{"id":2509858,"date":"2025-11-12T18:03:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T23:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-dems-ramp-up-scrutiny-of-paramount-skydance-merger\/"},"modified":"2025-11-12T18:04:46","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T23:04:46","slug":"house-dems-ramp-up-scrutiny-of-paramount-skydance-merger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-dems-ramp-up-scrutiny-of-paramount-skydance-merger\/","title":{"rendered":"House Dems ramp up scrutiny of Paramount-Skydance merger"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhouse-dems-ramp-up-scrutiny-of-paramount-skydance-merger%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2509858&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>House Democrats are intensifying their scrutiny of the $8 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance following what they describe as an &#8220;inadequate and incomplete&#8221; response from the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >newly merged company<\/a> regarding the Federal Communications Commission&#8217;s approval. The merger gained attention after Paramount settled a $16 million lawsuit with former President Donald Trump related to a controversial and misleadingly edited &#8220;60 Minutes&#8221; interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. <\/p>\n<p>Democratic Representatives Jamie Raskin and Frank Pallone question whether the timing of the FCC approval was influenced by agreements for payments and other benefits to Trump, including support for his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/justice-hunters-pardon-may-have-just-cost-joe-the-presidential-library-of-his-dreams\/\" title=\"Justice: Hunter&#039;s Pardon May Have Just Cost Joe the ...ial Library of His Dreams\">future presidential library<\/a>. They also express concern about recent changes at Paramount Skydance, such as the appointment of right-leaning editorial figures like Bari Weiss at CBS News, suggesting a shift toward a more conservative editorial approach.<\/p>\n<p>The lawmakers criticized Paramount Skydance&#8217;s CEO David Ellison for vague responses and insufficient cooperation in their inquiries. They highlight a troubling connection between the CEO&#8217;s personal interactions with Trump and the swift merger approval. This ongoing investigation reflects wider Democratic concerns, with senators like Elizabeth warren, Bernie Sanders, and Ron Wyden launching similar probes into potential secret payoffs linked to the deal. simultaneously occurring, Ellison continues to reshape the company, including meaningful layoffs and editorial shifts at CBS.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">House Democrats ramp up scrutiny of Paramount-Skydance merger over &lsquo;inadequate&rsquo; response<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2399372\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Two <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/house\/\">House<\/a> Democrats followed up with the newly merged entertainment company Paramount Skydance on Wednesday after receiving an &ldquo;inadequate and incomplete&rdquo; response to their initial inquiry about the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/federal-communications-commission\/\">Federal Communications Commission&rsquo;s<\/a> approval of the $8 billion merger. <\/p>\n<p>Over the summer, Skydance joined <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/paramount\/\">Paramount<\/a> after the latter settled a lawsuit with President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> for $16 million over last fall&rsquo;s <em>60 Minutes<\/em> controversy involving deceptive editing of then-Vice President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\">Kamala Harris&rsquo;s<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fetterman-to-appear-on-the-view-for-pre-election-interview\/\" title=\"Fetterman to Appear on \u2018The View\u2019 for Pre-Election ...\">pre-election interview<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3884855\/marjorie-taylor-greene-america-only-values-trump-criticism\/\">Marjorie Taylor Greene digs in on &#8216;America Only&#8217; values after waving off Trump criticism<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3883303\/mike-johnson-swears-in-adelita-grijalva-last-signature-epstein-petition\/\">Adelita Grijalva signs Epstein discharge position moments after being sworn in by Mike Johnson<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3884438\/watch-live-adelita-grijalva-sworn-into-house-epstein-vote\/\">WATCH LIVE: Adelita Grijalva sworn into House after seven-week delay Democrats say was meant to put off Epstein vote<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Reps. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jamie-raskin\/\">Jamie Raskin<\/a> (D-MD) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), both ranking members on separate committees, question whether the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mergers-and-acquisitions\/\">merger<\/a> and settlement are related.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The timing of this approval from the Trump Administration was deeply suspicious,&rdquo; their <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/democrats-judiciary.house.gov\/sites\/evo-subsites\/democrats-judiciary.house.gov\/files\/evo-media-document\/2025.11.12.skydance-paramount.response-letter.pdf\">three-page letter<\/a> states. &ldquo;It came only after Skydance and Paramount agreed to make millions of dollars in payments and to provide free services directly to Donald Trump and to support his future presidential library.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admin-official-optimistic-child-sex-change-procedures-will-soon-be-normalized\/\" title=\"Biden Admin Official &#039;Optimistic&#039; Child Sex-Change Procedures Will Soon Be Normalized\">lawmakers raise concerns<\/a> over several changes that Paramount Skydance has made since the merger, including the appointments of independent ombudsman Kenneth Weinstein and Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/cbs-news\/\">CBS News<\/a>. They allege that Weiss&rsquo;s appointment and CBS&rsquo;s acquisition of the <em>Free Press<\/em> &ldquo;suggest a new and concertedly right-wing approach to your news operation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Raskin and Pallone sent the first letter in August, asking Paramount Skydance to provide answers and documents regarding the settlement between Paramount and Trump. The two Democrats were left unsatisfied with their responses.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We write today because your response does not appear to reflect a good-faith effort to cooperate with our committees&rsquo; investigation,&rdquo; they wrote.<\/p>\n<p>The corporation provided no responses to most of the requests in the initial inquiry, only partially addressing one item. When asked for a description of the company&rsquo;s communications with the president or his administration officials, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison said it only engaged in &ldquo;routine and customary interactions&rdquo; with government officials.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Your assertion that it is &lsquo;routine and customary&rsquo; for the President of the United States to endorse a multi-billion merger that had been pending for more than eight months just days after the CEO of Skydance sat next to the President at an Ultimate Fighting Championships event is profoundly troubling,&rdquo; the letter reads.<\/p>\n<p>Raskin and Pallone ask Ellison to respond to their second inquiry by Nov. 26.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3872527\/chuck-schumer-floats-fcc-complaint-trump-edited-60-minutes-interview\/\">SCHUMER FLOATS FCC COMPLAINT OVER TRUMP&rsquo;S EDITED 60 MINUTES INTERVIEW<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Wednesday&rsquo;s letter marks the latest instance of Democratic lawmakers scrutinizing the Paramount-Skydance merger. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) led a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.warren.senate.gov\/newsroom\/press-releases\/warren-sanders-wyden-investigate-skydances-role-in-potential-secret-trump-payoff-connected-to-paramount-deal\">similar investigation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Since taking over in August, Ellison has been determined to overhaul the company&rsquo;s operations by laying off 2,000 employees and overseeing a major shake-up at CBS. Under Weiss&rsquo;s leadership, CBS has already granted Trump an interview on <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/60-minutes\/\">60 Minutes<\/a><\/em>  after last year&rsquo;s editing fiasco.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>House Dems intensify probe of Paramount-Skydance merger response<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2509859,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25302579515487-e1762986509317.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[33723,54802,59771],"class_list":["post-2509858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-house-democrats","tag-paramount-2","tag-skydance"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25302579515487-e1762986509317.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2509858","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2509858"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2509858\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2509862,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2509858\/revisions\/2509862"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2509859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2509858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2509858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2509858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}