Tess joined TheWrap as the company’s first reporting fellow in 2024. Tess is from Birmingham, Alabama and attended the University of Southern California, graduating with degrees in theatre and journalism. She also served as the executive editor for Annenberg Media, closely overseeing coverage of campus protests amidst the Israel-Hamas War.

Tess Patton
Experience:
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Gavin Newsom’s $787 Million Fox News Defamation Lawsuit Moves Toward Trial in Legal Win for Governor
“Looking forward to discovery,” the California governor writes on X after a Delaware judge ruled in his favor
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Sinclair CEO Calls State AG Case Against Nexstar-Tegna Merger ‘Flimsy’
Chris Ripley also warns that moving major live sporting events behind streaming paywalls “erodes” appointment viewing for audiences
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Deals & M&A -
Trump-Endorsed Steve Hilton Unveils Plan to Bring Production Back to California as Governor
California’s leading Republican gubernatorial candidate will support an up to 60% film tax credit rate for productions shooting in the state
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Taye Diggs to Launch His Own Microdramas Platform, Microhouse Films, This Spring
The company will allow filmmakers to produce, distribute and monetize their work within the platform
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Fox News’ Jessica Tarlov Says ‘It’s a Great Time to Be a Nut Case’ After 46% of Dems Think Trump Shooting Was Staged | Video
Tarlov discusses the rise in leftist conspiracy theorists with Vox Media’s Astead Herndon on “Raging Moderates”
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Meta Needs to Play Catch-Up With Creators. It’s Betting on a Boost From AI
The tech giant is rolling out affiliate partnerships for creators on Facebook, allowing creators to earn a commission on product links years after competitors
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Business -
Kate Hudson, Christina Ricci and Brian Tyree Henry to Guest Judge ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’ Season 11
La Toya Jackson will kick off the season as the premiere guest judge on May 8
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Katie Porter Blasts Political Rivals as ‘Worse Than My Teenagers’ as Televised Debate Goes Off the Rails | Video
CBS anchors Pat Harvey and Tony Lopez allowed gubernatorial candidates to speak past their allotted time, leading to “messy” cross-talk
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Kevin Hart’s LOL Network Expands Vertical Comedy Slate to Compete With Romantic Microdramas
Hartbeat will partner with leading microdramas directors and Artists First to bring its digital viewers original short-form comedy
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Nithya Raman Calls Out ‘The Daily Show’ for Making Light of Spencer Pratt’s Bid for LA Mayor: ‘He Is a Threat’
The L.A. city councilmember writes on X that Pratt is a “MAGA Republican who has vowed to work with ICE”
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Karen Bass Trails LA Mayoral Competitors in 2026 Campaign Fundraising
While the incumbent leads with $2.8 million funds raised to date, Spencer Pratt, Nithya Raman and Adam Miller outpace the mayor in 2026 funding
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Mansa, First All-Black Microdrama Studio, Expands Summer Vertical Slate | Exclusive
The platform, founded by David Oyelowo and Nate Parker, will roll out 10 new vertical series, featuring an HBCU dance team romance and a female-led flag football drama
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How Each Los Angeles Mayoral Candidate Plans to Bring Film and TV Production Back
Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman released new proposal plans just this week to bring film production back home
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Politics -
Spotify Expands Video Strategy With Fitness Programming, Peloton Partnership
The platform will offer guided workout experiences from creators like Chloe Ting as well as access to 1,400+ Peloton fitness classes
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How Nikki Glaser Went Full Pop Star for Elevated ‘Good Girl’ Hulu Special
Executive producer and Done+Dusted partner David Jammy tells TheWrap how the special matches the comic’s rising star power














