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California AG Cancels Paramount Settlement Talks Over Alleged Leaks

8/24/2026

Summary

Bonta Cancels Settlement

California Attorney General Rob Bonta cancelled a settlement meeting with Paramount Skydance because of alleged bad-faith leaks.
The meeting was intended to negotiate a settlement of the antitrust suit blocking Paramount’s $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition.
Bonta said any settlement must contain structural remedies such as divestitures, rejecting Paramount’s proposed behavioral fixes.
If the merger misses September 30, Paramount will incur a $650 million quarterly fee, about $7 million daily.

Summary

Ruffalo slams Paramount

Mark Ruffalo called Paramount’s claim his merger criticism was antisemitic “appalling and fundamentally dishonest.”
Paramount said Ruffalo’s use of “genocide” and “apartheid” was “a bridge too far” and prejudice.
ADL chief Jonathan Greenblatt criticized Ruffalo’s remarks, linking them to harmful antisemitic narratives.
February Gallup poll found 41% of Americans sympathize with Palestinians, versus 36% with Israelis.

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Bonta Cancels Settlement

California Attorney General Rob Bonta cancelled a settlement meeting with Paramount Skydance because of alleged bad-faith leaks.
The meeting was intended to negotiate a settlement of the antitrust suit blocking Paramount’s $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition.
Bonta said any settlement must contain structural remedies such as divestitures, rejecting Paramount’s proposed behavioral fixes.
If the merger misses September 30, Paramount will incur a $650 million quarterly fee, about $7 million daily.

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