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☆ Rupert Murdoch testified that Fox News hosts lied about the 2020 election. Here's why it wasn't a misstep.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Rupert Murdoch admitted Fox News hosts endorsed falsehoods about the 2020 election. Murdoch chairs Fox Corporation, which argues it isn't responsible for claims made on subsidiary Fox News. Here was the chair of Fox Corporation, a 91-year-old mogul atop a conservative media empire, admitting to lies that damaged democracy. When asked by Dominion's lawyers in a January deposition whether he thought Fox hosts were truthful about the election, Murdoch was candid. Fox Corporation also manages subsidiaries like Fox Sports, a large number of local TV stations, TMZ, Tubi, and a blockchain company.

☆ Fox News hosts and executives privately mocked pro-Trump election conspiracy theories after he lost, internal texts show
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

It enrages me," Tucker Carlson wrote in a text message to his producer Alex Pfeiffer. "Not a single Fox witness testified that they believe any of the allegations about Dominion are true," Dominion lawyers wrote. Imho they need to address but wtf do I know," Hannity wrote in a text message, referring to Newsmax. That email, Dominion's lawyers write, came from an unnamed author who claimed to be a beheaded ghost who talks to the wind. President Trump not only was the sitting President, he was the key figure that day," Dominion's lawyers wrote.

☆ Anxious Twitter employees sobbed in the company's bathrooms the night Elon Musk's takeover went through as they feared for their jobs
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Twitter employees sobbed in the bathroom at a Halloween party over fears of being laid off, the Verge reported. A program manager told Insider that after Elon Musk's takeover, staff panicked about coming layoffs. She said she found out she had been laid off when she was kicked off Twitter's work systems. Musk then identified 3,700 people — roughly 50% of the company's 7,500 employees at the time — to be laid off, in his first week. Just hours after Twitter sent that email to staff, Lee noticed that some of her colleagues' accounts "started deactivating," she said.

☆ BuzzFeed's $300M purchase of Complex promised to grow both brands, but insiders say strategies have clashed and Complex's culture is being 'completely gutted'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Complex insiders worry that the cuts threaten their brand's culture and future. Clashing video strategies as some fear Complex culture is being 'completely gutted'Kevin Hart appeared on Complex's "Hot Ones" series. Before joining with BuzzFeed, Complex's then-CEO Rich Antoniello had conversations with Vice Media and Vox Media. But Complex insiders felt especially aggrieved when, this fall, BuzzFeed announced a global expansion for ComplexCon. To Complex insiders, BuzzFeed's plan to take the event to Australia, Europe, and Asia simultaneously was unrealistic and under-resourced.

☆ Complex insiders say owner BuzzFeed has shed key talent, failed to invest in core content, and threatens to dilute the hip culture brand: 'The BuzzFeed ethos does not get it'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Clashing video strategies as some fear Complex culture is being 'completely gutted'Kevin Hart appeared on Complex's "Hot Ones" series. Before joining with BuzzFeed, Complex's then-CEO Rich Antoniello had conversations with Vice Media and Vox Media. Rubbing salt in the wound, Complex insiders said they felt their brand was scrappier and more culturally relevant than BuzzFeed, which many consider past its prime. But Complex insiders felt especially aggrieved when, this fall, BuzzFeed announced a global expansion for ComplexCon. To Complex insiders, BuzzFeed's plan to take the event to Australia, Europe, and Asia simultaneously was unrealistic and under-resourced.

☆ Twitter has lost its last deputy general counsel as its legal team shrinks, a report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Twitter deputy general counsel Regina Lima has left the company, Bloomberg Law reported. The social-media platform's legal team, which once stood at close to 200, is now largely depleted. Before Elon Musk took control of Twitter in late October, the company had around 200 staff on its legal team, according to Bloomberg Law. Twitter's legal team was shaken up as soon as Musk's purchase of Twitter went through. After Gadde and Edgett's terminations, James Baker, a former FBI general counsel, was the company's most senior lawyer.

☆ Elon Musk confirmed the firing of Twitter deputy general counsel James Baker for allegedly interfering in the publication of the Twitter Files
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk confirmed the firing of another high-ranking Twitter official: deputy general counsel James Baker. Musk accused Baker of possibly playing a role in suppressing "information important to the public dialogue." Matt Taibbi, who tweeted Friday's "Twitter Files" thread, accused Baker of secretly vetting the files. Taibbi has promised to reveal additional "Twitter Files" material in conjunction with journalist Bari Weiss, a former op-ed writer for The New York Times. Baker's firing comes a little more than one month since Musk took over as the new owner of Twitter.

☆ Elon Musk's 2-year-old son ran around Twitter's office and played with toys while his dad talked to advisors about moderation, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk's son X Æ a-Xii was present during Twitter meetings after the purchase went through, WaPo reported. Two-year-old X Æ a-Xii, Musk's first child with Grimes, ran round while he met with Yoel Roth, per WaPo. The Post reported that toys were scattered round the room and X Æ a-Xii ran around. X Æ a-Xii may have been at Twitter's HQ to attend the office Halloween party that day, where some staff brought their children. X Æ a-Xii, who he had with his musician and ex-partner Grimes, was Musk's seventh child.

