Latest news with #GeorgePolkAward
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mike Hogan, Longtime Vanity Fair Editor, Exits After 25 Years
Michael Hogan, Vanity Fair's executive digital director, is leaving after 25 years with the publication. The news comes weeks after editor-in-chief Radhika Jones stepped down. 'Some news! After 25 wonderful years—literally half my life—at Vanity Fair, I'm finally ready to call it a night,' Hogan posted to his LinkedIn on Monday. 'Looking back, I can say two things with absolute confidence: my colleagues and I did some excellent work, and we had a ridiculously good time doing it. From answering Wayne Lawson's phone and doing Dominick Dunne's expenses to editing the Jen Aniston and Suri Cruise cover stories, turbo-charging and launching three verticals, covering five presidents and six predidencies, co-hosting Little Gold Men and the Oscar Party livestream, writing about my Twin Peaks obsession for the upcoming June issue, and accompanying Katherine Eban to collect a George Polk Award, it's been one pinch-me moment after another. I'll miss working with the best in the business, but I'm psyched for what's next—starting with a little time off while my amazing wife, Elise Jordan, embarks on an exciting new venture as co-host of MSNBC's The Weekend: Primetime. Onward!' Hogan's exit comes on the heels of editor-in-chief Radhika Jones' exit in early April. Jones told staff in a memo obtained by TheWrap. 'At the end of every year, I look over the memo I wrote back in 2017 when I was interviewing to be the editor of Vanity Fair, as a way to remember the goals I had and check my progress. Last year, somewhat to my surprise, I realized that — with your help — I had accomplished virtually all of those goals,' she began her message. 'Vanity Fair is a thriving modern publication with incisive, lively reporting; a vast and highly engaging social media audience; a studio business with terrific projects under our belt and in the works on FX, Amazon, Netflix and more; a video powerhouse; and an epic party machine, to which this year's Oscar party (my seventh!) was testament. We are fully at home in our worlds.' 'It was gratifying, but also a little jarring, to feel like I could check off those boxes. And simultaneously I began to feel, more powerfully, the pull of new goals in my life, around family and friends and writing and other ways to make an impact,' Jones continued. 'Those of you who know me well know that I can be a little restless, once a mission is accomplished. And I have always had a horror of staying too long at the party. So I've made the decision to leave Vanity Fair this spring.' The post Mike Hogan, Longtime Vanity Fair Editor, Exits After 25 Years appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mike Hogan, Longtime Vanity Fair Editor, Exits After 25 Years
Michael Hogan, Vanity Fair's executive digital director, is leaving after 25 years with the publication. The news comes weeks after editor-in-chief Radhika Jones stepped down. 'Some news! After 25 wonderful years—literally half my life—at Vanity Fair, I'm finally ready to call it a night,' Hogan posted to his LinkedIn on Monday. 'Looking back, I can say two things with absolute confidence: my colleagues and I did some excellent work, and we had a ridiculously good time doing it. From answering Wayne Lawson's phone and doing Dominick Dunne's expenses to editing the Jen Aniston and Suri Cruise cover stories, turbo-charging and launching three verticals, covering five presidents and six predidencies, co-hosting Little Gold Men and the Oscar Party livestream, writing about my Twin Peaks obsession for the upcoming June issue, and accompanying Katherine Eban to collect a George Polk Award, it's been one pinch-me moment after another. I'll miss working with the best in the business, but I'm psyched for what's next—starting with a little time off while my amazing wife, Elise Jordan, embarks on an exciting new venture as co-host of MSNBC's The Weekend: Primetime. Onward!' Hogan's exit comes on the heels of editor-in-chief Radhika Jones' exit in early April. Jones told staff in a memo obtained by TheWrap. 'At the end of every year, I look over the memo I wrote back in 2017 when I was interviewing to be the editor of Vanity Fair, as a way to remember the goals I had and check my progress. Last year, somewhat to my surprise, I realized that — with your help — I had accomplished virtually all of those goals,' she began her message. 'Vanity Fair is a thriving modern publication with incisive, lively reporting; a vast and highly engaging social media audience; a studio business with terrific projects under our belt and in the works on FX, Amazon, Netflix and more; a video powerhouse; and an epic party machine, to which this year's Oscar party (my seventh!) was testament. We are fully at home in our worlds.' 'It was gratifying, but also a little jarring, to feel like I could check off those boxes. And simultaneously I began to feel, more powerfully, the pull of new goals in my life, around family and friends and writing and other ways to make an impact,' Jones continued. 'Those of you who know me well know that I can be a little restless, once a mission is accomplished. And I have always had a horror of staying too long at the party. So I've made the decision to leave Vanity Fair this spring.' The post Mike Hogan, Longtime Vanity Fair Editor, Exits After 25 Years appeared first on TheWrap.
