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Fired CBS News correspondent Catherine Herridge claims her former bosses blocked an exclusive interview she had snagged with Elon Musk in early 2023 — because they were afraid what the outspoken tech mogul might say.

In a video posted to X, Herridge revealed that she approached CBS execs with the opportunity to interview Musk, who had been in the news for his release of the Twitter files in late 2022 to a handful of tech and media journalists.

The reporters published the files, which shed light on how Twitter was secretly blacklisting conservative tweets and users, including its baseless decision to censor The Posts bombshell Hunter Biden laptop scoop in the run-up to the 2020 election.

Musk, who bought Twitter and renamed it X in 2022, indicated to Herridge that he would sit down with her and do a live interview, which would be broadcast on X.

Herridge had been investigating the Hunter Biden laptop scandal for CBS at the behest of Shari Redstone, the media mogul whose Paramount empire controlled CBS News, and CBS CEO George Cheeks, the reporter also revealed on Tuesday, but noted previously that she had encountered roadblocks in her reporting.

“I went to the CBS executives and I said, ‘This is the opportunity that we have.’ He’s saying, ‘I want to do it live and on my platform,’ I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is an incredible opportunity,’” Herridge recounts in the video. “Elon Musk on CBS News! He’s one of the most influential human beings on the planet, and the reaction from the executives was, ‘Well, we can’t do it live.’”

Herridge was perplexed since it’s usually beneficial for an interview to be granted with no conditions over the content.

“‘I was like, ‘What do you mean we can’t do it live?,’” she asked, to which she said higher-ups said: “‘Well, we don’t know what he’s going to say.’”

Exasperated, Herridge tells viewers: “I’m thinking, ‘Isn’t that the point of journalism?’ You don’t know what the person’s going to say.”

A CBS spokesperson declined to comment.

Herridge said CBS execs told the investigative journalist that the interview would have to be taped and edited. They also took issue with the fact that Musk wanted the interview on his platform.

Herridge said she discussed with her bosses a scenario in which the interview could be simulcast on X and CBS’ streaming service, so that they could both air it at the same time.

“Everything got shot down,” the reporter recounted. “I felt so ashamed, frankly, that I never went back to Elon Musk.”

She explained that CBS had a long list of conditions for the interview, which she didn’t think Musk would accept.

“This is someone whose DNA is free speech and how do you tell someone who’s committed to free speech that your network can only do it taped and only if they edit it and it can only be on their platform? I couldn’t go back to him with that,” she said.

Earlier this month, the acclaimed investigative reporter revealed in her newsletter that she encountered roadblocks from then-CBS News president Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews and Washington, DC, bureau chief Mark Lima, and ultimately, her initial reporting in 2020 — which verified that the laptop was Biden’s and had not been tampered with — was killed by the network.

She advocated for her reporting on the matter and it was broadcast in November 2022, after the midterm elections.

Herridge, who now has a newsletter and filed exclusive investigative probes for X, was ousted earlier this year amid sweeping cuts at the network and parent company Paramount Global. CBS News seized Herridges reporting materials upon her termination.

Sources close to the situation claimed that the decision to hold on to her files was made by Ciprian-Matthews. The files were returned days later amid pressure from the union representing Herridge.

Earlier this year, The Post revealed that Ciprian-Matthews was accused of sidelining white journalists and blocking Herridges reporting on the Hunter Biden laptop.

The exec abruptly stepped down in August, and moved to the role of senior adviser for coverage of the 2024 presidential election before. She recently left the network.

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Progressives are losing the crypto future

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Progressives are losing the crypto future

Progressives are losing the crypto future

As US conservatives rapidly shape the crypto landscape through policy, funding and grassroots adoption, progressives remain divided and hesitant. Progressives lack a unified strategy and risk losing relevance.

