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ABC News
20 hours ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Trump vs Rupert Murdoch over an Epstein article
Sam Hawley: On the one side, there's a media tycoon. On the other, the President of the United States. It has all the makings of a fascinating courtroom drama. Donald Trump is suing Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal over an article alleging the US President sent a lewd birthday message to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. Today, media expert Rod Tiffin on the complex relationship between Trump and Murdoch and how the legal proceedings are likely to play out. I'm Sam Hawley on Gadigal land in Sydney. This is ABC News Daily. Sam Hawley: Rod, we're going to have a look at the relationship between two of the most powerful men in the world, that is Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch, which has dramatically re-entered the spotlight in the last few days. This revolves around a Wall Street Journal article, which is owned, of course, that newspaper by Rupert Murdoch. Just tell me what this article alleged when it appeared in the paper last Friday. Rod Tifffen: Well, it alleges that Donald Trump years ago sent a birthday greeting to Jeffrey Epstein with a sketch of a girl on it. News report: Donald Trump launching yet another lawsuit against the press, this time targeting media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his News Corp empire over an article in The Wall Street Journal. News report: He denies writing the letter, which the journal said included a sexually suggestive drawing and ended with the line, Happy birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret. News report: The president dismissed the letter as fake, saying 'These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures.' News report: The paper says it happened in 2003, which is before Epstein was convicted. It's all adding to the pressure Donald Trump is under over his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Sam Hawley: Now, as soon as this was published, Donald Trump threatened to sue. He said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social he was looking forward to getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in his lawsuit against him. And in Donald Trump's words, the pile of garbage newspaper. So Donald Trump was furious. Rod Tifffen: Murdoch has three main media outlets in the States. He has Fox News, which is unfailingly loyal to Trump. He has the New York Post, which swings around a bit. And he has the Wall Street Journal, where the market incentives are very different. The Wall Street Journal has to keep its credibility with a high flying business audience. Otherwise, they'll go to the New York Times or Washington Post or somewhere. So the Wall Street Journal's coverage of Trump is typically more independent and more probing than, say, Fox News is. So I would imagine that Rupert didn't know this was going to appear before it appeared because he's sort of, you know, at 94 years old, he's more hands off these days and he doesn't actually have the role of chief executive anymore. But I think that the key thing is the Wall Street Journal has to keep up its credibility with its audience. Sam Hawley: But just to put that in context, once upon a time, of course, Rupert Murdoch had great control over what was in these newspapers. He certainly would have been told beforehand if an article like this was to appear. Rod Tifffen: Yes, that's true. Certainly, let's say during Trump's first term, if this appeared, Murdoch would have known in advance. But I'm not at all sure that he knew this in advance. Sam Hawley: All right. Well, he's now involved in an almighty fight with the US president who has indeed sued in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida. So he's going all out Donald Trump here. Rod Tifffen: Yes. I think the thing is, he's had a record of success since he was reelected, Donald Trump. He's got a settlement from ABC and, you know, CBS paid out a huge settlement for a case that had no substance at all. News report: Paramount has agreed to pay Donald Trump more than 24 million dollars after settling a lawsuit over a televised interview with Kamala Harris. In the lawsuit, Mr Trump alleged the media group deceptively edited an interview with the former Democratic presidential candidate on its 60 Minutes program on CBS. Rod Tifffen: And basically that was seen as its parent company, Paramount, wanting to do favours for Donald Trump. The Washington Post is owned by Jeff Bezos, is leaning over backwards to be nice to him. I think the difference, though, is like Bezos is very keen to get government contracts for his space program. And CBS and ABC have other business interests which depend a lot on the favour and patronage of the president. And this president is all about favour and patronage. But Murdoch doesn't have that. So I'd be certainly very surprised if Murdoch settled any time soon. It would be a huge step down in credibility. It would be a huge blow to his ego because he doesn't like giving in, surrendering on these sorts of things. And he doesn't have any ulterior motives and interests like the other major media corporations do. Sam Hawley: All right, well, Trump is suing News Corp. He's suing Mr. Murdoch. He's suing News Corp's founder, Robert Thompson. News Corp's chief executive. He's suing Dow Jones, the publisher, and he's suing the two journalists involved. So there's a lot of people involved in this lawsuit. That's for sure. Rod Tifffen: All over a birthday card. Yeah. Sam Hawley: Oh, yeah. It's a rather damaging birthday card if the allegations are, in fact, true. And we are not insinuating that they are. But Trump is also after huge damages, not less than $10 billion, he says he wants. Rod Tifffen: Yes, I mean, it's serious, but it's very funny at the same time. The one