CNN in quicksand After Paramount?

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Article in Columbia Journalism Review by Amos Barshad, 9/22/26

Headline:  “Done and Dusted”

Subhead:  “With the collapse of the California-led challenge to Paramount’s takeover of Warner Bros., the future of an independent CNN hangs in the balance.”

“William Tong is the attorney general of Connecticut, a member of a coalition of states that, up until this weekend, was suing to stop Paramount’s 111-billion-dollar merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. . . Deep into Sunday night, Tong told me, ‘I was fighting. I wasn’t willing to concede until late into the evening.’ That fight is now officially over: a consent decree has laid out Paramount’s legally obligated concessions, allowing the merger to go forward. A string of major entertainment and news entities—including CNN and CBS—will be under the control of one corporate behemoth controlled by the Ellison family. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.cjr.org/news/done-and-dusted-paramount-warner-bros-discovery-takeover-california-states-challenge-collapse-attorneys-general-independent-cnn-consent-decree.php

Fox – News Into a Black Hole

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Article in Media Matters by Matt Gertz, 9/22/26

Headline:  “The negative space in Fox News coverage”

Subhead:  “My latest for MS NOW is about the stories Fox News isn’t covering”

“Fox News’ MAGA stars have spent Donald Trump’s second term lavishing praise on the president and his purported accomplishments, denouncing his opponents in vitriolic terms and telling their viewers which culture war enemies to hate. But any understanding of the goals of a political outlet like Fox is incomplete without considering the stories it doesn’t cover: a list that, as of late, includes the Iran war, the Trump family’s alleged corruption and the president’s unpopularity. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/negative-space-fox-news-coverage

Out of the Pool Now.

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Article in The Guardian by Lucy Hough with Paul Owen , 9/22/26

Headline: “Donald Trump v the media: US networks unite in boycott – The Latest”

In what is probably one of the biggest battles yet between the press and Donald Trump, major TV networks have united in a boycott of pooled coverage of his administration. It comes after three news organisations – CNN, MS Now and Politico – were denied access to the White House because of Trump’s concerns about their coverage. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s international news editor Paul Owen. . .

Watch he full episode at:

https://www.theguardian.com/news/video/2026/sep/22/trump-v-the-media-us-networks-unite-in-boycott-the-latest

Just Gotta Be On TV!

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Article in the New York Times by Peter Baker, 9/22/26

Headline  :  “After Years as the Star of Must-See TV, Trump Faces the Sting of Cancellation”

Subhead:  “A boycott of the White House press pool by the major networks deprives the president of the oxygen of screen time. But he is still finding ways to get on the air.”

“For President Trump, this is the tree-falls-in-the-forest moment of his administration. If the most television-addicted president in history suddenly finds the cameras missing, is he really still president? Not the kind he has been, anyway.

“Mr. Trump, for whom television is better than any narcotic, finds himself for the first time at least partially deprived of the major networks that have covered nearly every movement and utterance he has made for more than a decade. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/21/us/politics/trump-television-reporters-cameras.html

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Article in Daily Beast by William Vaillancourt, 9/21/26

Headline: “Press-Starved Trump, 80, Announces Desperate TV Move'”

subhead: “Trump TV” launched on Monday, following a rare lack of television coverage of the president.”

“President Donald Trump has launched his own television channel after banning three networks from the White House television press pool.

“The announcement comes three days after the president angrily removed CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the pool because he doesn’t like their coverage. Those outlets have since sued the administration, claiming a violation of their First Amendment rights.

“Trump TV, the White House announced, would begin airing at 7 p.m. on Monday night. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/press-starved-donald-trump-80-announces-desperate-tv-move/

Paramount Smiling – Sketchy Deal?

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Article in Status by Oliver Darcy, 9/21/26

Headline:  “Ellison’s Bonta Blowout”

Subhead: “David Ellison worked the phones over the weekend to secure a settlement for his Warners takeover—but the deal’s supposed safeguard for CNN is already drawing skepticism from inside the network as staffers brace for what’s next.”

“On Monday afternoon, Paramount boss David Ellison and California Attorney General Rob Bonta formally announced that they had struck a deal to resolve the major antitrust lawsuit threatening the company’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. In announcing the settlement, ending a lawsuit brought by a dozen states and led by California, Ellison reiterated his belief that uniting the two companies through the mega-deal will ‘build’ a ‘stronger Hollywood.’

