Trump Backed Ellisons’ Purchase of Paramount with Assurance of Sympathetic Coverage
NEWS & RESEARCH
To secure regulatory approval for their acquisition of Paramount, billionaires Larry and David Ellison successfully courted President Trump through financial support, parties, and explicit promises—including an assurance from Larry Ellison that the network would shift to a more conservative stance. This political alliance is further highlighted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's public endorsement of Paramount’s current bid to acquire CNN-owner Warner Bros. Discovery, with Hegseth stating, “The sooner David Ellison takes over [CNN], the better.” The real-world impact of this acquisition manifested when conservative publisher Bari Weiss, "handpicked" by David Ellison to head CBS, blocked a 60 Minutes investigative report on a notorious Salvadoran prison where the administration deported more than two hundred people.
SOURCES: New York Times | CNN | New Yorker | Variety | Washington Post | L.A. Times
ANALYSIS & OPINION
Media industry critic analysts are warning that the Ellisons’ recent acquisitions threaten journalistic independence. Former New York Times public editor Margaret Sullivan argues these takeovers help Donald Trump gain "control of the news media for partisan political purposes," while Courtney Radsch of the Center for Journalism and Liberty calls Trump's support "unprecedented" and aimed at "defanging major news networks." Furthermore, Freedom of the Press Foundation head Seth Stern told NPR that David Ellison would readily sacrifice the First Amendment, CNN reporters, and HBO filmmakers to expand his corporate empire.
SOURCES:The Guardian | NPR
HOW TO FIX IT
Federal action:
Support investigations into the Paramount Skydance merger and David Ellison’s intention to “subvert CNN’s editorial independence” on behalf of Trump.
Pass the CLEAN Mergers Act which would undo mergers completed during Trump’s second term if there is no “proof they did not harm competition.”
Support demands from the Freedom of the Press Foundation and Reporters Without Borders for records from Paramount on “potentially corrupt acquisitions and deals that could result in relinquishing editorial control of major news outlets to the Trump administration.”
Coordinate with European regulators to scrutinize the Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
Legislation: S.4434 - CLEAN Mergers Act