thing that would make News Corp, make Murdoch settle is if Murdoch was forced to testify in court, because I think he's not really up to doing that anymore. And I think that would be the one threat that would make Murdoch settle. Sam Hawley: Hmm. All right. Well, let's come to the history of this relationship in just a moment. As you mentioned, you don't think Rupert Murdoch will settle. The newspaper is absolutely sticking by its reporting. It's not removed the article. It's still up there for everybody to see. So it's backing in its own journalism at this point, isn't it? Rod Tifffen: It is. And one imagines they went through a pretty strenuous process before they published. I mean, this isn't a fly by night newspaper. It's one of the leading newspapers in America. And it wouldn't publish something like this without doing due diligence beforehand. Sam Hawley: All right, let's get into the history of this relationship, because it has been rather volatile, hasn't it? It's been interesting to watch Rupert Murdoch and his almost reluctance to back Donald Trump, but then sort of falling into line. Just tell me what it was like in the beginning, I guess, back in 2016 during Trump's first pitch for the White House. Rod Tifffen: Well, the beginnings go back even further than that. Rupert Murdoch took over the New York Post in 1976, and Trump was an absolute publicity whore. He was always wanting to get into the paper. And they have a page six column, which is all gossip about politicians and celebrities and so on. And he often featured in that and was often a source for it. And he more or less divorced his wife in the pages of the New York Post. And they were willing to play the game because Trump, they thought Trump was good copy. But Murdoch saw him as just a lightweight, a crooked property developer. So Murdoch was happy to give him publicity, but never had any high opinion of him, either morally or intellectually. Sam Hawley: Hmm. All right. But by 2016, he'd sort of come around, had he? He supported Trump. Rod Tifffen: Well, 2016, Fox News is locked into being on the Republican side of politics. And initially, Murdoch didn't think Trump would be a good candidate. But once Trump won the nomination for the Republicans, Fox News in particular, just and all of the Murdoch empire actually just fell in behind Trump. After the election, Fox News was a faithful outlet for Trump all through the next four years. But then we get to the 2020 election and Trump loses to Biden. And then we've got Trump refusing to accept the result. Got the terrible attack on the Capitol building on January the 6th, 2021. And Murdoch is absolutely appalled. He sees this as an attack on American democracy, American institutions. And he really can't stand the way Trump was behaving. At the same time, though, Fox News had created this audience that believed everything that Trump said. And after the election, Fox's ratings were falling. And in a panic meeting, Murdoch and others said, well, we've got to start going along more with Trump. And then they locked themselves into this false narrative that there was something fishy about the 2020 election. Now, Murdoch was reluctant to go along with this. And in fact, there's evidence of him saying he wants to make Trump history and all this sort of thing. But in the end, the commercial incentives are such that he he toes the line. So you get to 2024 and Fox News is locked in behind Trump. And then, of course, Trump wins. And now the power relationship is all around the other way. Here's Murdoch wanting to be part of the action again. And Trump saying, maybe, maybe not. Sam Hawley: All right, well, Rod, this relationship between Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch is clearly volatile, but it really is at a new low right now. How ugly do you think this could get? Rod Tifffen: Well, Trump's not known for his subtlety. You know, we've already seen, you know, I'm going to sue his ass and all this sort of talk. I think that it could get very all depends a bit on how the Murdochs respond. And my guess is they will want to take the heat out of it a bit. But I think the Epstein stuff is, it's hard to know because, I mean, Trump has survived so many scandals it would have sunk any other politician. But it seems to me the Epstein stuff and the different excuses they've given for not releasing information and whatever, this seems to be dividing Trump's MAGA base, you know. And it could be that both sides think it's in their interest to keep, you know, for all this to go away. But Trump's drawn a lot more attention to the article than it would have got, you know, by all this. So if I was a spin doctor, I'd say this wasn't a very rational strategy. But maybe that's why I'm not a spin doctor. But, you know, I would think that it could get very ugly. And certainly I can't see the Wall Street Journal rolling over and saying, yes, we got it wrong. Sam Hawley: And who do you think will be the victor then, Murdoch or Trump? We know, don't we, that when things proceed to court, all sorts of information might come to light. Rod Tifffen: Yes. And I think Rupert Murdoch wouldn't want to be having to testify in court. But equally, Trump wouldn't want to have to testify in court where he's cross-examined on his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. That would be just a nightmare for him. They've got various things in America where president can't be sued during their term of office and that sort of thing. So it could all just be put off until after the next election. Who knows? Maybe it will just peter out. But it doesn't show any sign of that yet. Sam Hawley: Rod Tiffen is an emeritus professor in government and international relations at the University of Sydney. This episode was produced by Sydney Pead and Sam Dunn. Audio production by Cinnamon Nippard. Our supervising producer is David Coady. I'm Sam Hawley. Thanks for listening.
