{"id":2648827,"date":"2026-08-24T09:39:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T13:39:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-ag-cancels-settlement-meeting-with-paramount-in-wbd-merger\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T09:42:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T13:42:51","slug":"california-ag-cancels-settlement-meeting-with-paramount-in-wbd-merger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-ag-cancels-settlement-meeting-with-paramount-in-wbd-merger\/","title":{"rendered":"California AG cancels settlement meeting with Paramount in WBD merger"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/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%2Fcalifornia-ag-cancels-settlement-meeting-with-paramount-in-wbd-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=2648827&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>Attorney General Rob Bonta of California canceled mediation talks with Paramount Skydance regarding it&#8217;s proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The lawsuit, led by Bonta along with 11 othre states, alleges the merger would excessively concentrate market power, harming competition in Hollywood. Bonta indicated willingness to settle if the studios made concessions but accused Paramount of leaking and misrepresenting settlement discussions, leading to the cancellation of a scheduled meeting. The dispute escalated amid accusations of bad faith and a threatened studio exit from California. Additionally, tensions arose when Paramount CEO Larry Ellison, who is Jewish, criticized actor Mark Ruffalo for opposing the merger based on anti-Israel sentiments, describing Ruffalo\u2019s comments as &#8220;a bridge too far.&#8221; Ruffalo responded by calling the accusations \u201cappalling and fundamentally dishonest.\u201d The case remains set for trial in March, with ongoing legal and political conflicts influencing the outcome.  <\/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<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\">Rob Bonta<\/a> on Sunday canceled mediation talks with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/paramount\/\">Paramount Skydance<\/a> over its proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, throwing another twist into a monthslong battle over the future of two of Hollywood\u2019s biggest studios.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paramount had planned a $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. But Bonta led California and 11 other states in bringing an antitrust lawsuit to block the deal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4646111\/california-leads-multistate-antitrust-lawsuit-block-paramount-warner-bros-merger\/\">last month<\/a>, arguing the merger would wield excessive power across the movie studio and cable television markets, unlawfully weakening competition. A trial for the case is set for March.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4697934\/california-ag-cancels-settlement-meeting-paramount-wbd-merger\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>California AG cancels settlement meeting with Paramount in WBD merger<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/4697790\/dr-oz-1-in-3-pharmacy-empty-handed-over-drug-costs\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Dr. Oz: 1 in 3 Americans leave pharmacy empty-handed over drug costs<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4697759\/pence-heartened-transgender-former-cia-briefer\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Pence says he\u2019s \u2018heartened\u2019 after transgender former CIA briefer praises his treatment of her<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Bonta had expressed some willingness to settle the case ahead of trial if the companies made significant concessions, the Democratic attorney general over the weekend canceled a meeting with Paramount representatives set for Monday, due to accusations that the studio had leaked details about a previous meeting and is acting in bad faith, according to the <em>New York Times<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNot only did Paramount leak the alleged substance of settlement discussions, but they misrepresented these discussions, demonstrating a lack of good faith,\u201d Bonta <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/08\/24\/us\/california-bonta-paramount-warner-settlement-talks.html?unlocked_article_code=1.71A.DRt6.P7WBLqKZvppz&#038;smid=nytcore-ios-share\">said<\/a>. \u201cAs soon as Paramount stops playing games and engages sincerely, my office is happy to meet again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bonta was expected to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >begin preliminary settlement talks<\/a> on Monday after Paramount appeared to threaten to pull out of California by October, triggering concerns over the possible exit from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA). In <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/4690169\/paramount-bond-financial-losses-warner-bros-merger\/\">an interview<\/a> last week, the attorney general suggested he is open to settling the case before trial, provided Paramount and Warner Bros. make concessions. Bonta had previously claimed the merger would result in \u201chigher costs, fewer options, and fewer people making movies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The $111 billion proposed merger has been formally in the works since February. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ahead of the March trial, possible settlement talks have derailed into accusations of antisemitism. Paramount CEO Larry Ellison, who is Jewish, criticized actor Mark Ruffalo for opposing the merger on the basis of anti-Israel views over the weekend, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/entertainment-arts\/business\/story\/2026-08-23\/paramount-dustup-with-mark-ruffalo-comes-just-before-mediation-talks-in-antitrust-suit\">telling<\/a> the <em>Los Angeles Times<\/em> that \u201cwords like \u2018genocide\u2019 and \u2018apartheid,\u2019 applied to a corporate transaction, aren\u2019t just wrong \u2014 they\u2019re a bridge too far.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/4682914\/rob-bonta-paramount-threat-ditch-california-warner-bros-merger\/\"><strong>ROB BONTA CALLS PARAMOUNT\u2019S THREAT TO DITCH CALIFORNIA \u2018BLACKMAIL\u2019 TO FORCE SETTLEMENT TALKS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ruffalo <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MarkRuffalo\/status\/2091236072311165311\">called<\/a> the accusation \u201cappalling and fundamentally dishonest.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to Bonta\u2019s office for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bonta cancels talks with Paramount over WBD merger<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2648828,"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\/2026\/01\/bonta-e1787577167310.jpeg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[50810,4045,16353,54802,68238],"class_list":["post-2648827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-ag-2","tag-california","tag-merger","tag-paramount-2","tag-wbd"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/bonta-e1787577167310.jpeg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2648827","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\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2648827"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2648827\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2648831,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2648827\/revisions\/2648831"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2648828"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2648827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2648827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2648827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}