News

Alec Baldwin hit with massive $25M defamation lawsuit

Published

4 years ago

January 21, 2022

ticker NEWS

Movie star Alec Baldwin is being sued by the family of a U.S. Marine who was killed in Afghanistan

A widow and two sisters of a U.S. Marine officer killed in Afghanistan are suing Alec Baldwin.

The women are alleging the actor exposed them to a flood of social media hatred by claiming on Instagram that one sister was an “insurrectionist” for attending former President Donald Trump’s Washington, D.C. rally on January 6 of last year.

According to NBC, the sister by the name of Roice McCollum, protested peacefully and legally.

According to the lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Cheyenne, she was not among those who stormed the U.S. Capitol that day and after being interviewed by the FBI, “was never detained, arrested, accused of or charged with any crime”

The lawsuit comes as Baldwin is immersed in an ongoing investigation into the death of a cinematographer and the wounding of a director on the set of the movie, Rust.

The finer details:

NBC is reporting that last year, Alec Baldwin sent Roice McCollum a $5,000 payment to help the widow of her brother, Marine Lance Cpl Rylee McCollum.

He was among 13 U.S. soldiers killed in a suicide bombing August 26 at the Kabul airport, according to the lawsuit.

On January 3 of this year, the lawsuit claims that the actor privately messaged Roice McCollum on Instagram soon after she posted an almost year-old photo of the Trump rally. The claim states that Baldwin was asking if she was the same woman who’d taken his donation.

The suit says McCollum confirmed she was at the protest and told Baldwin, “Protesting is perfectly legal.”

The suit says Baldwin responded by remarking that “her activities resulted in the unlawful destruction of government property, the death of a law enforcement officer, an assault on the certification of the presidential election,” and told McCollum that he’d reposted the photo to his 2.4 million Instagram followers.

After Baldwin shared the photo of the January 6 protest on social media. Roice McCollum got “hundreds upon hundreds of hateful messages,” including one telling her to “get raped and die” and that her brother “got what he deserved,” according to the lawsuit.

News

Oil prices surge as U.S.-Iran tensions escalate

Published

12 hours ago

February 5, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Crude oil prices jumped over 3% on Wednesday as U.S.-Iran nuclear talks showed signs of faltering, pushing WTI futures above $65 per barrel. Axios reported disagreements over the venue and scope of Friday’s talks, while President Trump warned Iran’s supreme leader to “be very worried,” stoking fears of military escalation.

Tensions in the Persian Gulf added to the volatility. A U.S. F-35C shot down an Iranian drone near the USS Abraham Lincoln, and Iranian vessels threatened a U.S.-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. The USS McFaul escorted the tanker to safety, highlighting the region’s fragile oil supply routes.

Despite the clashes, nuclear talks will go ahead on Friday in Oman, but uncertainty continues to drive oil market volatility, with traders closely watching both diplomatic and military developments.

#OilPrices #IranUS #NuclearTalks #PersianGulf #WTI #EnergyMarket #Geopolitics #OilSupply

News

Washington Post layoffs: Hundreds of journalists cut as Bezos faces criticism

Published

13 hours ago

February 5, 2026

Harvey Vargas

The Washington Post has laid off hundreds of employees, marking what former executive editor Martin Baron calls “one of the darkest days” in the paper’s history. Approximately one-third of the newsroom staff were affected, as the company undertakes a so-called “strategic reset” to compete in a crowded media landscape.

The cuts hit key areas, including the sports desk, local coverage, international reporting, the books desk, and the flagship daily news podcast. Editor-in-Chief Matt Murray said the changes aim to prioritise national security, politics, science, health, technology, climate, and business coverage while positioning the Post for the future.

Critics have called out owner Jeff Bezos for his silence during the layoffs and alleged efforts to influence the paper’s political stance. Former editor Baron warned that the newspaper’s ambitions would be sharply diminished and its credibility could suffer.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker

News

Amazon launches AI tools to change film and television production

Amazon MGM Studios tests AI to streamline production, reduce costs, enhancing but not replacing human creativity, says AI Studio team.

Published

18 hours ago

February 5, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Amazon MGM Studios tests AI to streamline production, reduce costs, enhancing but not replacing human creativity, says AI Studio team.

Amazon MGM Studios is stepping into the future of entertainment by developing artificial intelligence tools designed to reduce production costs and streamline filmmaking processes. This closed beta, launching in March, will let industry partners test how AI can enhance creativity and efficiency on set.

Amy Cheng, leading the AI Studio team, emphasises that while AI can accelerate workflows, it will never replace the unique contributions of human creativity. The initiative represents Amazon’s push to innovate in content creation while maintaining the art of storytelling.

The use of AI in Hollywood is expanding rapidly, sparking discussions about its impact on jobs and the future of the industry. As studios explore automation, the balance between efficiency and human artistry remains a central concern.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker