CNN staffers are reportedly in a state of panic as David Ellison, chief of Paramount Skydance and a figure who has reportedly cozied up to Donald Trump, emerges as the likely new owner of Warner Bros. Discovery, which includes CNN. This follows Netflix’s withdrawal from a potential acquisition deal, clearing the path for Ellison’s bid. The potential takeover has drawn parallels to Bari Weiss’s previous steering of CBS News into a more Trump-friendly direction, a move that reportedly led veteran broadcaster Anderson Cooper to depart CBS to avoid working under her leadership. Trump himself has previously expressed his desire for CNN to be sold and fall under new ownership, and reports suggest Ellison has offered assurances of significant changes to the network.
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MAGA-aligned billionaires Larry and David Ellison have emerged victorious in a bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of CNN. Paramount Skydance’s revised offer of $31 per share was deemed superior to Netflix’s, leading to the conglomerate’s board unanimously affirming the deal. Following the acquisition, CNN is expected to come under the leadership of Bari Weiss, and the Ellisons’ close ties to Donald Trump suggest potential shifts in the network’s direction.
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During an Oval Office briefing, President Trump deflected questions about the Jeffrey Epstein files from CNN’s Kaitlan Collins by criticizing her demeanor and questioning her journalistic integrity. When pressed about the files, which mentioned associates like Elon Musk and Howard Lutnick, Trump admitted he hadn’t read them but assured they were “fine” if not major news. The President further agitated when Collins inquired about justice for Epstein’s victims, escalating his remarks by calling her “the worst reporter” and complaining she never smiles, suggesting it indicated she wasn’t telling the truth. Collins later elaborated that Epstein survivors are frustrated by redactions in the files, indicating a desire for continued scrutiny despite Trump’s call to “move on.”
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During a recent interview on CNN’s State of the Union, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reacted defensively when questioned about President Trump’s appearance in newly released Epstein files. Blanche accused anchor Dana Bash of being unfair, emphasizing that the focus should not be solely on Trump, but rather on the multitude of individuals mentioned in the documents. He explained that many claims within the files were unsubstantiated, anonymous, or lacked credibility, and therefore were difficult to investigate. Despite announcing the DOJ’s review of the Epstein files as “completed,” Blanche repeatedly insisted the focus on Trump was inappropriate.
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During an appearance on CNN, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries discussed the need to protect Americans from what he characterized as the out-of-control actions of ICE and DHS Secretary Noem. Jeffries stated that Donald Trump should fire Noem immediately and that impeachment proceedings would commence if she is not removed from office. He emphasized that taxpayer dollars should not be used to harm American citizens and suggested changes to DHS policy, including judicial warrants and accountability for officers. Jeffries indicated a willingness to collaborate with Republicans who support changes to immigration policy.
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The ongoing civil war in Sudan has resulted in widespread atrocities, with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and its allies implicated in mass killings and ethnic violence. A joint investigation by CNN and Lighthouse Reports revealed evidence of ethnically motivated attacks, mass civilian killings, and the disposal of bodies in canals near Wad Madani. The investigation found that these actions, which may amount to war crimes, were often directed at non-Arab populations. Despite the severity of these allegations, the SAF has not responded to requests for comment regarding the findings.
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When asked about Netflix potentially acquiring Warner Bros., Trump acknowledged Netflix’s substantial market share, implying it would be a critical factor in the decision-making process. Trump indicated he would be involved in the final decision regarding the potential merger. Separately, Paramount CEO David Ellison discussed Paramount’s bid, remaining cautious about Trump’s views on Ellison’s potential ownership of CNN, a network Trump has criticized. According to reports, conversations between Ellison and Trump have included discussion about personnel changes at CNN.
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In a recent Truth Social post, Donald Trump attacked CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent, Kaitlan Collins, calling her “stupid and nasty” after she inquired about the cost of his White House ballroom project. This marks another instance of Trump’s criticism of female journalists, following previous incidents where he had targeted other reporters with similar insults and personal attacks. Trump’s post also included a misspelling of Collins’ name, while claiming the project was under budget and ahead of schedule, despite reports to the contrary. These attacks are not isolated incidents and exemplify a pattern of behavior from the former president.
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Senior White House officials have reportedly favored a Paramount-Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, with discussions including potential programming changes at CNN. Larry Ellison, Paramount’s largest shareholder, allegedly discussed removing CNN hosts disliked by Donald Trump, like Erin Burnett and Brianna Keilar, and replacing them with CBS assets. These informal conversations, though not in any official capacity, highlight the intense interest in the deal, and Paramount’s bid could be smoothed by White House support, and current regulatory scrutiny is considered unlikely. Other contenders in the deal include Netflix and Comcast.
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A federal appeals court panel upheld the dismissal of Donald Trump’s $475 million defamation lawsuit against CNN. The court found Trump’s claims regarding CNN’s use of “the Big Lie” to be “unpersuasive” and determined that the term did not constitute a false statement of fact. The judges, including those nominated by Trump, stated that the term was susceptible to multiple interpretations and that CNN’s use of it, therefore, did not support a defamation claim. This decision is the latest in a series of failed lawsuits by Trump against media outlets reporting on his claims.
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John Q. Hosedrinker