NBCU sees record Olympics advertising sales, Norah O'Donnell announces she will step down as "CBS Evening News" anchor, embattled A.I. start up Perplexity inks deals with publishers, Truth Social traffic dives, Meta agrees to a staggering $1.4 billion settlement with Texas, The WSJ details how Elon Musk undermines Lina Yaccarino, "Deadpool & Wolverine" crosses $500 million mark, Jimmy Kimmel passes on hosting the 2025 Academy Awards, and so much more. But first, the A1.

Torn Over Trump

CNN Photo Illustration/Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

The National Association of Black Journalists is trying its best to weather a storm of backlash. 

The organization on Tuesday drew a torrent of criticism over its decision to invite Donald Trump to sit for an interview at its annual convention in Chicago. The Wednesday afternoon Trump event — moderated by ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott, Fox News host Harris Faulkner, and Semafor politics reporter Kadia Goba — has roiled the NABJ, with some of its most prominent members publicly expressing dismay.

Karen Attiah, The Washington Post columnist who worked as co-chair of this year's conference, even announced Tuesday that she would resign from her role. While Attiah said a "variety of factors" influenced her decision, she specifically homed in on the Trump interview when making her abrupt announcement.

"To the journalists interviewing Trump, I wish them the best of luck," Attiah wrote on X, adding that she had not been "involved or consulted with in any way with the decision to platform Trump in such a format."

Given Trump's adoration of authoritarianism, coupled with the vile campaign he has waged for years on the fourth estate, his appearance at any media-focused conference would be certain to generate heightened levels of controversy. But the fact that the former president, who has flirted with racist elements of his MAGA movement, had been invited to speak at the NABJ conference struck a particular nerve among many of its members.

"The reports of attacks on Black women White House correspondents by the then president of the United States are not myth or conjecture, but fact," April Ryan, the veteran White House correspondent and 2017 NABJ journalist of the year, wrote on X. "To have a presumed orchestrated session with the former president is an affront to what this organization stands for and a slap in the face to the Black women journalists ... who had to protect themselves from the wrath of this Republican presidential nominee who is promoting an authoritarian agenda."

But while there was an outpouring of disapproval Tuesday, not everyone was in agreement. Symone Sanders, the former Kamala Harris spokesperson turned MSNBC host, wrote on X that "some of the best journalists in the country are members of the NABJ" and wondered, "So why wouldn't they interview Trump?" 

"He is the Republican nominee. Seems like the journalists complaining don’t understand their jobs are to actually ask the questions," Sanders argued. "NABJ didn’t platform Trump. The voters in the Republican primary did. Just like anyone else who is running for President, he should sit for serious interviews and answer real questions."

And despite Trump's aggressive posture toward the press, his attendance at the NABJ as a presidential candidate would not be completely out of the ordinary. Former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush have all attended accepted invitations to attend in recent decades.

The NABJ did not respond to multiple requests for comment Tuesday, but in its announcement it said the Q&A with Trump, "will concentrate on the most pressing issues facing the Black community."

Making matters worse for the NABJ, while the organization has welcomed Trump to its stage to speak, it rejected requests by the Harris campaign to make accommodations for her to address the conference. A person familiar with the matter told me that Harris' schedule has been filled to the brim since her sudden ascension to the top of the Democratic ticket. To that end, she was unable to attend the Chicago conference in person. Her campaign did try to make an appearance work, the person said, but was rejected by the NABJ.

"The Harris for President campaign team worked very closely with NABJ leadership to find an alternative option," the person said. "The NABJ team unfortunately denied a request for the VP to take part in a fireside chat virtually, or to host an in person fireside chat with the VP at a later date."

"Harris has always, and will always, value the NABJ and work to ensure Black reporters have a seat at the table," the person added, drawing a not-so-subtle contrast between the vice president and Trump. "The Harris for President team still welcomes the opportunity to make one of the alternative options happen."