ABC News
08-07-2025
- ABC News
All is quiet as media pack leaves town following Erin Patterson's guilty verdict
On today's show: The Erin Patterson triple murder case has captured the imagination of people the world over with every little detail poured over by international and local media. The place at the centre of the action these past ten weeks is the courthouse in the regional Victorian town of Morwell. The quiet town has been the backdrop for this real-life courtroom drama that has captured national and international attention. So how has the community processed the verdict and having the world's gaze on their usually quiet corner of the world. Reporter: Jospeh Dunstan (Morwell) The Northern Territory's Police Commissioner has acknowledged "all forms of racism" have existed in the Police Force in the wake of the coroner's findings into the fatal police shooting of Kumanjayi Walker. The coroner yesterday found NT Police bore the hallmarks of institutional racism. Acting Police Commissioner Martin Dole says the force will take time to consider the coroner's 18 recommendations around policing and said the force is committed to stamping out racism. Rates of illiteracy among adult Indigenous Australians is estimated at 40 to 70 per cent, rising to 90 per cent in some remote communities. Literacy for Life has now helped more than 500 adults nationwide become functionally literate. The program has received funding to expand to three more communities in Queensland, but more long-term funding is needed. Reporter: Christopher Testa (Cairns) It's regarded as one of the most extreme survival stories of all time - when, in 1999, a young American disappeared into the Great Sandy Desert in remote northern Western Australia, surviving for six weeks before being discovered in what became known as 'The Miracle in the Desert'. The actions of Alaskan Firefighter, Robert Bogucki triggered a media storm and one of the biggest searches Australia had ever seen but questions have always lingered around why he did it, how he survived, and why people continue to set off into the wilderness to try to find fulfilment. National Regional reporter Erin Parke's spent the last three years investigating the strange saga, which she's now brought to life in the new ABC podcast Expanse: Nowhere Man. Reporter: Erin Parke (Broome)
ABC News
08-07-2025
- ABC News
Reporting on the mushroom murder trial
The Erin Patterson triple murder case has captured the imagination of people the world over with every little detail poured over by international and local media. The place at the centre of the action these past ten weeks is the courthouse in the regional Victorian town of Morwell. The quiet town has been the backdrop for this real-life courtroom drama that has captured national and international attention. So how has the community processed the verdict and having the world's gaze on their usually quiet corner of the world.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Yahoo
Karen Read seen for first time since high-stakes trial, easing back into routine
FIRST ON FOX: From courtroom drama to curbside calm. Fresh off her gripping murder acquittal, Karen Read was spotted easing back into everyday life on Friday, hauling trash like any regular American. In the first images of Read since her second trial, Fox News Digital exclusively captured the 45-year-old wheeling a garbage bin outside her Boston hotel. Dressed in a white short-sleeve top, black leggings and flat black shoes, Read was seen plucking boxes from the bin and tossing them into a large dumpster. Boston Cop Would Have 'Taken A Bullet' For Karen Read's Officer Boyfriend Found Dead On His Property With her hair loose and blowing in the wind, Read showed little emotion as she carried out the mundane chore — and then returned to the hotel carrying her cell phone in her right hand. Read On The Fox News App It came just two days after she was acquitted in the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, 46. Jurors found Read not guilty of second-degree murder, the top charge, but guilty of a lesser offense of operating a vehicle under the influence with a blood-alcohol level of .08% or greater. The trial saw more than 30 days of testimony and four days of deliberation. Read was also found not guilty of drunken driving manslaughter and fleeing the scene of a deadly accident. Her first trial on