are 680 criminal illegal aliens, Dana. That includes murderers, that includes rapists, child pedophiles—people who, whether you’re a Republican or Democrat, you would never want these people on your streets or as your neighbors,” answered McLaughlin, pivoting to attack Democrats. She continued:

That’s the people who we are targeting, and we are trying to get out of Minneapolis. Because we don’t have state and local law enforcement’s cooperation, we do have to have a physical presence on the ground there. And I know in the interview as well—and what Joe Rogan just mentioned—is the rampant crime.

We found more than nine billion dollars, and we believe that’s just the tip of the iceberg. If the state and local government would help there, if they would coordinate with the FBI, if they would coordinate with Homeland Security investigations, we would, on an expedited basis, be finding that fraud, and I think that all Americans would be better off for it. We want to give accountability; we want to give answers.

Anchor Bill Hemmer then moved on to discuss President Donald Trump’s vow to cut funding from so-called sanctuary cities.

Watch the clip above via Fox News.

The post Fox Anchor Asks Trump DHS Spox to Respond to Joe Rogan Warning ICE is Becoming the ‘Gestapo’ first appeared on Mediaite.

Short form videos are addicting. They're also often low quality, AI-generated, misinformation, or some combination of the bunch, and may have a negative impact on our attention spans and mental health. In short, they're just not that good for us. It's bad enough for grown adults to control their scrolling habits, but it's another thing entirely for children, which poses quite the a challenge.

It's easy enough to ban short-form video apps entirely, like TikTok. But what about apps that have short-form content as just one pillar of the overall package? Take YouTube: You might not mind your child having limited access to the app or site to watch long-form content you approve of, but having Shorts always in the way throws a wrench in that system. Any type of short-form video feed would be an issue here, but YouTube Shorts is particularly egregious, allowing kids to watch some truly horrific content, often generated by AI.

Choosing whether your kids watch YouTube Shorts

Luckily, YouTube finally appears to be giving parents some control here. As spotted by TechCrunch, YouTube announced updates to its parental controls on Wednesday. While there are a few changes on the way, the headline for me concerns Shorts. Not only will YouTube let parents choose a timer for how often their kids can watch Shorts, they can choose to set the timer to zero—effectively blocking Shorts for their kids' and teens' accounts.

This should be welcome news to any parents struggling to limit the short-form video content their kids are watching. You can let them watch other types of videos on YouTube Kids, or even standard YouTube if its a teen account, without worrying about them going down short-form video rabbit holes for hours.

The control here can be even more granular than an outright ban, too. Since you're always in control of the timer, YouTube says you can customize timers based on the scenario: You could set the Shorts timer to zero during homework time, then offer 30 minutes of scrolling after dinner. You could bump that to 60 minutes on weekends, or when in the car. If your child is under a supervised account, you'll also be able to control both custom Bedtime and "Take a Break" reminders.

This is not the first time YouTube has offered users more control over Shorts. Last week, the company rolled out a new search filter that lets you choose to only see long-form videos in any given result, and since October, you've been able to limit the number of shorts you can watch in a day. YouTube, and parent company Google, are also expanding parental controls and enhancing protections for kids and teens. YouTube now uses AI to guess your age, and, if it believes you're under 18, will add restrictions to your account. Google also gives parents more control over supervised accounts: Previously, teens could choose to remove supervision after turning 13, but now, they need their parents to sign off on it too.