CNN Photo Illustration/Aleksandra Szmigiel/Reuters

The Profits in Paris: The Paris Olympics are not only drawing large audiences for NBCU — they're also sending record profits to the media conglomerate's coffers. NBCU said Tuesday that it will surpass $1.25 billion in sales, securing more advertisers than both the Rio and Tokyo Olympics combined. The company said more than 70% of advertisers are new and that digital revenue has more than doubled from Tokyo, also setting a record high. "The 2024 Paris Games have delivered a uniquely powerful halo for brands at an incredible scale with a highly engaged and passionate audience," Mark Marshall, NBCU's ad boss, said in a statement. "We are proud to have secured the highest Olympic and Paralympic advertising in the history of the Games, and are grateful to our advertisers for their partnership." THR's Alex Weprin has more here.

CNN Photo Illustration/Michele Crowe/CBS News/Getty Images

Out Goes O'Donnell: It's the end of an era for the "CBS Evening News." Norah O'Donnell, who was never able to lift the program out of third place, announced that she will give up the anchor chair after the election, trading it in for a smaller role as a senior correspondent. "I have spent 12 years in the anchor chair here at CBS News, tied to a daily broadcast and the rigors of a relentless news cycle,” O’Donnell wrote in a memo to staff announcing her exit, first reported by Puck's Dylan Byers. "It’s time to do something different." It hasn't, however, been all rainbows and sunshine for O'Donnell in her five years as one of the Big Three news anchors. While she was able to score high-profile interviews, including a sit-down with Pope Francis earlier this year, her time has been dogged by unflattering tabloid reports and less than stellar ratings. CNN's Hadas Gold has more here.

🔎 Zooming in: CBS News and O'Donnell can portray this transition however they'd like. But there is no getting around the fact that it is a massive demotion for O'Donnell. As one source put it to the New York Post's Alexandra Steigrad, "She’s been put out to TV journalism pasture. It’s like being sent to the graveyard of special projects." And that's not too surprising. As we reported in 2022, previous management at CBS News had explored options to replace her, shopping the anchor gig to Brian Williams. What is honestly remarkable is that O'Donnell lasted in the role for so long.

CNN Photo Illustration/Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Vance's Media Vortex: J.D. Vance's popularity surged in MAGA Media over the last few years, due in large part to his constant presence on right-wing programs. But now, in somewhat of an ironic twist, it is those very appearances that are causing him trouble and hurting his campaign. CNN's Andrew Kaczynski and Em Steck unearthed on Tuesday even more comments Vance made disparaging people without children. Most of those remarks were made on right-wing platforms, where friendly hosts almost never push back against Republican officials. Appearances on those platforms certainly help those in the GOP climb in status amongst Republican voters. But a major problem with that media universe is that it offers its dwellers a warped perception of reality. And now that Vance is trying to make his case to the broader public, he's learning that the remarks he was getting praise for in that space don't play so well with the rest of the country.

CNN Photo Illustration/Jason Henry/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Everything Is Bigger in Texas: Meta on Tuesday agreed to pay the state of Texas a staggering $1.4 billion to settle a 2022 lawsuit which alleged Facebook's "tag suggestion" feature violated a facial recognition law. Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, said in a press release that it was the "largest settlement ever obtained from an action brought by a single state." Paxton celebrated the figure, saying it shows the state's commitment "to standing up to the world’s biggest technology companies and holding them accountable for breaking the law and violating Texans’ privacy rights." The Verge's Justine Calma has more here.

CNN Photo Illustration/Marvel Studios

A Box Office Marvel: That was quick! "Deadpool & Wolverine" slashed through the $500 million mark at the global box office on Tuesday as audiences continue to rush to theaters for the superhero movie. After a record-breaking Monday, the Marvel blockbuster had tallied $496.3 million in global ticket sales. That means it most definitely surpassed the half-billion dollar milestone Tuesday, putting the record-breaking R-rated film on a track to join the $1 billion club. Deadline's Nancy Tartaglione has more.

► Will director Shawn Levy return for more Marvel films? He told The Ankler's Richard Rushfeld that he's talking to the studio "about a possible future," among many other things.