Subject: Trump and the Enquirer; Tapper's "pro-truth" position; Fox says "Cruz is wrong;" Hamilton's 16 shots at Tonys; Ripa and Kimmel; Brian Roberts as Shrek
From: CNN's Reliable Sources <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 3 May 2016 22:49:06 +0000
List-Id: 47c9040f6ff957a59bd88396emc list <47c9040f6ff957a59bd88396e.161353.list-id.mcsv.net>

By Brian Stelter and the CNNMoney Media team - [email-masked] (mailto:[email-masked])
"Early edition" of the newsletter for Indiana primary night...

** How Trump trumpets conspiracy theories
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Donald Trump did it again today. He created an entire news cycle by citing a far-fetched conspiracy theory as if it's fact.

The theory: Ted Cruz's father, Trump said on Fox, "was with Lee Harvey Oswald prior to Oswald's being, you know, shot... And nobody even brings it up, I mean, they don't even talk about that. That was reported, and nobody talks about it. But I think it's horrible."

The source: This flimsy claim was ginned up a month ago by a conspiratorial web site called the Wayne Madsen Report. Then it spread to like-minded sites like InfoWars. By the end of April, it was on the front page of the National Enquirer.
The response: Cruz called it "nuts..." Joked that his father is also "secretly Elvis..." Labeled the Enquirer "tabloid trash..." And noted Trump's friendly relationship with its parent company's CEO David Pecker.

The reciting of unproven conspiracy theories (http://money.cnn.com/2016/05/03/media/donald-trump-conspiracy-theories-media/index.html?iid=Lead) has been a tactic of the Trump campaign since last summer. I think the behavior is one of the biggest media stories of this election cycle, and an ongoing conundrum for the media. I wrote about it here... (http://money.cnn.com/2016/05/03/media/donald-trump-conspiracy-theories-media/index.html?iid=Lead)
Why this matters
Trump's past sources of information have also included Internet rumors ("thousands" of Muslims cheered in NJ on 9/11) and fringe right-wing web sites (protester had "ties to ISIS"). This matters, obviously, because politicians base their statements and decisions on the information they read/watch.

Trump's tendency to cite sketchy sources of info suggests that he doesn't see a difference between, say, the Enquirer and the NYT. Media analysts know there are big differences between tabloids and robust newspaper newsrooms. But many voters might side with Trump — polls routinely show widespread distrust of the media writ large. Read more... (http://money.cnn.com/2016/05/03/media/donald-trump-conspiracy-theories-media/index.html?iid=Lead)

-- Dylan Byers tweeted: "Honest Q: Does the average Trump voter believe Trump’s conspiracy theories, or just not care that he’s hawking them?"
Tapper's "pro-truth" statement
Jake Tapper began his 4pm broadcast today by explaining and debunking the "ridiculous" Cruz/Oswald claim. You really should watch all two and a half minutes of this. (https://twitter.com/brianstelter/status/727590710937948160)  Tapper called the Enquirer "story" (in quote marks) "bizarre..." Explained the "contrary evidence" for it... And said "any suggestion that Cruz's father played a role in the Kennedy assassination is ridiculous and, frankly, shameful. Now, that's not an anti-Trump position or a pro-Cruz position, it's a pro-TRUTH position."Watch... (https://twitter.com/brianstelter/status/727590710937948160)
Road to 2016
Cruz blasts Murdoch and Ailes
Dylan Byers emails: Ted Cruz, staring into the twilight of his presidential campaign, is blaming Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes for the success of Trump. "Network executives have made a decision to get behind Donald Trump. Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes... have turned Fox News into the Donald Trump network," he said at lunchtime today.

The anti-media rhetoric is not new for Cruz, but this attack was notable for two reasons: First, it was an attack on Fox News, the preferred network of Republicans and conservatives... And more importantly, it was personal: a direct assault on two execs who wield great influence in the GOP primary process. Read Dylan's full story here... (http://money.cnn.com/2016/05/03/media/ted-cruz-roger-ailes-rupert-murdoch/index.html)
Fox's shortest statement EVER
At deadline time, Fox News PR sent Dylan a response to Cruz's complaints. A four word response: "Ted Cruz is wrong."
I miss Murdoch on Twitter...
Tomorrow will mark two months since Murdoch stopped tweeting. He seemingly called it quits right before his wedding. Is there anything we can do to get him back online?...

