SCOOP: Puck News Sued for Defamation By Same Navy Vet Who Beat CNN

March 28th, 2025 9:53 PM

After successfully winning a consequential defamation suit against CNN in January, Navy veteran Zachary Young had media-industry publication Puck News in his sights. According to a complaint filed in Bay County, Florida’s 14th Judicial Circuit on Friday, and exclusively obtained by NewsBusters, Young was accusing left-leaning Puck News, via the reporting of “entertainment law expert…

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CNN Host Gets Grilled By VA Secy. on Malicious Defamation of Navy Vet

March 27th, 2025 3:12 PM

For the first time on CNN since the ruling came out in January, CNN viewers finally got an inkling of the fact that the network was found liable for malicious defamation of Navy veteran Zachary Young. No, it wasn’t because the network finally decided to be open an honest with their viewers; it was because Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins demanded answers on behalf of “one of my veterans…

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CNN’s Defamation Lawyer Lied to Judge, Forced to Apologize to Navy Vet

January 23rd, 2025 3:34 PM

Largely lost in the coverage of witness testimony, breaking news of the liability verdict against CNN, and the subsequent settlement on punitive damages, was how CNN’s lead counsel David Axelrod (not to be confused with the CNN commentator of the same name) had repeatedly lied to Judge William Scott Henry and was dressed down in front of the court and streamed around the world because of it.…

NewsBusters Podcast: Nick Fondacaro on CNN Found Guilty of Defamation

January 17th, 2025 9:20 PM

A jury in Panama City, Florida found CNN guilty of defamation in the case of Zachary Young, who worked to rescue people from Afghanistan after America withdrew. CNN must pay $5 million in damages (not counting punitive damages). Associate Editor Nick Fondacaro has been in the courtroom to explain it all. 

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Zachary Young Speaks Out to NewsBusters About His Defamation Victory

January 17th, 2025 8:37 PM

Panama City, FL – The defamation case brought by Navy veteran Zachary Young has left CNN permanently marked as “fake news” after his victory in court on Friday. As NewsBusters previously reported, the jury of six found CNN did defame Young, that they did it with malice, and they should be punished for it. The ruling spurred CNN to seek an undisclosed settlement. And in the…

BREAKING: CNN Found Liable for Defamation of Navy Vet Zachary Young

January 17th, 2025 11:22 AM

Panama City, FL – On Friday, a jury of six in Florida’s 14th Circuit Court in Bay County has found CNN liable for the defamation of Navy veteran Zachary Young and that he was entitled economic and emotional damages, a ruling that proved CNN was not worthy of their moniker “the most trusted name in news.” They also found that CNN’s reporters had demonstrated expressed malice,…

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Deliberation: Jury Hears Closing Arguments in CNN Defamation Trial

January 16th, 2025 7:49 PM

The six-person jury for the $1 billion defamation suit against CNN heard closing arguments on Thursday and started their deliberations. Both parties urged the jury to use their “common sense” to see them through deliberations and secure them the legal victory. But it was the argument of Vel Freedman, the lead counsel for Navy veteran and Plaintiff Zachary Young, who called on the jury, “Your…

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BRUTAL Defamation Juror Questions Give Insight Ahead of Deliberations

January 15th, 2025 8:38 PM

Something unique about the Florida judicial system is, baring objection of counsels and the court, jurors get to ask questions of the witnesses. These questions could be used as possible insight into a jury’s temperament and possible mindset as a trial unfolds. In the case of the $1 billion defamation trial against CNN, the tea leaves seemed to indicate on Wedndesday that they weren’t looking…

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Jake Tapper Seemingly Lies in Deposition Testimony for Defamation Case

January 14th, 2025 10:37 PM

In lieu of adding more in-person witnesses to a trial with a hard deadline, Tuesday’s proceedings in the $1 billion defamation trial against CNN featured the sworn deposition videos of five CNN employees who had their fingerprints on the offending report. One of the more eyebrow-raising testimonies of the bunch came from CNN anchor Jake Tapper who’s show - The Lead - the report…

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Marquardt Refuses to Apologize for Alleged Defamation, Doubles Down

January 13th, 2025 8:06 PM

Week Two of the $1 billion defamation trial against CNN kicked off Monday with the testimony of CNN chief national security correspondent Alex Marquardt, the architect of the allegedly defamatory report. The key moments from this time on the witness stand were when he refused to apologize to Navy veteran and Plaintiff Zachary Young, doubled down on the false assertions that Young was…

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Defamation Trial: CNN Fact-Checker Admits He Didn’t Check Facts First

January 11th, 2025 1:36 PM

In addition to CNN’s defamation lawyer smearing a decorated two-star general in open court during Friday’s proceedings, it was the first time someone from CNN was called to testify in the $1 billion defamation trial against the network. Senior editor and fact-checker Fuzz Hogan was on the witness stand where he was belligerent with plaintiff’s counsel, oozed arrogance, defended CNN’s editorial…

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CNN’s Defamation Lawyer SMEARS Decorated Army General in Open Court

January 10th, 2025 7:23 PM

CNN’s lead counsel in the $1 billion defamation trial against them, David Axelrod (not to be confused with the CNN commentator of the same name) had yet another angry outburst at a witness on the stand, on Friday. After going berserk on Navy veteran and Plaintiff Zachary Young the previous day, decorated Army Major General James V. Young (no relation to the plaintiff) was in Axelrod’s sights;…

Who’s on Trial? CNN’s Lawyer SHOUTS at Vet Suing Them for Defamation

January 9th, 2025 7:21 PM

Thursday was the most eventful day in the $1 billion defamation suit against CNN - so far - as the testimony of Navy veteran and Plaintiff Zachary Young concluded. The previous day’s emotional testimony from Young seemed to temper the ability for CNN’s lead counsel David Axelrod (not to be confused with CNN commentator David Axelrod) to be combative and accusatory. With a night of rest after…

‘Why Is My Face All Over CNN?’ Navy Vet’s Emotional Trial Testimony

January 8th, 2025 7:00 PM

U.S. Navy veteran and Plaintiff Zachary Young continued his testimony Wednesday in the $1 billion defamation trial against CNN. The morning’s testimony featured the jurors being shown fairly damaging messages between Young and CNN reporters Katie Bo Lillis and Alex Marquardt. The messages showed Young was lied to about the nature of CNN’s reporting and Young warning them what they were about…