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Anker PowerCore Reserve station $88, Schumacher’s new portable level 1 EV charger $130, Aiper IrriSense system $100 off, more

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Anker PowerCore Reserve station , Schumacher's new portable level 1 EV charger 0, Aiper IrriSense system 0 off, more

This week’s Green Deals are starting with Anker’s PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh Power Station down at $88 for all your device-charging needs. Next, we have Schumacher’s new SEV1670 12A Level 1 Portable EV Charger at its second-best rate of $130, as well as Aiper’s new IrriSense Smart Irrigation System getting second-ever savings to $600, which is where it was priced during Prime Day. We also have Hoverfly’s H3 16-inch Folding e-bikes getting add-on accessory bundles and a new one-day-only low price on Greenworks’ pro-grade 3,000 PSI Electric Pressure Washer waiting for you below. Plus, there’s all the hangover savings from last week at the bottom of the page, collected together within our Electrified Weekly roundup.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Carry Anker’s 60,000mAh PowerCore Reserve station and keep devices running for $88

By way of its official Amazon storefront, Anker is offering its PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh Power Bank Station at $87.99 shipped, with it also coming in a few dollars under the brand’s current direct pricing. Normally costing $150 at full price, we’ve mostly seen discounts over the last year dropping costs between $110 and $90, though there have been a few select falls to $80, and recently we saw Prime Day take things to $75. While it may not be the new lowest price, you’re still looking at the third-best rate we have tracked, saving you $62 off the going rate while equipping you with a sizably reliable means to keep your personal devices juiced up and running.

Anker’s PowerCore Reserve power station, which you’ll also find sold under the name 548 Power Bank, is a five-pound backup power solution to top off personal devices with while you’re camping, cruising the roadways, hanging out on the beach, and much more. You’ll have a totable 60,000mAh/192Wh battery capacity here that beats out most power banks on the market while also delivering up to 60W speeds through either its two USB-A ports or two USB-C ports.

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Aside from its easy-to-carry design, it also comes sporting a convenient pop-up light for when you’re out in the dark of the wilderness or even without power at home, coming with two brightness levels alongside an S.O.S. mode to signal for help in emergencies. You can completely recharge its battery by plugging it into a wall outlet or by utilizing up to its 60W solar input to charge via the sun.

schumacher SEV1670 level 1 portable EV charger lying in back of car

Schumacher’s 2025 level 1 portable EV charger plugs into any 120V outlet for on-the-go power at $130

Amazon is now offering the new Schumacher SEV1670 12A Level 1 Portable EV Charger at $129.59 shipped. This model hit the scene at the tail-end of May with a $160 price tag, which has only recently started seeing discounts, with the biggest of them being from the Prime Day sale event two weeks ago that saw the costs taken down to $128. Today’s deal comes in just $2 above that rate for the second-best pricing we have tracked, all while giving you $30 in savings.

If you want to learn more about this new model and its capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

Aiper IrriSense smart irrigation system watering lawn in front of house

Aiper’s new IrriSense smart irrigation system covers up to 4,800 square feet at $600 (second-ever discount)

Coming to us through its official Amazon storefront, Aiper is offering the second-ever discount on its new IrriSense Smart Irrigation System back to $599.99 shipped, matching directly from the brand’s website. This new smart irrigation device has only been on the market since May, with it usually going for $700 outside of the two price cuts we’ve seen. It first dropped to this same rate the day before Prime Day began, and hung on to the savings through the four-day event. Now, it’s coming back for a post-Prime second chance, saving you $100 while upgrading your lawn care routine with a smarter alternative.

If you want to learn more about this new smart device, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man and woman riding side by side on Hoverfly H3 folding e-bikes

Hoverfly’s H3 16-inch folding e-bikes make great first-time rides with four add-on accessories starting from $406

Amazon is offering quite the affordable bundle on Hoverfly’s H3 16-inch Folding e-bike in its orange colorway, and coming with four add-on accessories at $406.09 shipped, while its other colorways are seeing smaller discounts at higher rates. It’s dropping down from the $580 price tag today, with this being the first time we’ve spotted this particular bundle dropping so low. Before the fall to $425 during Prime Day, we only ever saw costs fall as low as $450, with all those rates beaten by the 30% markdown here that gives you $174 in savings and a new all-time low price. Along with the bike, you’ll be getting a front carrier bag, a rear cargo basket, a phone holder, and a rearview mirror to upgrade and elevate your experience.