USA Today
20-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Musk's math isn't adding up. DOGE lies about federal cuts and focuses on grudges.
Musk's math isn't adding up. DOGE lies about federal cuts and focuses on grudges. | Opinion Musk is in charge of policing his conflicts of interest while Trump, known for squeezing the presidency for every dime he can pocket, doesn't care. And Republicans seem happy to just let it happen. Show Caption Hide Caption Elon Musk and President Trump interview together on Fox News Elon Musk described the federal workforce as an "unelected bureaucracy" during the interview on Fox News Channel. Imagine constantly craving attention and conflict and then landing a flashy new job with almost unlimited power that you can unleash on people you have long cast as enemies. Now imagine those perceived enemies claiming that your new power creates conspicuous conflicts of interest. Finally, imagine a big part of your new job is ruling on whether conflict-of-interest claims are accurate. That's what its like these days to be Elon Musk, the multibillionaire empowered by President Donald Trump and Republicans to slash and burn the federal government while firing all sorts of low-level employees, even as Musk's cluster of corporations rake in your tax dollars through fat federal contracts. It was completely predictable that Musk, one of those public provocateurs who reflexively plays the victim of any critical reaction, would use his newfound power atop the "Department of Government Efficiency," or DOGE, to exact revenge on journalistic institutions that examine his businesses while rejoicing in cuts to federal regulators that have done their jobs, fielding complaints from Musk's customers. It is equally predictable that Trump would play so convincingly dumb when asked about Musk's conflicts of interest, after putting Musk in charge of policing his conflicts of interest. Trump, known for squeezing the presidency for every dime he can pocket, doesn't care about any of that. Republicans seem happy to just let it happen. He's basking in the reflected attention created by Musk. They share the same addiction. It's called "Look at me!" Details be damned. Musk has been busy erasing glaring conflicts of interest. Trump shrugs. Reuters, an international news service, drew Musk's ire last week when it reported that his DOGE appeared to be driven more by "political ideology" than by concern about costs. This was a natural target for Musk since Reuters last year won a respected journalism prize, the George Polk Award, for reporting on how his manufacturing enterprises had harmed employees and consumers. Musk pounced, deriding a federal contract awarded to the news service's parent company, Thompson Reuters, which has a technical division apart from the company's journalism endeavors. As The Washington Post noted Saturday, the $9 million four-year contract was awarded for helping prevent cyberattacks in America. Opinion: Trump has AG Bondi targeting 'anti-Christian bias.' One problem: There's no bias. But that's accurate context. Musk and Trump shrug that off with ease. Trump climbed up on Musk's shoulders to decry "Radical Left Reuters" working on a federal contract. One big problem with that – Thomson Reuters pointed out that the contract was awarded during Trump's first term as president. So Trump's claim amounts to his confession that he's in cahoots with the "radical left." CFPB was investigating Tesla. So, obviously, it had to go. Musk has also reveled in the Trump administration attacks on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, a federal agency that offers safeguards for American taxpayers against "unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices" by taking actions against companies that break the law. "CFPB RIP," Musk posted on his disinformation-riddled social media site two weeks ago as the agency came under attack. Opinion: Donald Trump is dismantling election safeguards while musing about a third term Those condescending condolences turned out to be premature. A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to stop for now layoffs and funding cuts at the agency. That order also protected CFPB data from being deleted. Go to the agency's website. Use the search engine to ask about Tesla, the electric car manufacturer owned by Musk. Peruse the nearly 400 complaints filed with CFPB by Tesla customers. Read up while you can. And let the buyer beware! DOGE is making claims not backed up by facts Musk has repeatedly claimed that DOGE is being transparent in all things, which Trump has backed up, despite weeks of the new agency offering little to no substantive detail about what it was doing. The agency posted "evidence" of $55 billion in cuts made so far. One problem there: DOGE is really bad at math and the evidence showed big, honking mistakes, making it immediately clear the agency had really cut closer to $8.5 billion – or 85% less than what DOGE had claimed. Who could blame them? Trump spent months talking about how Musk was running the DOGE, only for them to back all the way off, in the face of legal challenges to the agency's actions. The White House now just shrugs when