A potential merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery is facing opposition from Senator Elizabeth Warren and the Writers Guild of America who warn the deal would consolidate control of major news and entertainment outlets under a single conglomerate.

Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts criticized the proposal on November 15 claiming that the merger would place dozens of major news and entertainment outlets under one corporate roof and calling it a terrible deal.

The deal should it proceed would bring CNN currently owned by Warner Bros. Discovery under the umbrella of Paramount Skydance. The company is led by CEO David Ellison and backed by his father Oracle co-founder and prominent Trump ally Larry Ellison.

According to those familiar with the matter the Ellisons are pursuing CNN not merely as a financial asset but as a vehicle to recalibrate its editorial direction. The network remains highly profitable and is estimated to net 500 million dollars annually while retaining vast global reach.

Multiple accounts indicate that the Ellisons’ interest in CNN aligns with a broader effort to reshape media institutions long perceived as dominated by left-wing narratives.

Bari Weiss the former New York Times columnist and current editor-in-chief at CBS News has been tasked with squeezing left-wing bias out of CBS’s news programming. Sources familiar with the bid say that should Paramount Skydance win the bidding war Weiss could potentially include CNN in her editorial oversight.

Concerns from Democrats extend beyond editorial control.

The Writers Guild of America has warned that the merger would further concentrate media ownership harming workers and reducing competition.

“Combining Warner Bros. with Paramount or another major studio or streamer would be a disaster for writers, for consumers and for competition.”

The organization has pledged to lobby regulators to block the deal.

Despite these objections the Ellisons appear to be the leading contenders in the ongoing bidding war which also includes Netflix, Amazon and Comcast.

Legal experts note that the Paramount bid is unlikely to face significant antitrust scrutiny. The Justice Department and Federal Communications Commission are not expected to pose major hurdles. FCC Chair Brendan Carr stated that his agency may not even be involved in the review process.

Reports indicate that White House officials discussed with billionaire Larry Ellison the potential firing of CNN anchors Erin Burnett and Brianna Keilar. Both are disliked by President Trump according to The Guardian.

While neither Ellison nor the administration has confirmed these discussions, a former Justice Department official told the paper that such interactions reflect how the government relations game is played.

The merger effort follows Paramount Skydance’s successful acquisition of Paramount which included CBS News. Since taking control the Ellisons have implemented sweeping changes cutting staff replacing executives and reportedly cultivating a workplace more open to viewpoints traditionally considered out of bounds in Hollywood.

The cultural shift under Ellison’s leadership at Paramount has been compared to Elon Musk’s revamp of X. It included staff cuts, conservative hires and a workplace more open to right-leaning viewpoints.

President Donald Trump is said to have voiced support for the Paramount-Warner merger.

A senior administration official told the New York Post that ownership of Warner Bros. Discovery is of strategic importance.

“Who owns Warner Bros. Discovery is very important to the administration.”

The official signaled confidence in the Ellisons’ ability to see the deal through.

Warren’s opposition to the merger reveals Democratic fears about losing control of a major propaganda outlet. For years CNN has served as a reliable voice for liberal talking points and anti-Trump coverage.

The prospect of Trump allies taking over the network and installing editors committed to balanced coverage terrifies Democrats who have relied on friendly media to advance their agenda.

The Writers Guild claim about protecting workers and consumers rings hollow given their real concern appears to be maintaining left-wing dominance in entertainment media. They fear conservative viewpoints might actually get airtime if ownership changes.

With Paramount Skydance already transforming CBS News under Bari Weiss, adding CNN to that portfolio would represent a seismic shift in the media landscape. Two major news networks moving away from reflexive liberal bias could fundamentally change how Americans receive information.

The fact that regulators are unlikely to block the deal means Democrats have limited options to stop it. Their only hope is generating enough public opposition to pressure the companies involved into abandoning the merger.

Larry Ellison’s reported conversations with the White House about specific anchors suggests real changes are coming to CNN’s on-air talent if the deal goes through. Hosts who have built careers on Trump criticism may find themselves looking for new jobs.