Axios

CNN is terminating its daily Snapchat show, "The Update." CNN was one of Snapchat's launch partners for its content section "Discover" in 2015. Sources say this was a part of a broader strategy conversation between the two companies about the best way to use the platform moving forward to keep audiences engaged.

Why it matters: Sources say ending the show on December 31st is more about pausing to find the right fit and strategy for CNN on the platform. Snapchat has been careful about making sure partners create original content for the Discover that is built to best engage its younger audience using fast-production cues, vertical video, etc. Both sides say they are committed to "keep working together" and that their relationship "will very much be continuing."

ADT, a Florida-based home security company owned by Apollo Global Management, has filed for a $100 million IPO (placeholder figure, with Renaissance Capital estimating it could raise $1.5 billion).

Why it matters: This could be private equity's first test case under the new tax regime. For starters: How will Apollo and the IRS determine when the clock begins on carried interest, given that Apollo acquired ADT just last year, but merged it with a pair of smaller companies it acquired in July 2015? Either way, expect Apollo to hold onto more shares than it would have under current tax law, given that even the original purchases came within the new three-year window for carry consideration.

Mark Ein (pronounced "eyen") — a Washington-area investor, entrepreneur and philanthropist who controls the Kastle Systems building-security company and founded the Washington Kastles tennis team — is buying the floundering Washington City Paper, a 36-year-old alt-weekly.

Why it matters: Ein told me in a phone interview: "I truly believe journalism is saving the world."

In a morning tweet, President Trump highlighted a "phenomenon that nobody even thought of" regarding the GOP's just-passed tax bill: wage hikes and holiday bonuses by companies like AT&T and Wells Fargo.

But someone did think of it: WaPo predicted that companies might time wage hike announcements around the tax bill's passage in order to gain favor with Trump.

At least 200 journalists, publishers and bloggers were targeted by the hacking group known as Fancy Bear, which has been linked to the Russian government, AP reports from Paris.

"The AP identified journalists as the third-largest group on a hacking hit list obtained from cybersecurity firm Secureworks, after diplomatic personnel and U.S. Democrats ... About 50 of the journalists worked at The New York Times."

• "U.S.-based journalists targeted include Josh Rogin, a Washington Post columnist, and Shane Harris, who was covering the intelligence community for The Daily Beast in 2015."
• Why it matters: "The list of journalists provides new evidence for the U.S. intelligence community's conclusion that Fancy Bear acted on behalf of the Russian government when it intervened in the U.S. presidential election."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday a new initiative called the Democracy Project to protect the integrity of New York elections. In a release, Cuomo's office says the reform is the "strongest and most comprehensive regulation of online political advertisements."

Why it matters: Election transparency has become a hot-button issue in light of revelations about the way Russian operatives used tech platforms to meddle in last year's general election. Cuomo, who's been rumored as a 2020 candidate, is being vocal about the issue as it picks up steam across the country.

The FCC plans to fine Sinclair Broadcasting group more than $13 million for failing to make the required disclosures related to programming sponsored by a third party. It's the largest fine the FCC has ever proposed for violation of its ad disclosure rules, which require broadcasters to disclose who is paying for sponsored programming.

Why it matters: In an era of fake news concerns, the FCC is signaling that it will act against media outlets that don't properly disclose the origin of information or mislead the public into thinking paid material is a station's own independent news coverage.