Mamdani's Sharp Criticism
On Tuesday afternoon, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani used X to condemn the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, describing it as a disgraceful symbol of corruption. He maintained that a free nation requires media that is competitive, independent, and answerable to its citizens, and said the deal deals a severe setback to that freedom by concentrating still more influence in the hands of billionaires such as David Ellison to shape what Americans watch and read, while deflecting attention from the federal officials who advanced it. He called the outcome a betrayal Americans will long remember.[S1]
Mamdani additionally expressed gratitude to New York Attorney General Letitia James for the safeguards she obtained on behalf of workers. His remarks followed a Hollywood Reporter account that, before the settlement was reached, divisions had opened inside the 12-state coalition over whether to approve the agreement. New York numbered among those resisting, together with Connecticut, Minnesota, and Nevada.[S1]
The Settlement and Its Terms
Monday brought word that 12 states, California and New York among them, plus the Writers Guild of America, had chosen to resolve their antitrust claims against Paramount Skydance, which Ellison owns, concerning its $111 billion offer for Warner Bros. Discovery. That resolution clears the path for the large-scale merger set to transform Hollywood substantially. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who headed his state's litigation, announced terms requiring Paramount to put out a set number of films annually, expand U.S. film production, abide by union contracts protecting employees, and create a new editorial independence board to set editorial and journalism guidelines for CBS News and CNN.[S1]
Divided Reactions from Attorneys General
Once the agreement became public, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong voiced displeasure, noting his state had sought and insisted upon a complete divestiture of CNN and CBS News. He said the goal was preserving ethical, independent journalism and news, that they pressed hard for that outcome, and that he regrets being unable to achieve more. James, by contrast, did not criticize the settlement. Her statement said Paramount's pledges would let film and television keep flourishing, with additional movies made domestically and $1.5 billion in fresh production investment. She noted she had consulted entertainment unions throughout the case and will keep watching Paramount to confirm compliance with the agreement and the law.[S1]
