CBS News is adding to its staff covering Washington, as Sarah N. Lynch has joined the network as a new Department of Justice correspondent.
Lynch joins CBS News after spending the past 15 years working in a similar capacity for Reuters. During her tenure, she worked as the lead reporter for the outlet covering the DOJ.
At the television network, Lynch will assume the role of Senior DOJ reporter.
In a post on social media, Lynch announced the move.
“After 15 great years with Reuters, I started a new job today as the senior DOJ reporter for CBS News in Washington,” Lynch wrote. “Excited for the opportunity.”
Some personal news: After 15 great years with @Reuters I started a new job today as the senior DOJ reporter for @CBSNews in Washington. Excited for the opportunity. I am covering the same beat and I have the same cell #. Tips and story ideas welcome.
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iHeartMedia Senior Vice President of Programming Joey Brooks has announced he has departed the company’s Connecticut stations.
Brooks originally joined the market in September 2019 after previously serving in a programming role in Miami. The move marked a return to the state after previously working in Connecticut for four years earlier in his career.
In his most recent position, Joey Brooks programmed both 101.7 The Bull in Boston as well as Country 92.5 in Hartford, in addition to overseeing the company’s eight stations in Connecticut.
Furthermore, he served as the Director of Brand Strategy and Programming for iHeartMedia’s Hot AC stations. He also hosted a weekend program for the format.
Other previous stops in his career — in addition to working in Boston, Connecticut, and Miami — include Toronto and Philadelphia, among others.
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Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) has struck a multi-platform partnership with the YES Network, bringing the organization’s programming to a wider regional and national audience. BKFC content will debut on YES and The Gotham Sports App starting Friday, January 9.
The collaboration will feature BKFC’s popular series, including Road To, BKFC Unwrapped, and BKFC Rewind. It will also include The Bare Knuckle Show podcast, hosted by fight analyst Brian Soscia. The content will be available on YES’ regional broadcasts, the YES National feed, and the streaming Gotham Sports App, YES’ official digital platform.
The agreement also includes cross-promotion. YES will highlight BKFC content across its network and app, while BKFC will promote YES and its streaming platform across its digital channels and live events.
“Partnering with the YES Network is a major step for BKFC’s growth,” said David Feldman, founder and president of BKFC. “This collaboration expands our reach not only in New York but also across the country. Fans will now have more convenient access to the athletes who define our sport, and we anticipate introducing bare-knuckle fighting to a broader audience.”
Road To and BKFC Unwrapped focus on fighters’ preparations ahead of their bouts, while BKFC Rewind showcases classic fights from the promotion’s history, offering both fresh and nostalgic content for fans. Meanwhile, The Bare Knuckle Show podcast provides analysis and behind-the-scenes commentary, further engaging the combat sports community.
Jason Feneque, senior director of distribution and special projects at YES Network, said the partnership aligns with the network’s strategy to connect viewers with dynamic, high-energy content.
“BKFC has a passionate and rapidly growing following,” Feneque said. “By adding their programming to YES and Gotham, we can introduce the sport to new audiences. Providing existing fans with additional ways to engage. It’s an exciting fit for our distribution platforms and will help broaden our demographic reach. Particularly among younger and more diverse viewers.”
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With the calendar flipping to 2026, changes are afoot at ABC News, as national politics reporter Brittany Shepherd has announced her departure.
Shepherd originally joined ABC News in 2021. During her tenure, she was based in Washington, D.C. for the network.
Previous stops include time working as a White House correspondent at both Yahoo News and the Independent Journal Review. She also worked as a staff writer at the Washingtonian Magazine.
In a post on social media, Brittany Shepherd revealed that her time with the network ended in December.
“Last month was my final at ABC,” Shepherd shared. “Grateful for the fantastic career highlights and a lot of fun along the way.”
Some news for '26: Last month was my final at @ABC. Grateful for the fantastic career highlights & a lot of fun along the way.
I'm now sorting out what's next — if you’re hiring or know someone who is, send them my way. brittanylrshepherd@gmail.com
She added that she is “sorting out what’s next” and is in search of her next role.
