Demand Progress

Block Paramount from doing Trump's bidding at CNN!

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    Block Paramount from doing Trump's bidding at CNN!

    Petition to Congress:
    We urge you to block Paramount's deal to buy Warner Brothers. The merger violates antitrust laws, would hurt consumers, artists, and press freedom, and poses serious ethical and national security concerns.

    Paramount is turning networks into pro-Trump propaganda machines. Executives installed Trump ally Bari Weiss to lead CBS News. She has censored reporting for months, and just fired leading journalists at 60 Minutes.1 The company even took Stephen Colbert off the air after he criticized Paramount's settlement with Trump.

    Paramount's pending Trump-backed $111 billion takeover of Warner Brothers means Paramount would have control over CNN and other networks where executives can begin gutting and censoring just like at CBS. CEO David Ellison even promised Trump "sweeping changes" at CNN.2

    Trump has cleared the way for Paramount's deal, and Pete Hegseth and FCC Chair Brendan Carr are cheering it on.3,4 Congress must stop this antitrust, anti-democracy nightmare.

    Sign the petition: Tell Congress to stop Trump's allies at Paramount from taking over Warner Brothers and CNN!

    One of the 60 Minutes journalists that CBS fired said, "Fearless, independent reporting has always been the defining standard at 60 Minutes. Today, CBS management is abandoning that mission, choosing access journalism over accountability and protecting power rather than scrutinizing it."5

    Paramount canceled Colbert's show after he called the company's decision to settle one of Trump's frivolous lawsuits for $16 million a "big, fat bribe."6 After Colbert's last show, Trump celebrated. "Thank goodness he’s finally gone!" Trump ranted on Truth Social.7

    Trump and Ellison stand to gain A LOT if the administration allows Paramount to violate antitrust law and buy Warner Brothers for $111 billion. They'll both make money — Trump bought Paramount and Warner Brothers stock earlier this year8 — and they'll both gain even more influence over the media.

    Congress must step in as the Trump administration pushes this deal through.

    Sign the petition: Block the Trump-backed mega-merger nightmare. Stop Paramount's deal to take over Warner Brothers and CNN!


    Sources:

    1. Washington Post, "Bari Weiss begins overhaul at CBS' 60 Minutes with several firings," May 28, 2026.
    2. The Wall Street Journal, "Behind Paramount's Relentless Campaign to Woo Warner Discovery and President Trump," December 8, 2025.
    3. Washington Post, "Trump, Hegseth praise the Ellisons as the Justice Dept. reviews media deal," March 17, 2026.
    4. CNBC, "FCC chief tells CNBC WBD-Paramount merger deal is 'cleaner' than Netflix's, will be approved 'quickly,'" March 3, 2026.
    5. Dylan Byers on X, "NEW: Sharyn Alfonsi goes scorched earth..." May 28, 2026.
    6. The Guardian, "Writers' union urges investigation into Paramount move to cancel Colbert show," July 18, 2025.
    7. The Hill, "Trump: 'Thank goodness' Colbert is 'finally gone,'" May 22, 2026.
    8. Deadline, "Donald Trump's Financial Disclosure Shows Purchases Of Major Media Company Securities Including Paramount, WBD And Netflix," May 15, 2026.
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