Paramount Global’s $110 billion bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery has ignited concerns over potential political influence on CNN’s news coverage, following reports that Paramount CEO David Ellison may steer the network in a more conservative direction. Warner Bros. Discovery currently owns CNN, and the proposed merger has drawn intense scrutiny from journalists, lawmakers, and state officials.
On Wednesday, Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin sent a letter to Ellison accusing him of colluding with former President Donald Trump to undermine media independence, censor dissent, and restrict free speech. Ellison is the son of Larry Ellison, Oracle co-founder and known Trump ally. Trump has publicly praised both Ellisons as “great people.” In April, David Ellison reportedly hosted a private dinner in Washington attended by Trump and senior administration officials, coinciding with Paramount’s ongoing regulatory review of the Warner Bros. deal. Bari Weiss, CBS News editor in chief, was also present at the gathering; her tenure at CBS has been marked by controversy, including the dismissal of key “60 Minutes” producers and correspondents.
The perception of a partisan tilt intensified in June when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated during a Pentagon briefing that “the sooner David Ellison takes over [CNN], the better,” signaling support from conservative circles.
Legal challenges have further complicated the acquisition. In July, attorneys general from twelve states, including Massachusetts, filed a lawsuit alleging the merger would violate antitrust laws by consolidating too much media power in a single company. Responding to these concerns, Ellison authored an opinion piece stating that the critics’ true motive is distrust of his ability to remain an impartial steward of CNN. He asserted that his personal views span the political spectrum and emphasized his commitment to maintaining editorial independence, saying he does not intend to impose his beliefs on the network’s coverage.
The controversy surrounding the Paramount-Warner Bros. deal has drawn comparisons to the fictional portrayal of media influence on politics in the HBO series “Succession,” which concluded last year. The show depicted media mogul Logan Roy wielding his right-wing news network ATN to manipulate political outcomes, including the installation of an extreme right-wing president. This dramatization resonates amid real-world anxieties over the political direction of CNN under new ownership.
Meanwhile, CNN media correspondent Brian Stelter highlighted skepticism among journalists following remarks from Paramount’s chief legal officer, Makan Delrahim. Delrahim suggested that Ellison aims to “bring CNN back to news,” a phrase Stelter noted implies CNN had strayed from objective journalism. This characterization aligns with critiques from conservative commentators but has raised concerns about the potential erosion of CNN’s established reputation as a global news outlet.
As regulatory reviews and legal battles continue, questions about the future editorial independence and political orientation of CNN under Paramount’s ownership remain a central and contentious issue in the ongoing merger saga.