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The Foul Territory Network is expanding its roster of podcasts and digital shows with new talent and fresh programming aimed at baseball fans. The platform announced several high-profile additions, including USA Today columnist Bob Nightengale and FanSided National MLB Insider Robert Murray joining the Foul Territory Insider team, alongside Senior Insider Ken Rosenthal and former MLB general manager Jim Bowden.
The network also unveiled its latest show, Halo Territory, which will focus on the Los Angeles Angels. Hosted by longtime Los Angeles Times reporter Mike DiGiovanna and former MLB slugger Mark Trumbo, the show promises a mix of journalistic insight and player perspective. DiGiovanna, who has covered the Angels and Dodgers for three decades, said the pair aims to deliver nuanced commentary on a team with a passionate fan base, despite recent struggles on the field.
“I’ve enjoyed being a guest on Foul Territory, and Mark and I are excited to join the network’s growing lineup of informed and intelligent baseball voices,” DiGiovanna said. “We look forward to bringing the unique insights of a former big-league slugger and longtime baseball writer to Halo Territory.”
In addition, Katie Woo, who recently shifted from covering the St. Louis Cardinals to the Dodgers for The Athletic, has joined Dodgers Territory as a co-host alongside Alanna Rizzo and Clint Pasillas. Woo previously hosted Cardinal Territory from its December 2024 launch until handing it over to a rotating team of Cardinals players and insiders last November.
“I’m thrilled to rejoin the Foul Territory Network and work with Alanna and Clint on Dodgers Territory,” Woo said. “The Dodgers remain one of the most prominent teams in professional sports, and I’m eager to provide fans with the latest news and insights.”
Rizzo and Pasillas praised Woo’s addition, noting her access to the team and deep understanding of the game would enhance coverage. “Katie brings credibility and curiosity, making her a perfect fit for our audience,” Pasillas said.
Halo Territory, along with shows such as Fair Territory with Ken Rosenthal, Bucco Territory, Cardinal Territory, Crush City Territory, Friar Territory, Hammer Territory, Mayday!, Mets’d Up, and others, are available on YouTube and across podcast platforms.
We're excited to announce a brand new show under the Foul Territory Network!@HaloTerritory, hosted by Mark Trumbo and @MikeDiGiovanna, is your go-to show for all things Angels!
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New CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil had an unfortunate hiccup during his first weeknight edition leading the nightly newscast. But the network removed that from the digital editions it published later in the day.
During a portion of the live broadcast on Monday evening, Dokoupil appeared to become confused about what the next story would be on the newscast.
“To Governor Walz…no, we’re gonna do Mark Kelly,” Dokoupil said. “First day. First day, big problems here. Are we going to Kelly here or are we going to Jonah Kaplan?”
After several seconds of silence, Tony Dokoupil then pivoted to a news story about Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) being censured by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for his recent comments about whether or not military members should defy illegal orders.
The moment from Dokoupil’s first weeknight anchoring the CBS Evening News went viral on social media in the aftermath. Many took potshots at the new anchor.
Despite the editing change on YouTube, CBS News did not remove the flub from the audio podcast version published to the newscast’s feed on Monday evening.
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Sports media veteran Jon “Stugotz” Weiner is taking over FOX Sports Radio’s afternoon drive slot, and longtime collaborator Dan Le Batard publicly celebrated the milestone while teasing a possible return to his own show later this month.
During Monday’s episode of The Dan Le Batard Show, Le Batard offered “a hearty congratulations” to Weiner. Le Batard noted the move marked a return to the live radio format that first defined Weiner’s career.
“He is doing afternoons, and returning to his lifelong love of live radio. He really missed it. Afternoons are where we started a long time ago, on live radio, and he returns to his roots,” Le Batard said.
Le Batard also acknowledged that fans may still see Weiner on his program in the very near future. In May of last year, Barrett Mediareported that Weiner would be stepping back from his appearances on The Dan Le Batard Show.
