Good morning, Broadsheet readers! Megyn Kelly is leaving Fox, Mary Barra gets the Trump Twitter treatment, and Leslie Jones has some choice words for the publishing house that rewarded her biggest troll with a book contract. Enjoy your Wednesday,
EVERYONE'S TALKING
• Out-Foxed. It's shaping up to be a big week for two powerful women who helped make Fox News the juggernaut it is today. First, Megyn Kelly made headlines with her decision to leave the network, instead signing with competitor NBC News. Kelly was apparently lured by NBC's offer of a three-part role: She will reportedly host her own daytime news program, anchor a Sunday night news show, and take regular part in the network’s special political programming. No financial terms of the deal were disclosed, but as the New York Times put it, "even a modest raise would place her among television’s highest paid journalists." (For a look at what her hire means for the future of NBC News, check out this piece by Fortune's Mathew Ingram.)
The second piece of news came from Gretchen Carlson, who was fired by Fox in June of last year and who then sued former network chief Roger Ailes. Carlson returned to the small screen for the first time yesterday, co-hosting a segment of the Today Show. She used the appearance to announce that she is setting up a fund to "empower women and young girls"—and that she plans to become a regular columnist for our fellow Time Inc. publication Motto.
Of course, Kelly and Carlson have more than a former network in common—both have said that they were sexually harassed by Roger Ailes. While the two newswomen have many advantages that other victims of harassment lack, it is a pleasure to see any woman who's had to deal with such toxic behavior go on to bigger and better things.
ALSO IN THE HEADLINES
• Cruze craziness. GM is the latest company to be threatened via Twitter (of course) by Donald Trump. The president-elect tweeted that the Mary Barra-led automaker is selling a "Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze to U.S. car dealers-tax free across border," adding that the company must, "Make in U.S.A.or pay big border tax!" GM responded by saying that all Cruze sedans sold in the U.S. are made in the U.S.—though it does manufacture the Cruze hatchback in Mexico. Fortune
• Throw the book at 'em. Comedian Leslie Jones is criticizing Threshold Editions, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, for providing Milo Yiannopoulos with a book deal. As you may recall, infamous troll Yiannopoulos was responsible for inciting the racist campaign against Jones that temporarily drove her off Twitter. New York Times
• I need a drink. To sell more wine to women, some vino brands are turning to gender-based marketing that seems laughably dated. For example, putting flowers and bucolic scenes on the labels of vintages popular with female drinkers and horseback-riding knights on bottles the makers think will appeal to men. WSJ
• A diva gets disinvited. Gospel singer Kim Burrell had been booked on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to perform a song from the film Hidden Figures, but after a video emerged showing Burrell making homophobic remarks, DeGeneres tweeted that the singer will no longer be appearing on her show. People
MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Evan Ryan, assistant secretary of state for Educational and Cultural Affairs, is joining Axios, a forthcoming media startup founded by Politico alums Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
• No Park. The impeachment trial of South Korean President Park Geun-hye has begun. Park was not present in the courtroom when the proceedings began yesterday, and is not expected to appear and plead her case. New York Times
• Abby's into ETFs. Fidelity CEO Abigail Johnson is overseeing a major change in the company's strategy: a push into exchange-traded funds, a low-margin offering the money management firm has previously avoided. WSJ
• She's hired. Omarosa Manigault, one of the more, well, memorable contestants to appear on The Apprentice, is expected to join Trump's White House staff in a role focused on public engagement. CNBC
• When ya gotta go... Hillary Clinton will attend Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Time
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ON MY RADAR
Janet Jackson gives birth to son Eissa at 50 Time
How women ran hip-hop in 2016 LA Weekly
Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher: The mother-daughter rebel alliance Slate
Kamala Harris sworn in as first Indian American senator and California's first black senator LA Times
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