‎Trump's $15 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against The New York Times Dismissed by Federal Judge

By: Shawn
‎President Donald Trump’s $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and four of its reporters has been dismissed by a federal judge. The case accused the newspaper and journalists of undermining his 2024 presidential candidacy.
‎
A federal judge dismissed Trump’s $15B defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, calling the 85-page complaint improper and excessive.
‎Spencer Platt/Getty Images
‎
‎U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday ruled on Friday that the complaint was “decidedly improper and impermissible.” The court criticized Trump’s legal team for including unnecessary arguments, excessive evidence, and political commentary in the 85-page filing.
‎
‎A large portion of the lawsuit highlighted Trump’s achievements in real estate, television, and politics, including references to his ratings on The Apprentice, images of Trump Tower, and promotional materials. The filing also accused the “legacy media” of acting as a political tool for Democrats.
‎
‎Judge Merryday, appointed by former President George H.W. Bush, emphasized that a legal complaint is not a platform for personal attacks or political speech. He stated that such documents must present clear legal claims, not serve as “a megaphone for public relations” or “a podium for a passionate oration at a political rally.”
‎
‎The court did not evaluate the merits of Trump’s defamation claims but ruled that his lawyers may refile a complaint limited to 40 pages.
‎
‎The reporters named in the lawsuit are Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner, co-authors of Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success, along with Washington correspondent Michael S. Schmidt and White House correspondent Peter Baker.
‎
‎Filed by attorney Alejandro Brito, the lawsuit sought at least $15 billion in damages and alleged that the Times and its reporters defamed Trump in their coverage.

MORE FROM THE HOLLYWOOD CRAVE

Full list of Oscars winners: Anora wins Best Picture at the 2025 Academy Awards, leading with five Oscars

Image
At the 2025 Academy Awards, Anora claimed the prestigious title of Best Picture, marking a standout moment of the evening. The film emerged as the top winner, securing five Oscars in total. The star of Anora, Mikey Madison, was awarded Best Actress, while director Sean Baker celebrated a remarkable achievement, taking home three Oscars for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. Adrien Brody , Mikey Madison , Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña. Rich Polk/Penske Media/Getty Images; Kevin Winter/Getty Images (2); Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images In the acting categories, Adrien Brody was honored with the Best Actor award for his performance in The Brutalist. Kieran Culkin triumphed as Best Supporting Actor for his role in A Real Pain. Meanwhile, Zoe Saldaña made history as the Best Supporting Actress for her role in Emilia Pérez, becoming the first American of Dominican descent to win an Academy Award. Conclave took home the Oscar for Best Adap...
Read more

Florence Pugh Explains Why She Wasn’t 'Scared' to Support Palestine

Image
‎Florence Pugh has reflected on her decision to speak publicly in support of Palestine, saying she was never “scared” of voicing her position despite the reaction that followed. ‎ ‎Florence Pugh discusses supporting Palestine, losing social media followers and why she was never “scared” to speak out. ‎Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Netflix ‎ ‎The Oscar-nominated actress discussed the subject in a Vanity Fair cover story, where she estimated that she lost hundreds of thousands of social media followers after expressing her opinion on Palestine. ‎ ‎Pugh previously attended the Together for Palestine event last September. Speaking onstage, she said, “Silence in the face of such suffering is not neutrality, it is complicity, and empathy should not be this hard and it should have never been this hard.” ‎ ‎Looking back on the response to the situation, Pugh told Vanity Fair, “I don’t know why it took so long for people to start talking and for people to actually feel sympathy.”...
Read more

Franklin Richards, son of Reed and Sue: Marvel's most powerful child unleashed

Image
‎Born to two of the Marvel Universe's most iconic heroes—Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) and Sue Storm (Invisible Woman)—Franklin Richards was never going to be ordinary. But no one expected this. ‎ Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby in 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps'. ‎ 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios ‎ ‎From the moment he first opened his eyes in New York City, Franklin's destiny was intertwined with the cosmos. Not just another gifted child of superheroes, Franklin emerged as a mutant—or something more—with the ability to reshape existence itself. ‎ ‎His middle name, Benjamin, honors his godfather, Ben Grimm, and his first name, Franklin, pays tribute to his maternal grandfather. But make no mistake: Franklin Richards would earn a name that cosmic entities would fear to speak. ‎ ‎Powers Unleashed: Too Much for Earth to Handle ‎ ‎As a toddler, Franklin’s powers manifested with terrifying potential. When the alien tyrant Annihilus tried to siphon the child’...
Read more

Gal Gadot Says She Wasn’t Surprised by Wonder Woman DCU Exit

Image
‎Gal Gadot’s time as Wonder Woman in the DC Universe began with her debut as Diana Prince in Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016. She went on to headline the standalone Wonder Woman in 2017 before reprising the iconic role in Justice League later that year and Wonder Woman 1984 in 2020. ‎ ‎Gal Gadot discusses her DCU exit, Wonder Woman’s future and why she would not return for a third film. ‎Warner Bros. ‎ ‎A third Wonder Woman film was also in development with director Patty Jenkins. However, the project was ultimately cut after James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios and developed their own plans for the DCU. ‎ ‎Gadot Wasn’t Surprised by Her DCU Exit ‎ ‎In a new interview, Gadot explained that she was not surprised that she was ultimately removed from the DCU, despite previously being told that they would work with her. ‎ ‎“I saw the way everybody else was handled. The Henry [Cavill] situation was not handled elegantly to say the least. Patty...
Read more