“We are expecting and hoping that he’ll be back this month, but we were hoping and expecting that the last couple of months as well. So I think he’s going to be back this month, but he’s very busy. He’s doing afternoons now on FOX Sports Radio,” he added.
Weiner, a 20-year veteran alongside Le Batard, signed a long-term, multiplatform deal with iHeartMedia last month. Weiner succeeds Doug Gottlieb in the timeslot. Gottlieb decided to step away to focus on coaching Wisconsin-Green Bay men’s basketball.
Despite his national move, Weiner confirmed plans to appear on The Dan Le Batard Show for nine dates in January. The appearances provide a temporary return to familiarity for the show’s audience. Weiner said the offer was made with listeners in mind.
“To give our audience a reason to kind of relax. Take a deep breath, this is not the end,” Weiner said. “Dan and Meadowlark have been nice enough to offer me nine dates in January to come in and do the show. Nine of them. I don’t have to accept them all, but I did accept them all.”
However, Weiner was careful to manage expectations. He noted that his presence is ultimately subject to decisions made by Le Batard and Meadowlark Media, not him.
“If, for whatever reason, after the new year, you don’t hear me nine times in January on the show with Dan, then that is a decision not made by me,” Weiner said. “That decision will be made by Dan and Meadowlark.”
Weiner credited iHeartMedia, FOX Sports, and FanDuel for their flexibility. Their support allowed him to maintain his longtime partnership with Le Batard and Meadowlark Media.
“The people that I have partnered with … have all been incredibly flexible and understanding of a 20-year relationship between me and Dan,” Weiner said on his Stugotz & Company podcast. “They know how much that show and that audience mean to me and have all given me permission to continue doing work with Dan and for Meadowlark Media as I see fit.”
Weiner’s FOX Sports Radio program is slated to debut this month.
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Veteran college football analyst Gary Danielson on Monday opened up about his final CBS broadcast, acknowledging that his farewell on the network ended differently than he had hoped.
Speaking on The Dan Patrick Show, Danielson described the conclusion of CBS Sports’ Sun Bowl coverage as “not exactly the way we planned it,” noting that much of the work to honor his career had gone into the production.
“Just like any person, I was very focused on what I wanted to say at the end. And we got squished a little bit in time,” he explained. “It was really nobody’s fault. Probably me. I was the last one that had the mic.”
The longtime analyst, who played quarterback at Purdue before stints in the NFL with the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns, said he regretted not having the chance to thank everyone who shaped his decades-long career.
“I just wanted to compose myself and thank my football families. The teams that I was on… my Purdue family, my Lion family, my Browns family, my ABC/ESPN family,” Danielson said. “I did not thank them. There’s 30, 40, 50 people that I could have thanked in those 16 years. And of course, my CBS family.”
Danielson also highlighted his successor, Charles Davis, who was named as Danielson’s successor on the top CBS Sports college football broadcasting team last year. “I wanted to tell Charles that this crew turned head over heels to make my last year great and that last day great,” he said. “It’s a great seat to have. Good luck, Charles.”
On the Sun Bowl broadcast, viewers saw a rare moment of live television pressure when CBS cut to commercial as Danielson prepared to deliver his final words. A producer’s countdown was visible on screen, leaving the conclusion abrupt despite a tribute slideshow highlighting his career milestones.
Danielson said he took the interruption in stride, joking to colleagues that rushing a quarterback often leads to mistakes: “You know what they do to a quarterback if you rush them? They throw interceptions. And I threw an interception.”
Brad Nessler, Danielson’s current broadcast partner, and sideline reporter Jenny Dell shared their admiration during the farewell segment. They highlighted his insight, humor, and the camaraderie he brought to CBS broadcasts over 16 seasons. Danielson’s voice has been a fixture of SEC and Big Ten coverage, earning six Emmy nominations along the way.
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Jason Benetti is reportedly the front-runner to become the primary Major League Baseball play-by-play announcer for NBC, according to Front Office Sports.