the same charges ended without a verdict last year when jurors deadlocked. Second Karen Read Juror Faults 'Sloppy Police Investigation' In John O'keefe Murder Case Cheers from her supporters, who had been waiting for an update across the street from the courthouse, could be heard inside the courtroom. For Read's second trial, the commonwealth appointed a special prosecutor, high-powered defense attorney Hank Brennan, and Read added New York defense attorney Robert Alessi to a team that included Los Angeles' Alan Jackson and Boston's David Yannetti. O'Keefe's body was discovered face-up in the snow outside the Canton, Massachusetts, home of Brian Albert, a fellow officer, on Jan. 29, 2022. PHOTOS: Swipe to see more images His body was bruised and unresponsive with head trauma and signs of hypothermia. The defense argued O'Keefe was attacked inside the house, and his death was potentially covered up by law enforcement people inside the party. The prosecution argued that Read intentionally or recklessly struck O'Keefe with her SUV and left him for dead outside in a snowstorm and then tried to cover it up. Jack Lu, a retired Massachusetts judge and Boston College law professor, called the outcome "a stunning victory for the defense" that he said would also help Read in a civil lawsuit against her from O'Keefe's family. The investigation of Read's case led to investigations into the investigators, an audit of the Canton Police Department and the firing of a state police homicide detective. Fox News' Michael Ruiz and Julia Bonavita contributed to this article source: Karen Read seen for first time since high-stakes trial, easing back into routine
Fox News
21-06-2025
- Fox News
Karen Read seen for first time since high-stakes trial, easing back into routine
FIRST ON FOX: From courtroom drama to curbside calm. Fresh off her gripping murder acquittal, Karen Read was spotted easing back into everyday life on Friday, hauling trash like any regular American. In the first images of Read since her second trial, Fox News Digital exclusively captured the 45-year-old wheeling a garbage bin outside her Boston hotel. Dressed in a white short-sleeve top, black leggings and flat black shoes, Read was seen plucking boxes from the bin and tossing them into a large dumpster. With her hair loose and blowing in the wind, Read showed little emotion as she carried out the mundane chore — and then returned to the hotel carrying her cell phone in her right hand. It came just two days after she was acquitted in the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, 46. Jurors found Read not guilty of second-degree murder, the top charge, but guilty of a lesser offense of operating a vehicle under the influence with a blood-alcohol level of .08% or greater. The trial saw more than 30 days of testimony and four days of deliberation. Read was also found not guilty of drunken driving manslaughter and fleeing the scene of a deadly accident. Her first trial on the same charges ended without a verdict last year when jurors deadlocked. Cheers from her supporters, who had been waiting for an update across the street from the courthouse, could be heard inside the courtroom. For Read's second trial, the commonwealth appointed a special prosecutor, high-powered defense attorney Hank Brennan, and Read added New York defense attorney Robert Alessi to a team that included Los Angeles' Alan Jackson and Boston's David Yannetti. O'Keefe's body was discovered face-up in the snow outside the Canton, Massachusetts, home of Brian Albert, a fellow officer, on Jan. 29, 2022. PHOTOS: Swipe to see more images His body was bruised and unresponsive with head trauma and signs of hypothermia. The defense argued O'Keefe was attacked inside the house, and his death was potentially covered up by law enforcement people inside the party. The prosecution argued that Read intentionally or recklessly struck O'Keefe with her SUV and left him for dead outside in a snowstorm and then tried to cover it up. Jack Lu, a retired Massachusetts judge and Boston College law professor, called the outcome "a stunning victory for the defense" that he said would also help Read in a civil lawsuit against her from O'Keefe's family. The investigation of Read's case led to investigations into the investigators, an audit of the Canton Police Department and the firing of a state police homicide detective.