Read the full article at:

https://www.status.news/p/david-ellison-paramount-cnn-board-bonta-settlement

No Press Passes, No Coverage

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Article in The Guardian by Ariana Baio in New York and Maanvi Singh, 9/21/26

Headline:  “US TV networks suspend White House pool coverage over Trump media ban”

Subhead: “White House promoted its own ‘Trump TV’ feed online after ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC decline to participate”

“The major US television news outlets agreed to suspend their video coverage of Donald Trump after the administration banned journalists from several outlets from entering the White House grounds.

The collective decision came after the barred outlets – CNN, MS Now and Politico – sued the administration on Monday, saying the president’s actions were a violation of their first amendment rights.

The ban was an extraordinary escalation of Trump’s battle against news outlets. After a coalition of networks including ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC – which along with CNN form a press “pool” that share the responsibilities of capturing and distributing footage of the president carried by news outlets worldwide – announced they would cease coverage in solidarity with the barred outlets . . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/21/trump-tv-networks-white-house-pool-coverage

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Article in UPI by Danielle Haynes, 9/21/26

Headline:  “News outlets decline press duties, sue Trump over White House ban”

“CNN, MS Now and Politico announced Monday they filed a lawsuit and other news organizations declined to participate in White House coverage after President Donald Trump banned the three outlets.

“CNN, MS Now and Politico filed the emergency request seeking to restore their access to the White House in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. In a joint statement, they said the government should not be allowed to decide what the press reports. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2026/09/21/politico-cnn-ms-now-sue-trump/1631790000704/

Paramount and Foreign Ownership

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Article in Alternet America by Ryan Rose, 9/19/26

Headline: “First Trump Sold the Land, Then He Sold the News”

Subhead:  “The FCC Is More Worried About The View Than Foreign Governments Owning Paramount“

“Finally, CBS will have owners who hate journalists even more than Bari Weiss does.

“FCC Chairman Brendan Carr approved a petition from Paramount that would allow foreign investors to own at least 49.5 percent of its equity as part of its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Three sovereign wealth funds linked to the governments of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are backing the deal. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.alternetamerica.com/p/trumps-fcc-just-handed-paramount

Authoritarians and the the Media

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Article in Mediaite by Sean James, 9/19/26

Headline:  “Rachel Maddow Vents Trump’s Press Ban Proves He Admires ‘Authoritarian Leadership’ of China”

“MS NOW star Rachel Maddow made a special appearance on a special edition of Peter Alexander’s State of Play on Saturday to share her thoughts on President Donald Trump banning her outlet, as well as CNN and Politico, from the White House. Maddow — as many longtime cable news viewers could have guessed — wasn’t a fan.

“The veteran host said Trump’s decision reinforced he admired the ‘authoritarian leadership’ of China and North Korea’s draconian Communist governments — and wished he could crack down on his critics even more, if it weren’t for America’s pesky laws. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.mediaite.com/media/rachel-maddow-vents-trumps-press-ban-proves-he-admires-authoritarian-leadership-of-china/

Ban All Media Except Paramount?

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Article in The Wrap by Kim Murphy, 9/19/26

Headline: “Elizabeth Warren Blasts Paramount Merger Settlement Talks: ‘Massive Mistake to Cave’”

Subhead: “The senator cites CNN’s ban from the White House in warning that the merger could create a ‘Trump-controlled media conglomerate'”

“Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) issued a warning Saturday that it would be a ‘massive mistake to cave’ on 12 states’ lawsuit against Paramount Skydance’s pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Warren’s statement comes amid reports that California Attorney General Rob Bonta is in advanced talks on a potential settlement with the company, which would remove the only remaining regulatory hurdle impending the transaction. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.thewrap.com/industry-news/public-policy-legal/elizabeth-warren-paramount-merger-settlement-massive-mistake/

Comcast Censoring Musk Film?

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Article in Common Dreams by Brad Reed

Headline: “Will Universal Studios, Owned by Comcast, Decide to Withhold Elon Musk Documentary?”

Subhead: “’Have I mentioned lately that oligarch-owned media consolidation is bad?’ said one critic.”

“Filmmaker Alex Gibney’s scathing four-hour documentary about SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has received rave reviews since its debut at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month, but it could soon be without an international distributor.

“According to a Wednesday report from The Hollywood Reporter, Comcast-owned Universal Pictures, which holds distribution rights to the film outside the North American market, is getting ‘cold feet’ about releasing it. . .”

Read the full article at:

https://www.commondreams.org/tag/elon-musk