Overview
- White House communications director Steven Cheung labeled CNN the “Chicken News Network,” and an official Rapid Response 47 account said correspondent Kaitlan Collins was “no journalist,” with Vice President J.D. Vance amplifying the criticism.
- President Donald Trump demanded that CNN receive a new owner in any Warner Bros. Discovery deal and said the current CNN leadership should not continue, accusing the channel of spreading “poison” and “lies.”
- Paramount Skydance submitted a roughly $108 billion hostile offer for the entire Warner Bros. Discovery, which would include CNN, while Netflix agreed to buy the studio and streaming business for about $83 billion with TV networks spun off.
- Trump said he will involve himself in the government’s review of the transaction, which is expected to be examined by the Justice Department, and he cited Netflix’s large streaming market share as a potential concern.
- Paramount’s bid involves investors linked to Larry Ellison and includes Affinity Partners, the firm of Jared Kushner, as reporting also notes newsroom changes at CBS after the Ellison family’s takeover as a precedent cited by observers.