Democrats are gearing up to grill Paramount Skydance over its blockbuster $110 billion bid to swallow Warner Bros. Discovery — a merger that would put CNN under the thumb of the same MAGA-friendly executive who has overseen the controversial hollowing out of CBS.
Paramount Chief Legal Officer Makan Delrahim, who once served as President Trump's antitrust chief during his first term, brushed off mounting political pressure Tuesday at Politico's California Agenda summit, according to Politico — insisting the company welcomes scrutiny from both parties.
"We're not naive to know that politics does not exist. We're not shocked about that. We'll be happy to cooperate and really engage with Republicans and Democrats about any issue and aspect," Delrahim said.
But Democrats aren't buying the cooperative tone. They've accused Paramount CEO David Ellison of dodging real transparency, while raising alarms that the merger poses national security risks tied to foreign investment in the deal. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has gone further, suggesting Ellison's $16 million settlement payment to Trump — reportedly made to smooth approval of Paramount's earlier Skydance merger — could amount to "bribery in plain sight."
Ellison has also faced backlash over fears he'll meddle with CNN's editorial independence, following outrage from CBS News journalists who said Paramount leadership pushed for friendlier coverage of the Trump administration after last year's takeover.
House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) isn't letting up either, vowing aggressive oversight if Democrats retake Congress.
"Anyone involved should be prepared to answer under oath for their role in this brazen campaign to bend America's free press to Donald Trump's political, financial and personal will," Raskin said.
Delrahim dismissed the accusation outright, telling reporters allegations alone don't prove wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, the legal fight is already underway: California Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading a 12-state lawsuit to block the merger, with a federal trial now scheduled for March — conveniently timed, Democrats note, right as they hope to reclaim power in Washington.