** "Are you aware that we're making hist'ry?"
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I'm sure you've heard the news by now: "Hamilton" scored a record-breaking 16 Tony Award nominations this morning. The prior record-holder, "The Producers," had 15 noms in 2001. "'Hamilton' is now poised to break that show's record 12 wins," Lisa France reports. (http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/03/entertainment/tony-awards-nominations-2016/index.html)

-- The awards will be broadcast by CBS on June 12...

-- Lin-Manuel Miranda and co. watched the announcement like real New Yorkers: "We pirated @NY1 just to watch the noms w you @PatKiernan @JamieStelter!" he tweeted...  (https://twitter.com/Lin_Manuel/status/727489394119159809)

** #BroadwaySoDiverse
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"Goodbye #OscarsSoWhite and hello #BroadwaySoDiverse," Lisa writes. (http://money.cnn.com/2016/05/03/news/broadway-diversity-tony-awards/index.html) "Both the announcement of the Tony Awards nominations and a study about diversity representation in theater highlights the difference between Hollywood and Broadway."

She notes that today's Tony noms "were showered on several actors of color from casts of productions including 'Hamilton,' 'The Color Purple,' 'Eclipsed' and 'Shuffle Along.'"
Furthermore,this new report shows (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/diversity-representation-hits-record-high-889685?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=THR%27s%20Today%20in%20Entertainment_now_2016-05-03%2006:48:33_ehayden&utm_term=hollywoodreporter_tie) "that the 2014-15 theater season is one the most diverse years on record..."
For the record
-- Lots and lots of good news from CBSin its Q1 earnings, (http://www.wsj.com/articles/cbs-results-boosted-by-super-bowl-1462307173#:bmrqKrkun4jETA) out this afternoon: "Better-than-expected earnings and revenue," strong ad sales, big gains in sub fees, etc... (WSJ (http://www.wsj.com/articles/cbs-results-boosted-by-super-bowl-1462307173#:bmrqKrkun4jETA) )

-- "The forces behind BuzzFeed’s and Longform’s podcasts are going into business for themselves, with an impressive initial list of clients — including the NYT," Nicholas Quah reports... (Hot Pod (http://www.niemanlab.org/2016/05/hot-pod-a-new-podcast-power-is-formed-on-pineapple-street/) )

-- Happy birthday to NPR's "All Things Considered," which turned 45 years old today...

-- And happy birthday to Willie Geist, who turned 41...

-- "Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer is adapting "Anna Dressed in Blood" for the big screen... (Variety (http://variety.com/2016/film/news/twilight-stephenie-meyer-anna-dressed-in-blood-1201765450/) )

** Keeping the Flint water crisis front & center
------------------------------------------------------------
Flint Journal editor Byrn Mickle emails: "We just published a pretty powerful package (http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/page/faces_of_flint.html) on the Flint water crisis... We have 100 stark portraits of the people living this crisis (http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/page/faces_of_flint.html) , as well as the impact in their own words. There is also a deep look at the government failures that allowed this to happen..."

** What ESPN and Vice are doing together
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Vice and ESPN are swapping programming and making some shows together in a pact announced today. THR's (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/vice-make-short-form-series-889979) Natalie Jarvey explains: "Under the production and distribution pact, Vice Sports series including those from Carmelo Anthony's The Clubhouse will air on ESPN properties. It also gives Vice the rights to re-air films from ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary series on Viceland. Further, Vice Sports and ESPN Films will collaborate to produce new series that will run across ESPN and Vice." Time will tell how expansive this really is or isn't...

-- BTW: The best quote in the press release (http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2016/05/espn_vice/) came from John Skipper, who said he applauds Shane Smith "for understanding that television is the smartest path to worldwide leadership..."

** NYT posts Q1 loss
------------------------------------------------------------
The NYT lost $13.5 million in Q1. Rick Edmonds' summary for Poynter: (http://www.poynter.org/2016/the-new-york-times-thinks-digital-growth-will-outpace-print-losses-just-not-yet/409084/)  "It showed strong growth in digital subscriptions and a number of digital advertising categories. But print advertising losses of roughly 9% compared to the same period a year ago led to an overall revenue decline of 1.2%." NYT had its strongest digital sub growth in over three years... 67,000 net subs. But print declines and ad challenges make the operating environment very difficult...

-- More from Edmonds: "The company expects Q2 results and revenue declines to be about the same with some pickup in the second half of the year..."