asked who is in charge at DOGE. Maybe DOGE really stands for: Deny Organization Guided by Elon? Or maybe Trump and Musk are full of bluster that blows away when pressed for facts. Maybe the big claims are the whole point and truth was never part of the plan. Musk's misinformation is part of the Republican messaging On Fox News Monday, talking head Jesse Watters said the quiet part out loud, clearly enamored with what he touted as "a 21st century information warfare campaign." He was gleeful that this warfare started on Musk's social media platform X, a cesspool of disinformation. "What you're seeing on the right is asymmetrical," Watters bragged. "Someone says something on social media. Musk retweets it. (Joe) Rogan podcasts it. Fox broadcasts it. And by the time it reaches everybody, millions of people have seen it." I'm sure Trump and Musk, like their fan boy Watters, are all about audience share. Accuracy? Integrity? Who needs that when you can reach "millions of people" with misinformation that fits your messaging? Follow USA TODAY columnist Chris Brennan on X, formerly known as Twitter: @ByChrisBrennan
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Musk's math isn't adding up. DOGE lies about federal cuts and focuses on grudges.
Imagine constantly craving attention and conflict and then landing a flashy new job with almost unlimited power that you can unleash on people you have long cast as enemies. Now imagine those perceived enemies claiming that your new power creates conspicuous conflicts of interest. Finally, imagine a big part of your new job is ruling on whether conflict-of-interest claims are accurate. That's what its like these days to be Elon Musk, the multibillionaire empowered by President Donald Trump and Republicans to slash and burn the federal government while firing all sorts of low-level employees, even as Musk's cluster of corporations rake in your tax dollars through fat federal contracts. It was completely predictable that Musk, one of those public provocateurs who reflexively plays the victim of any critical reaction, would use his newfound power atop the "Department of Government Efficiency," or DOGE, to exact revenge on journalistic institutions that examine his businesses while rejoicing in cuts to federal regulators that have done their jobs, fielding complaints from Musk's customers. It is equally predictable that Trump would play so convincingly dumb when asked about Musk's conflicts of interest, after putting Musk in charge of policing his conflicts of interest. Trump, known for squeezing the presidency for every dime he can pocket, doesn't care about any of that. Republicans seem happy to just let it happen. He's basking in the reflected attention created by Musk. They share the same addiction. It's called "Look at me!" Details be damned. Reuters, an international news service, drew Musk's ire last week when it reported that his DOGE appeared to be driven more by "political ideology" than by concern about costs. This was a natural target for Musk since Reuters last year won a respected journalism prize, the George Polk Award, for reporting on how his manufacturing enterprises had harmed employees and consumers. Musk pounced, deriding a federal contract awarded to the news service's parent company, Thompson Reuters, which has a technical division apart from the company's journalism endeavors. As The Washington Post noted Saturday, the $9 million four-year contract was awarded for helping prevent cyberattacks in America. Opinion: Trump has AG Bondi targeting 'anti-Christian bias.' One problem: There's no bias. But that's accurate context. Musk and Trump shrug that off with ease. Trump climbed up on Musk's shoulders to decry "Radical Left Reuters" working on a federal contract. One big problem with that – Thomson Reuters pointed out that the contract was awarded during Trump's first term as president. So Trump's claim amounts to his confession that he's in cahoots with the "radical left." Musk has also reveled in the Trump administration attacks on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, a federal agency that offers safeguards for American taxpayers against "unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices" by taking actions against companies that break the law. "CFPB RIP," Musk posted on his disinformation-riddled social media site two weeks ago as the agency came under attack. Opinion: Donald Trump is dismantling election safeguards while musing about a third term Those condescending condolences turned out to be premature. A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to stop for now layoffs and funding cuts at the agency. That order also protected CFPB data from being deleted. Go to the agency's website. Use the search engine to ask about Tesla, the electric car manufacturer owned by Musk. Peruse the nearly 400 complaints filed with CFPB by Tesla customers. Read up while you can. And let the buyer beware! Musk has repeatedly claimed that DOGE is being transparent in all things, which Trump has backed up, despite weeks of the new agency offering little to no substantive detail about what it was doing. The agency posted "evidence" of $55 billion in cuts made so far. One problem there: DOGE is really bad at math and the evidence showed big, honking mistakes, making it immediately clear the agency had really cut closer to $8.5 billion – or 85% less than what DOGE had claimed. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Who could blame them? Trump spent months talking about how Musk was running the DOGE, only for them to back all the way off, in the face of legal challenges to the agency's actions. The White House now just shrugs when asked who is in charge at DOGE. Maybe DOGE really stands for: Deny Organization Guided by Elon? Or maybe Trump and Musk are full of bluster that blows away when pressed for facts. Maybe the big claims are the whole point and truth was never part of the plan. On Fox News Monday, talking head Jesse Watters said the quiet part out loud, clearly enamored with what he touted as "a 21st century information warfare campaign." He was gleeful that this warfare started on Musk's social media platform X, a cesspool of disinformation. "What you're seeing on the right is asymmetrical," Watters bragged. "Someone says something on social media. Musk retweets it. (Joe) Rogan podcasts it. Fox broadcasts it. And by the time it reaches everybody, millions of people have seen it." I'm sure Trump and Musk, like their fan boy Watters, are all about audience share. Accuracy? Integrity? Who needs that when you can reach "millions of people" with misinformation that fits your messaging? Follow USA TODAY columnist Chris Brennan on X, formerly known as Twitter: @ByChrisBrennan You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who runs DOGE? Trump put Musk in charge, now he denies it | Opinions
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Trashes Totally Normal Spending … That His Administration Authorized
Donald Trump and Elon Musk have spent the past three weeks systematically dismantling the federal government. They've done so under the guise of cutting waste and rooting out fraud, but the exercise has played out more like a mind-blowingly reckless publicity stunt rather than anything concerned with actually making the government more efficient. Musk continually posts on X about the alleged fraud he and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have uncovered — which so far has consisted of simply highlighting publicly available information about government spending he either doesn't agree with or doesn't understand. The latest example came on Wednesday night, when Musk shared a post claiming that 'DOGE investigations reveal mysterious Defense Department payments to Reuters for 'large scale social deception' project between 2018-2022.' 'Reuters was paid millions of dollars by the U.S. government for 'large scale social deception,' Musk wrote. 'That is literally what it says on the purchase order! They're a total scam. Just wow.' Drew Harwell of The Washington Post unraveled the 'mysterious' payments in a thread of his own, noting that the money went to Reuters' data division, not its newsroom, and that it funded defense against social deception. 'DARPA is soliciting innovative research proposals in the area of automated defense against social engineering attacks,' reads the request for bids — which is publicly available, as are the contract details. The request was made in 2017, which is notable, because, as Harwell notes, the money was first allocated under the watch of the man Musk says he loves as much as a straight man can possibly love another man: Donald Trump. Nevertheless, the reactionary right has been up in arms over the spending since Musk posted about it. Trump himself weighed in on Thursday. 'DOGE: Looks like Radical Left Reuters was paid $9,000,000 by the Department of Defense to study 'large scale social deception,'' he wrote on Truth Social. 'GIVE BACK THE MONEY, NOW!' Musk's work with DOGE has led to concerns that he's operating in service of his own interests, rather than those of the United States, and the White House has said Musk will police himself regarding any conflicts of interest. Harwell noted in his thread about the government's payments to Reuters that Musk has long had it out for the outlet, which last year won the George Polk Award for its investigative coverage of Musk's businesses. 'Reuters is lying (again),' Musk wrote in April 2024, one of several times he has trashed the outlet in recent years. It's Musk, though, who has been repeatedly pushing misinformation as he tears through the federal government's infrastructure. He acknowledged as much while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday. 'Some of the things that I say will be incorrect,' he said when asked about his false claim that the Biden administration was sending millions of dollars worth of condoms to Gaza, which was echoed by Trump. 'We will make mistakes, but we will act quickly to correct any mistakes,' Musk added in yet another claim that could use a correction. More from Rolling Stone Why Is Donald Trump Obsessed With Trolling Taylor Swift? Kanye's Latest Antics Prove There Are Lines You Still Can't Cross. But Not for Long Trump and Musk Are Going to War Against Military Veterans Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