☆ L.A. sheriff’s deputy charged in 2021 fatal shooting of man who was already on the ground
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Julianne Mcshane | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

A Los Angeles sheriff's deputy was charged Wednesday for an on-duty, unlawful fatal shooting of a man who was holding a knife last year outside his family's East L.A. home. L.A. County Sheriff's Deputy Remin Pineda, 38, was charged with one felony count each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and assault under color of authority following the March 2021 fatal shooting of David Ordaz, Jr., L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón announced Thursday. The deputies’ union, Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, did not immediately return a request for comment. In August, another L.A. County sheriff's deputy, Sean Essex, 51, was indicted on charges of sexually assaulting four girls in a case that prosecutors had declined to pursue a decade ago. Last year, a state civil rights investigation was opened into the sheriff’s department over allegations of excessive force.

☆ Elon Musk ruthlessly fired Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal. He's the latest in a long line of Silicon Valley giants to face Musk's wrath, from Jeff Bezos to Mark Zuckerberg.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Parag AgrawalKevin Dietsch/Getty ImagesMusk and Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal met for a meal in March. But eight months later, Musk took ownership of Twitter and one of his first moves was firing Agrawal and a number of other top execs. Musk had been set to join Twitter's board in the spring after becoming the company's biggest shareholder. Agrawal understandably didn't like the tweet and told Musk that "it's not helping me make Twitter better in the current context." Within days of Musk terminating the deal, Twitter sued him to force him to complete the deal, accusing him of "refusing to honor his obligations."

☆ Elon Musk can be 'vicious' in the workplace, a former SpaceX VP says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Grace Dean | Kiera Fields | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A former SpaceX VP says Elon Musk can be "vicious" in the workplace. Jim Cantrell told Insider staff never knew whether there were getting "good Elon" or "bad Elon." He added Musk could change Twitter's business performance "from sheer force of willpower." Musk added Twitter to his portfolio in late October, acquiring the social-media platform for $44 billion. One workplace-culture expert previously told Insider that Musk's "autocratic leadership" would be in "great contrast with the type of openness and flexible mindset that is integral to Twitter's culture."

☆ Twitter’s C-suite clears out as Musk cements power over the company
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

In less than a week since Musk acquired Twitter, the company’s C-suite appears to have almost entirely cleared out, through a mix of firings and resignations. Musk has also dissolved Twitter’s former board of directors. At the same time, Musk is also running several other companies, including as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX. Musk immediately fired four of Twitter’s top executives — CEO Parag Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal, General Counsel Sean Edgett and Policy Head Vijaya Gadde. It’s unclear whether VP of Operations Lindsey Iannucci, the other two members of Twitter’s top leadership team, will remain with the company.

☆ One of Twitter's top execs quit the day after tweeting that she had a 'great discussion' with Elon Musk about the company's future
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Twitter's CCO said she quit her job just hours after Elon Musk completed his $44 billion takeover. On Thursday, Personette tweeted that she'd had a "great discussion" with Musk. "Remember that we create the organization we want to be a part of," Personette tweeted. Personette tweeted on Thursday, just hours before the deal went through, that she'd had a "great discussion" with Musk the prior evening. Personette resigned the day after posting the tweet.

☆ Elon Musk has dissolved Twitter's 9-person board of directors and become its sole director
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk has scrapped Twitter's board of directors. Musk had himself tried to join Twitter's board in the spring before clashing with then-CEO Parag Agrawal. When first outlining his plans for his ownership of Twitter, Musk said he would need to take the company private to make his desired changes. The same evening, Musk also ousted CFO Ned Segal, chief legal officer Vijaya Gadde, and general counsel Sean Edgett, sources told Insider. Musk had himself been set to join Twitter's board before he offered to buy the company, but u-turned after clashing with Agrawal over text.

☆ Elon Musk denied reports that he's speeding up Twitter layoffs to avoid paying out hefty stock grants to workers
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk said reports he's speeding up layoffs to avoid paying out stock grants are false. Musk is set to lay off workers before Tuesday, when they're scheduled to receive stock grants, per the NYT. Media reports suggest that Musk may also avoid giving fired execs their expected multi-million-dollar payouts. The Times reported that Musk could therefore avoid paying the grants. The Information reported that the "for cause" terminations were an attempt to avoid paying out severance pay and unvested stock awards.

☆ Elon Musk spent the weekend creating plans with his inner circle to lay off 25% of Twitter's staff, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Elon Musk plans to lay off around a quarter of Twitter's staff, The Washington Post reported. His team, led by Alex Spiro, and remaining Twitter senior execs spent the weekend crafting plans, per The Post. Musk's team also assigned some of Twitter's engineers projects to work on over the weekend. Insider reported that there was a sense among workers that some of their recent tasks were a test by Musk's team to see who works hard. A person familiar with the deal told The Post that Musk is more likely to lay off around half of Twitter's staff.