If you want to learn more about this budget-friendly e-bike, be sure to check out our original coverage of this bundle deal here.

greenworks pro 3,000 PSI electric pressure washer

Greenworks’ Pro-grade 3,000 PSI vertical electric pressure washer falls to lowest price tracked at $285 (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the best pricing yet on the newer Greenworks Pro 3,000 PSI Vertical Electric Pressure Washer for $284.99 shipped, with it beating out the brand’s direct website pricing while the closest match at Amazon is the newest counterpart that normally goes for $450. This model would normally run you $400 at full price, which we’ve seen discounts so far take as low as $300. For the rest of the day, you can take advantage of the 29% markdown here to pick it up at the best new price we have tracked, saving you $115 in the process.

If you want to learn more about this newer pro-grade outdoor cleaning solution, be sure to check out our original coverage of this one-day-only deal here.

Best Summer EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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Hyundai goes on a ‘full-scale attack’ with its big three-row EV

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Hyundai goes on a 'full-scale attack' with its big three-row EV

Hyundai is gearing up to go on a “full-scale attack” as it ramps up exports of its new flagship three-row EV. The IONIQ 9 is now rolling out in the US, South Korea, and Europe.

Hyundai IONIQ 9 three-row EV production picks up

After launching the IONIQ 9 in South Korea earlier this year, Hyundai had high hopes. However, the flagship electric SUV has struggled to gain traction in the automaker’s home market.

Hyundai is betting on overseas markets, including the US and Europe, to drive sales. In Korea, it has been steadily ramping up IONIQ 9 with plans to go on a “full-scale attack on Europe.”

An industry insider explained (via NewsIs) that “As Hyundai Motor Company speeds up its entry into overseas markets with the Ioniq 9, export volume will increase rapidly.”

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Since it shipped the first models in April, IONIQ 9 exports have tripled. In June, Hyundai exported 1,781, up from 1,482 in May and 539 in April. The higher exports are in preparation for sales kicking off in Europe. Hyundai revealed last week that the IONIQ 9 will start at £64,995 ($87,500).

Powered by a 110 kWh battery, the three-row EV features a WLTP driving range of up to 385 miles. On the EPA scale, it’s rated with up to 335 miles of driving range.

Hyundai-three-row-EV
Hyundai IONIQ 9 at the Munich airport (Source: Hyundai)

Europe is not the only market that Hyundai is taking aim at. The automaker is using a two-track strategy. In the US, Hyundai builds the IONIQ 9 at its new EV plant in Georgia, alongside the updated 2025 IONIQ 5.

Production has been steady at Hyundai’s Metaplant America (HMGMA) plant since it began in April. Hyundai built 2,382 IONIQ 9 models in May and another 1,803 in June. Through June 2025, 1,013 Hyundai IONIQ 9 models have been sold in the US.

Hyundai-three-row-EV
2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 (Source: Hyundai)

With IONIQ 9 sales falling from 1,009 in April to 867 in May and then to 767 in June, Hyundai is betting on the US and Europe to make up for the shortfall.

After promising to maintain prices in the US earlier this year, Hyundai has stood by the guarantee. The 2026 IONIQ 9 (see our review of it) is surprisingly affordable with leases starting at just $419 per month.

Hyundai’s new and improved 2025 IONIQ 5 may take the cake as the best EV deal right now, listed with leases as low as $179 per month. To get owners started, it also offers a free ChargePoint L2 home charger with the purchase or lease of any new 2026 IONIQ 9 or 2025 IONIQ 5.

Want to see one for yourself? Use the links below to find 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 and 2026 IONIQ 9 models in your area.

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