This decision affirms a district court order dismissing a defamation suit under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 425.16. Maddow was a TV personality and host of a program espousing liberal political views. In one program she expressed glee over a report by another news organization that one of Herring’s ultra-conservative commentators was being paid by the Kremlin for propaganda. The speech was clearly protected by the First Amendment. Taken in context, it was clearly opinion, not fact, since Maddow didn’t personally vouch for the truth of the report but only expressed glee that it had appeared in the press.