Paramount's chairman says lawsuit opposing Warner Bros. merger is political
Aug 5, 2026 · 3m
Summary
This episode examines the legal battle over Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, which twelve Democratic states have challenged on antitrust grounds. Paramount chairman David Ellison claims the lawsuit is politically motivated, particularly regarding ownership of CNN, a network President Trump dislikes. The report highlights Ellison’s close ties to Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and Trump, raising concerns about political influence over news media.
Topics discussed
Introduction to Trump's Terms and summer news diet
Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery faces legal hurdles
Political concerns over CNN and CBS ownership under Ellison
Proposed editorial board solution and trial timeline
Outro and NPR Plus supporter acknowledgment
Planet Money promo on recession indicators
It's Been a Minute promo on abortion depictions
NPR app download encouragement
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