-- Matt Ingram tweets a fun stat: (https://twitter.com/mathewi) "The NYT has 200,000 people who subscribe to the crossword, far more than most papers have getting the entire thing"

** Print poised for a revival?!
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In last night's newsletter, I asked for reactions to this Editor & Publisher column (http://www.editorandpublisher.com/feature/as-digital-fatigue-sets-in-readers-are-waking-up-to-newspapers/) asserting that print papers are "poised for a revival." Here are a couple:

-- Eric Spitz, who until last year was the co-owner of the Orange County Register, emails: "I found the article's premise to be weakly constructed." He summed it up this way: "Hopefully, younger users will see the light and rescue the business by coming back to print because the digital experience has annoying ads, and some publishers are banning the use of ad blockers." Except, he says, "There is no evidence presented to suggest that young people will do so, except the blind and unfounded reference to nostalgia brands and vinyl records..."

-- Writer/researcher Pati McMillan emails:
"Nu Yang wrote exactly what I have been thinking for years. I'm sure you'll agree that everything eventually comes full circle. Even now, the younger generation seem to have grown bored with technology. Children's friends are rediscovering the things that I loved at their age - books, LPs, board games, jigsaw puzzles - and it makes me glad..."

** Whoopi looking to leave "The View?"
------------------------------------------------------------
The Wrap's Scott Collins says (http://www.thewrap.com/whoopi-goldberg-threatens-to-bolt-from-the-view/) "Whoopi Goldberg may be ready to disappear from 'The View.' The outspoken Oscar winner has informed friends she’s fed up with ABC’s morning chatfest and wants to bail from the panel... Whether she really means it or could be persuaded to stay remains to be seen. Goldberg, 60, is in talks with ABC about extending her contract, which is up at the end of this season."

Collins also says (http://www.thewrap.com/whoopi-goldberg-threatens-to-bolt-from-the-view/) Raven-Symone, "who joined the panel last year, probably won’t be returning" next season...

** Kelly Ripa's first co-host after Michael...
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...Will be her ABC colleague Jimmy Kimmel. He'll fill in on Monday, May 16. Kimmel is already due to be in NYC because he'll be performing at ABC's upfront presentation the next day...

-- Ripa mentioned on the air this morning that Michael Strahan's "goodbye party" will be on May 13...

** Why tomorrow is special for "Star Wars" fans
------------------------------------------------------------
Brian Lowry explains: (http://money.cnn.com/2016/05/03/media/disney-may-the-4th-star-wars/index.html?iid=SF_LN) "Perhaps appropriately for the 'Star Wars' universe, the annual celebration known as May the 4th (as in 'May the Force Be With You') began with a ragtag group of fans, before being coopted by a vast empire. Capitalizing on the phrase uttered by Jedi knights in the movies, fans initiated May the 4th festivities several years ago." Now it's a secular holiday for geeks... (http://money.cnn.com/2016/05/03/media/disney-may-the-4th-star-wars/index.html?iid=SF_LN)

** [Spoiler alert]
------------------------------------------------------------

** How "GOT" cast reacted to "death" of Jon Snow
------------------------------------------------------------
Frank Pallotta emails: Okay, let me start by saying that if you haven’t watched this Sunday's "Game of Thrones," this item is going to have spoilers, so beware. Oh, and also, go watch it, it's awesome. Anyway, Jon Snow returned to the land of the living on Sunday night's episode, to the surprise of some but not all of the show's fans.

Many viewers and fans figured that Snow, who is played by Kit Harington, would be back. But some, like Harington's fellow cast members on the show, thought he was gone for good.

In a great interview with Entertainment Weekly, (http://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/03/game-thrones-kit-harington-jon-snow) Harington explains how he had to keep the secret of his revival from the cast and crew. One such cast member, Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa on the show, even wrote a heartfelt note to Harington saying goodbye. "Sophie Turner, bless her, wrote me a really long letter about how much she loved working with me – and I still got it," Harington told EW. "That made me chuckle..."

** Brian Roberts like you've never seen him!
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Variety wins the week with this photo illustration for Cynthia Littleton's Comcast cover story. (http://variety.com/2016/biz/features/comcast-takes-on-disney-dreamworks-animation-acquisition-buy-1201764760/)  She notes that Brian Roberts' acquisition of DreamWorks last week came "twelve years to the day" after Comcast was forced to yank its $54 billion bid for Disney. Now he's on a quest "to build a better mousetrap than Disney, the current unrivaled champion of family entertainment." Read the rest here... (http://variety.com/2016/biz/features/comcast-takes-on-disney-dreamworks-animation-acquisition-buy-1201764760/)

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