Overview
- On Friday’s Real Time, Bill Maher told California Gov. Gavin Newsom he was “imitating” President Donald Trump with trolling and a lawsuit against Fox News, as Newsom replied he was “putting a mirror up to Donald Trump.”
- Newsom said his $787 million defamation suit is moving into discovery, a phase that can force release of internal emails and editorial notes about Fox’s coverage of a disputed phone call with Trump during Los Angeles protests.
- Following Thursday’s ruling, Delaware Judge Sean P. Lugg let the case proceed, writing it was “reasonably conceivable” Fox acted with actual malice, the high legal standard public figures must meet in defamation claims.
- Fox News said it “respectfully disagree[s]” with the decision and vowed to “vigorously defend” the case, calling Newsom’s suit a bid to silence speech and weaken First Amendment protections.
- After Fox shows aired clips of the interview on Saturday, Trump attacked the network on Truth Social for boosting Maher, insulted the host, and pointed viewers to California sore spots Maher raised, including soaring gas prices and the high‑speed rail’s ballooning cost.