Benetti, currently a versatile voice at FOX Sports, has previously called MLB games for NBC’s Peacock streaming service on Sunday mornings. He also handles full-time play-by-play duties for the Detroit Tigers and covers college football and college basketball for FOX as well.
According to the report, his contract with FOX does not expire until later this year. The network would need to approve any move to NBC. At FOX, Benetti ranks behind Joe Davis and Adam Amin on the MLB announcing depth chart. However, his sharp wit and experience have made him a popular and respected figure in the industry.
Spokespeople for both NBC and FOX did not provide comment on the report by FOS.
The potential shift comes amid a growing collaboration between the two networks. Earlier this year, NBC and FOX finalized a talent-sharing agreement. This arrangement included NBC loaning host Rebecca Lowe to FOX Sports for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. FOX, in turn, will feature CBS analyst Thierry Henry during the tournament.
NBC recently secured a deal to air Sunday morning games on Peacock and Sunday night matchups on NBC when the network is not broadcasting NFL or NBA games. The new agreement also grants NBC exclusive rights to the MLB wild-card round after ESPN chose to opt out of its longstanding Sunday Night Baseball arrangement, which had been in place for 35 years. The contract with NBC Sports runs through the 2026–28 seasons.
Benetti’s potential move would be a logical fit for NBC as the network expands its baseball coverage. His experience calling high-profile games and ability to transition seamlessly between sports make him a versatile option.
FOX Sports teammate Robert Griffin III shared his support for Benetti on social media Tuesday. Griffin and Benetti were FOX Sports’ number two play-by-play team for this past college football season.
Jason Benetti has EARNED whatever he wants. Smart, funny, entertaining and always captures the moment. Welcomed me at Fox Sports with open arms. Made me better and showed the sports world that a booth doesn’t have to sacrifice knowledge for entertainment. YOU CAN DO BOTH. https://t.co/wRiljuBn7bpic.twitter.com/hlGyGQlQjM
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Netflix is deepening its relationship with WWE, further solidifying its push into live-event-driven entertainment and sports-adjacent programming. The companies announced that Netflix will now serve as the exclusive U.S. home of WWE’s expansive content library, marking a significant expansion of their long-term partnership.
The move brings decades of WWE programming under one streaming roof. It also strengthens Netflix’s positioning as a destination for major live and legacy entertainment brands.
Effective immediately, Netflix subscribers in the United States gain access to WWE’s archive of Premium Live Events that aired prior to September 2025. That collection includes some of the most recognizable tentpole events in sports entertainment, such as WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble. In addition to live event replays, the agreement includes a wide range of documentaries and original WWE-produced programming.
The expanded library builds on the high-profile debut of WWE on Netflix last year in January 2025. Monday Night Raw began streaming weekly on the platform a year ago, instantly becoming one of Netflix’s most-watched recurring series.
Since its launch, Raw has regularly appeared in Netflix’s Global English Top 10 rankings. This underscores WWE’s ability to drive consistent viewership in a streaming environment traditionally dominated by scripted content.
Past episodes of Monday Night Raw are also included in the WWE library, allowing fans to revisit historic matches, storylines and moments. The offering spans the program’s multi-decade run. For Netflix, the addition delivers a steady stream of high-engagement content. It also complements the company’s growing investment in live programming and unscripted series.
The timing of the library expansion also aligns with Netflix’s continued rollout of WWE-branded original content. Season two of WWE: Unreal, the behind-the-scenes documentary series, offers unprecedented access to WWE’s creative and production process. It is scheduled to premiere January 20.
The series has been positioned as a deeper look into how WWE operates behind the curtain, appealing to both longtime fans and new viewers introduced through Raw’s arrival on the platform.
Netflix and the WWE signed a monumental 10-year, $5 billion deal in 2024 that moved RAW off of linear television for the first time in its history to stream exclusively on the digital platform.
Beginning immediately, Netflix is the new U.S. home for WWE’s library of Premium Live Events (prior to September 2025) including WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble, as well as award-winning documentaries and original programming. pic.twitter.com/jR59KkcOHi
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