Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
Appeals Court Blocks Expansion of Fast-Track Deportations in the U.S. 
Netanyahu Requests Presidential Pardon Amid Ongoing Corruption Trial 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
U.S.–Russia Peace Talks Stall as Kremlin Rejects Key Proposals 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
Brazil’s Supreme Court Orders Jair Bolsonaro to Begin 27-Year Prison Term 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Mexico Probes Miss Universe President Raul Rocha Over Alleged Criminal Links 
U.S. Backs Bayer in Supreme Court Battle Over Roundup Cancer Lawsuits 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
States Sue Trump Administration Over SNAP Restrictions for Legal Immigrants 
California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News, accusing the network of knowingly broadcasting false claims about a phone call he had with former President Donald Trump. The complaint, filed in Delaware Superior Court, alleges Fox intentionally distorted facts to portray Newsom as dishonest during a sensitive period following federal immigration raids in California.
According to the filing, Newsom spoke with Trump late on June 6 or early June 7, 2025. Days later, Trump told reporters he had spoken with the governor “a day ago,” a claim Newsom refuted. Fox News host Jesse Watters echoed Trump’s version on-air, stating, “Why would Newsom lie?” with a chyron reading “Gavin Lied About Trump’s Call.” Newsom’s team says this was designed to damage his reputation and mislead the public.
Newsom is seeking punitive damages matching the $787.5 million Fox paid Dominion Voting Systems in 2023 and additional compensation for reputational harm. He accuses the network of acting with actual malice, the legal standard for defamation against public figures.
In a post on X, Newsom said, “Enough of their lies,” and offered to drop the suit if Fox and Watters retract the claims and apologize on air. Fox called the lawsuit a “frivolous publicity stunt” and pledged to fight it.
The lawsuit adds to ongoing tensions between media outlets and public officials in the post-2024 political landscape. Newsom, widely seen as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, has frequently appeared on Fox News but now alleges the network crossed legal boundaries to protect Trump, a favorite among its conservative audience.
Fox Corp, the network’s parent company, is incorporated in Delaware, where the suit was filed.
