Letter Warns of Potential Political Interference at CNN Amid Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger

Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery have agreed to a $110 billion merger that would unite two major studios and their streaming platforms, HBO Max and Paramount+. Shareholders approved the deal, but antitrust regulators have not yet given final clearance. The transaction would place CNN and CBS under the same corporate structure.

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The merger is led by Paramount CEO David Ellison, son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, a known Trump ally. The Freedom of the Press Foundation disclosed a letter signed by more than 200 journalists, academics and filmmakers, including former CNN anchor Jim Acosta, former CBS correspondent Judy Muller and filmmaker Laura Poitras. The letter cites Ellison’s “cozy relationship” with the administration.

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The merger is valued at $110 billion. The warning letter lists more than 200 signatories, spanning journalists, academics and filmmakers. The signatories include former CNN anchor Jim Acosta, former CBS correspondent Judy Muller and filmmaker Laura Poitras.

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Ellison has said he will address concerns about the merger’s effect on CNN’s editorial independence. The source material contains no response from Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN or the Federal Trade Commission.

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The letter warns that the deal could enable “improper political meddling” at CNN, echoing changes at CBS that were allegedly made to “appease” President Trump, and cites the appointment of Bari Weiss as CBS News editor-in-chief as evidence of editorial shift.

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The letter references a Wall Street Journal report that Ellison promised Trump “sweeping changes” at CNN, but the report’s details are not verified in the provided sources, and no statements from CNN, Warner Bros. Discovery or antitrust agencies are included.

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• “improper political meddling” at CNN similar to the “sweeping changes” made at CBS designed to “appease” President Donald Trump. — Freedom of the Press Foundation letter

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• “With this track record, Ellison will likely alter CNN’s editorial direction (not to mention meddle with HBO’s documentaries) to be more friendly to the administration, threatening press freedom,” — Freedom of the Press Foundation letter

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• “political arrangement to circumvent constitutional safeguards, with severe consequences for American democracy.” — Freedom of the Press Foundation letter

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• “David Ellison, who reportedly “honored” the president at an “intimate” dinner last month, has previously addressed the fears about what Paramount’s takeover would mean for CNN.” — Freedom of the Press Foundation letter

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The merger still requires antitrust clearance, and the warning letter may trigger congressional or regulatory scrutiny of its impact on news independence.

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