Mekai Curtis Explains Kanan’s Ending in 'Raising Kanan' and How It Leads Into 'Power: Origins'

Image
‎The series finale of Starz’s Power Book III: Raising Kanan closes another chapter in the Power franchise, but Mekai Curtis’ time as the younger Kanan Stark is not quite over. With Kanan already known to survive into the original Power series, the finale instead focuses on the experiences that shape the character before Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s era. ‎ ‎Mekai Curtis discusses Kanan’s emotional journey, Raq’s death and how the ‘Raising Kanan’ finale sets up ‘Power: Origins.’ ‎Starz ‎One of the biggest moments comes with the death of Raquel “Raq” Thomas (Patina Miller), who is shot and killed by Jukebox (Hailey Kilgore). Raq had served as a surrogate mother to Juke, but Jukebox ultimately sought revenge for her father’s murder at Kanan’s hands. ‎ ‎At a diner, Jukebox tells Kanan that she killed his mother in an effort to remove everyone who cares about him from his life. According to Curtis, Kanan’s reaction represents his growing understanding of everything he has experienc...
Read more

Hayden Panettiere Dies at 36, Father Confirms: 'Heroes' and 'Nashville' Star Remembered

Image
‎Hayden Panettiere, the actress best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36, her father, Skip Panettiere, told ABC News on Sunday. ‎ ‎“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen,” her father, Skip Panettiere, told ABC News in a statement. He also asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.” ‎ Hayden Panettiere has died at 36, her father confirmed to ABC News, leaving behind a career spanning Heroes, Nashville and Scream. ‎Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images ‎ ‎The details around her death are unknown. ‎ ‎Panettiere's acting career included television, film and Lifetime projects. Her film credits included I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009), Scream 4 (2011) and Scream VI (2023), while she also starred in the 2011 Lifetim...
Read more

Dolly Parton Dies at 80: Country Music Legend’s Seven-Decade Legacy

Image
‎Dolly Parton, the legendary singer-songwriter-actress whose extraordinary country music career expanded into pop music, film and television, died on Aug. 25. She was 80. ‎ ‎Her family did not release a cause of death, saying instead that she “died peacefully today in Nashville.” ‎ ‎Dolly Parton has died at 80 after a seven-decade career spanning country music, film, television, songwriting and philanthropy. ‎Getty Images ‎The announcement was made through Parton’s official Instagram account in a video from her nephew Bryan Seaver, speaking on behalf of the Parton family. ‎ ‎According to the family’s official obituary, “A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family. Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple ...
Read more

‎'Soulm8te' Review: M3GAN-Verse Spinoff Offers Stylish AI Horror, Sex and Suspense

Image
‎Soulm8te is the kind of film that seems tailor-made for directors known for provocative thrillers like Paul Verhoeven, Brian De Palma or Adrian Lyne. With a screenplay from Joe Eszterhas, it could have leaned even further into its provocative premise. Instead, director Kate Dolan and co-writer Rafael Jordan craft a polished erotic thriller inspired by the slick, sensational films of the 1980s and 1990s, updating that formula for the artificial intelligence era with a dangerous android companion at its center. ‎ ‎Soulm8te delivers stylish AI-fueled thrills, strong performances and pulpy horror, but its satire lacks the bite needed to truly stand out. ‎Courtesy of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment ‎ ‎The movie blends sex, violence and cautionary themes about AI technology, even delivering a warning about the risks of enhanced vaginal grip. While it embraces its lurid premise, this android-driven Fatal Attraction rarely reaches the level of outrageous fun that its concept...
Read more

'House of the Dragon' Season 3 Finale: Ryan Condal Explains Rhaenyra’s Big Book Change

Image
‎The Season 3 finale of House of the Dragon takes Rhaenyra Targaryen’s story in a direction that significantly differs from George R.R. Martin’s Fire and Blood. The biggest change comes when Rhaenyra publicly reveals the Song of Ice and Fire prophecy to the people of King’s Landing. ‎ ‎Ryan Condal explains why Rhaenyra’s prophecy reveal differs from Fire and Blood and teases a bigger final season. ‎HBO ‎Throughout the finale, Rhaenyra displays some major Daenerys parallels as her pursuit of power turns increasingly violent. She orders the immediate execution of a faith leader who has become a political rival. Although her wider rampage remains bloodless, the moment is still presented as deeply unsettling. ‎ ‎Her most significant action, however, comes when she stands before the masses of King’s Landing and declares that the White Walkers are coming and that only she can stop them as the prophesied Prince Who Was Promised. ‎ ‎That revelation is not found in Fire and Blood, t...
Read more

'Dancing With the Stars': Sharna Burgess Returns as Pro Dancer for Season 35

Image
‎Sharna Burgess is officially returning to the ballroom for season 35 of ‘Dancing With the Stars’. Her comeback was announced on Good Morning America on Monday, confirming her return to the professional dancer lineup for the upcoming season. ‎ Sharna Burgess is returning to ‘Dancing With the Stars’ as a professional dancer for season 35 after five years away. ‎Disney/Maarten de Boer ‎The new season will mark Burgess’ first appearance on the series in five years. Her most recent season was season 30 in 2021, when she was partnered with her fiancé Brian Austin Green. ‎ ‎Burgess has a long history with the competition. She has competed in 14 seasons of Dancing and famously won season 27 alongside Bobby Brown. Her return had been widely speculated in recent months after she took part in several Dancing-related events and appearances, including DWTS Con. ‎ ‎With Burgess now confirmed, she becomes the second professional dancer from season 35 to be officially announced. Witney Ca...
Read more