☆ Elon Musk says he has 'no idea who the CEO' of Twitter is after being sent an auto-email telling him 'it's time to start managing'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

He was sent an email from the company telling him to start a "managing @Twitter 101" training course. Musk tweeted that he has idea who the CEO is yet, despite calling himself "Chief Twit." Elon Musk was sent an email from Twitter telling him "it's time to start managing @Twitter 101," in reference to a training course about "what it means to be a good manager at Twitter." Musk tweeted on Sunday: "Just received this email from Twitter. Musk responded: "My title is Chief Twit right there in the bio.

☆ As Elon Musk finalized his Twitter deal, company founder Jack Dorsey launched a beta for his new social media company
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Jack Dorsey's decentralized social media platform, Bluesky Social, is accepting beta users. The news coincides with Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter, which Dorsey founded and ran for several years. Dorsey left Twitter in 2021 and named Parag Agrawal as his successor, whom Musk fired shortly after taking over this week. Dorsey's blockchain-based Bluesky Social announced last Tuesday that it's launching soon and is currently enlisting users for beta testing. Dorsey had said in 2019 that Twitter was funding work into developing "an open and decentralized standard for social media."

☆ Elon Musk fired Twitter execs including CEO Parag Agrawal 'for cause' in a bid to avoid paying out tens of millions in severance, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk fired top Twitter execs "for cause" to avoid severance payments, The Information reported. He fired CEO Parag Agrawal and three other executives on Thursday as he completed his takeover. The execs are in line to receive up to $122 million in payouts, researchers Equilar told Reuters. Musk removed Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, chief financial officer Ned Segal, legal chief Vijaya Gadde, and general counsel Sean Edgett on Thursday after closing his $44 billion deal. His relationship with Agrawal in particular quickly soured, with the pair trading blows on Twitter and over text messages.

☆ Elon Musk Closes Twitter Deal, Immediately Fires Top Executives
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Lauren Thomas | Alexa Corse | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Elon Musk fired several Twitter Inc. executives after completing his takeover of the company, according to people familiar with the matter, capping an unusual corporate battle and setting up one of the world’s most influential social-media platforms for potentially broad change. Mr. Musk fired Chief Executive Parag Agrawal and Chief Financial Officer Ned Segal after the deal closed, the people said. Mr. Musk also fired Vijaya Gadde, Twitter’s top legal and policy executive, and Sean Edgett, general counsel. Spokespeople for Twitter didn’t comment.

☆ Elon Musk Twitter Deal Completed, CEO and CFO Immediately Fired
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Lauren Thomas | Alexa Corse | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Donald Trump says Twitter is 'in sane hands' following Elon Musk's takeover
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Hannah Towey | Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Donald Trump said the app is now "in sane hands" with the tech billionaire at its helm. "I am very happy that Twitter is now in sane hands, and will no longer be run by Radical Left Lunatics and Maniacs that truly hate our country," Trump wrote on Truth Social. Twitter permanently suspended Trump from its website two days after the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, citing the "risk of further incitement of violence." Twitter and Musk formally closed on the billionaire's $44 billion acquisition offer to take the company private on Thursday. Immediately after purchasing the app, Musk ousted some of Twitter's top executives including CEO Parag Agrawal, Chief legal officer Vijaya Gadde, and general counsel Sean Edgett, Insider previously reported.

☆ Trump says Twitter is 'in sane hands' following Elon Musk's takeover
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Hannah Towey | Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

☆ One of the Twitter execs Elon Musk just fired had a key role in getting Trump banned from the platform in January 2021
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Vijaya Gadde, a top Twitter legal and policy executive, was fired by Elon Musk on Thursday. In May, Musk said he would let Trump back on Twitter, calling the decision to ban him "morally bad." The other executives Musk fired on Thursday include Twitter's CEO, Parag Agrawal, chief financial officer Ned Segal, and general counsel Sean Edgett. It's unclear if Musk fired Gadde because of her role in the decision to ban Trump. Musk said in May that he would reverse Twitter's Trump ban, saying that booting Trump off Twitter was a "morally bad decision" and "foolish in the extreme."

New York CNN Business —Elon Musk has completed his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, the company confirmed in a securities filing Friday, putting the world’s richest man in charge of one of the world’s most influential social media platforms. The confirmation comes after a source familiar with the deal told CNN the deal had closed Thursday night. But Musk’s takeover now raises a host of new questions for the future of the social media platform, and the many corners of society impacted by it. Despite multiple news outlets confirming the changes Thursday night, Twitter staff had still not formally been informed of the changes as of Friday morning, two Twitter employees told CNN. Now he controls a social media platform that shapes how hundreds of millions of people communicate and get their news.

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