Democrats sharpen probe into Ellison as Paramount–WBD deal stalls CNN control

Democratic lawmakers, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, are intensifying scrutiny of Paramount CEO David Ellison amid the Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger battle, sending a letter accusing him of colluding with President Trump and urging a transcribed interview to address what they call a Trump-enabled bid to consolidate CNN and other media assets under Paramount. The move signals potential hearings if Democrats regain the House, even as Paramount defends the deal as pro-competitive; concerns about newsroom influence at CBS News are noted, and the merger remains frozen by state antitrust suits and a Writers Guild lawsuit, with a March 2027 trial date and possible settlement before then. Ellison’s NYT op-ed and remarks from regulators about CNN’s future under Paramount are highlighted in the broader political and regulatory debate.