All articles tagged with #ellison
Mark Ruffalo pushes back on antisemitism accusations after criticizing the Ellison family’s Warner Bros. Discovery merger, saying his remarks target corporate actions, not Jewish people; Paramount condemns the use of antisemitic tropes in the dispute as the deal faces regulatory scrutiny and opposition from a coalition of state attorneys general.
Mark Ruffalo responded to Paramount’s accusation that his criticism of the Oracle Ellison family’s involvement in the proposed CNN/HBO/Warner Bros. merger was antisemitic, arguing that his points target corporate actions and technology — not Jewish people — and warning that the deal could have real consequences for livelihoods and editorial freedom; Paramount said antisemitic tropes are unacceptable and they do not tolerate prejudice.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sued Texas Governor Greg Abbott to force the extradition of ICE agent Christian Castro, who faces four counts of second-degree assault and a false reporting charge in Minnesota after a May shooting during an enforcement operation. Castro was arrested in Texas but has not been moved to Minnesota, with Ellison accusing Abbott of withholding the rendition warrant for about three months. The filing, tied to tensions from Operation Metro Surge, seeks to ensure Castro faces justice in Minnesota as Minnesota officials continue their push for accountability regarding the incident.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a lawsuit against Texas Governor Greg Abbott to compel the extradition of ICE agent Christian Castro so he can be tried in Minnesota on assault and falsely reporting a crime related to a January Minneapolis shooting; Ellison asks for a temporary restraining order to keep Castro in custody and argues Abbott has refused to honor the extradition request.
Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery — which would place CNN under WBD’s umbrella — is facing an antitrust lawsuit over market concentration in film distribution and basic cable. Paramount reportedly floated selling CNN to appease critics, but observers say such a divestiture would not end the lawsuit. A ticking fee of about $7 million per day accrues if the deal misses the Sept. 30 deadline, and if not closed by June 4, 2027, a $7 billion breakup fee applies. CEO David Ellison has even signaled relocating Paramount out of California if the settlement isn’t reached, underscoring the political and legal pressure surrounding the deal.
Paramount CEO David Ellison is bracing for a drawn-out, costly fight to keep his $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery merger alive after 12 state attorneys general sued to block it on antitrust grounds. With a ticking-fee late-stage financing arrangement in play and a potential trial date set for March 2027, Ellison has signaled confidence the deal will close but faces ongoing legal battles, regulatory hurdles, and pressure to offer concessions if a settlement with state AGs isn’t possible. Analysts note the stakes are enormous for both companies and the broader media landscape, and some say a settlement or governance safeguards may be the only viable path forward, while Ellison appears prepared to go the distance.
A pointed critique of David Ellison’s NYT op-ed and the Paramount-Warner merger, arguing it would cost jobs, curb artistic risk, and entrench studio power, alongside coverage of Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s bold reimagining of Jean Grey and Jane Schoenbrun’s Camp Miasma exploring trans storytelling and fandom.
A coalition of 12 states will push Paramount’s $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery to a 12‑day antitrust trial starting March 2, 2027, after Paramount pressed for a later start. From Oct. 1, Paramount must pay roughly $7 million per day in ticking fees to Warners shareholders until the deal closes, potentially totaling over $1.5 billion before a ruling. The trial is led for Paramount by Beth Wilkinson, with Milbank lawyers James Weingarten and Richard Parker representing the states. If the merger isn’t closed by the June 2027 outside date, Warner can terminate and collect a $7 billion termination fee. Ellison has said financing is in place and the deal is lawful, despite politicized scrutiny around CNN.
Paramount CEO David Ellison writes in a New York Times op-ed that opposition to Paramount’s $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery is driven by CNN coverage rather than market-share concerns, and he pledges to run CNN independently and 'down the middle' as the deal remains paused pending a lawsuit; the Times piece comes as Paramount and WBD prepare quarterly results and a judge eyes a trial date for later this year or early 2027.
David Ellison argues in a New York Times op-ed that the antitrust challenge to Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery hinges less on market share and more on CNN and political optics, pledging newsroom independence and steady production if the deal proceeds.
A Paramount shareholder filed a derivative lawsuit in Delaware Chancery Court against CEO David Ellison, Larry Ellison, and Paramount’s board, alleging breach of fiduciary duty in pursuing the Warner Bros. Discovery merger and claiming promises to overhaul CNN and other actions were made to secure regulatory approval. Paramount pushed back, saying the suit recycles previously reported allegations and that no commitments were made to any government body beyond delivering truthful journalism, while maintaining the merger’s merits. The filing follows other antitrust challenges and lawsuits related to the deal from state attorneys general, WGA, and Paramount+ subscribers.
Paramount investors filed a Delaware Chancery Court suit accusing David and Larry Ellison of orchestrating a Trump-backed side deal to win approval for Paramount’s bid to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery, including promises to overhaul CNN, up to $20 million in free advertising, and a $16 million Trump payment from a prior CBS settlement, arguing these actions breach fiduciary duties and create long-term liability amid ongoing merger-related litigation.
California and 11 other Democratic attorneys general filed a federal antitrust lawsuit to block Paramount Skydance’s roughly $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing the merger would extinguish competition, raise prices, and consolidate control over film, TV, and news assets (including CNN). Paramount contends the deal is pro-competitive and had DOJ approval, while the states seek to delay closing via injunction, potentially slowing the deal amid a shifting Hollywood landscape.
A Fox-Roku deal worth about $22 billion, paired with David Ellison’s bid to merge Paramount with Warner Bros. Discovery, signals a shift toward billionaire-led control of how Americans access streaming content, giving Fox influence over distribution and discovery on Roku’s platform and raising alarms about concentrated gatekeeping and reduced media pluralism.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison angrily pushed back on questions about the state's fraud scandal, disputing an $8 billion fraud estimate and telling a Fox News Digital reporter he's done talking to you after Vice President JD Vance threatened a DOJ probe into his knowledge of the scheme; the broader case involves alleged misappropriation of public funds across Medicaid, nutrition and education programs, including Feeding Our Future, drawing congressional scrutiny over potential billions in losses.