All articles tagged with #state attorneys general
A federal court will hear an emergency motion by about a dozen state attorneys general to temporarily pause Paramount’s merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. Judge P. Casey Pitts set a Friday 10 a.m. PT hearing on a TRO, with Paramount’s opposition due by noon Thursday; the states seek a ruling by July 22, timing that coincides with EU review, even though the DOJ has already cleared the deal.
State attorneys general filed in a Sacramento federal court for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to pause Paramount’s proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing the deal would raise competition concerns and could close by July 22, potentially harming three antitrust markets; they cite irreparable harm and outside-date ticking fees, while Paramount calls the challenge a flawed reading of antitrust law and says delaying the deal would hurt entertainment workers.
A dozen state attorneys general, led by California AG Rob Bonta, filed a federal lawsuit in Sacramento to block Paramount’s $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing the deal would stifle competition in wide-release film distribution, big-budget production, and basic cable channels, potentially raising prices for theaters, distributors, and consumers. They contend Paramount-WB would control a outsized share of box office and cable assets, giving the merged company excessive bargaining power, while Paramount argues the merger would boost competition against streams and pledges to release at least 30 theatrical films annually. A possible injunction could pause the deal as litigation unfolds.
State attorneys general are finalizing a multistate antitrust lawsuit to challenge Paramount’s planned takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, a filing expected next week that could derail Paramount’s timetable to take control of WBD despite the Justice Department’s clearance. The effort, which mirrors other state-level challenges to major deals after federal review, comes as California’s AG and others scrutinize the deal, Oregon pursues subpoenas, and Paramount says regulators around the world have already approved the transaction and will be defended in court.
The Justice Department asked state attorneys general to use all available state tools to investigate and prosecute any misconduct that may be contributing to high gasoline prices, signaling potential federal action if wrongdoing is found. The push follows earlier price spikes tied to Middle East tensions and oil-market volatility, with prices easing recently; no specific companies were named in the request.
Even after the DOJ approved Paramount’s $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, California’s Rob Bonta and a coalition of state AGs are preparing to challenge the deal or scrutinize it more closely, signaling a broader battle that weighs political optics, potential Hollywood job impacts, and regulatory timing (including UK reviews and ticking-fee deadlines) alongside competition concerns. The story also highlights the election-year context in California and New York politics and notes Paramount’s pushback framing the merger as pro-competitive while opponents argue it could upend the industry and local economies.
A coalition of more than 30 state attorneys general won a landmark monopolization case against Live Nation (Ticketmaster); the DOJ initially led the case but withdrew in March, and the Manhattan trial proceeded on short notice with the states prevailing. The author, Gail Slater, recounts the extensive discovery and testimony, including Slack messages that suggested price gouging, as central to the victory. She frames the win as a common-sense, bipartisan application of antitrust law that protects consumers and markets, and credits the DOJ team for laying the foundation. The piece argues this outcome shows Americans’ intuitive grasp of fair competition and calls for continued antitrust enforcement to keep capitalism fair.
Eight states led by California and New York filed a federal antitrust lawsuit in the Eastern District of California to block Nexstar’s $6.2 billion takeover of Tegna, arguing the deal would lessen competition in local TV markets and harm consumers by reducing voices and potentially raising prices. The merger would combine hundreds of TV stations under one owner and would reach about 60% of U.S. households, well over the current 39% cap that would require regulatory changes. The states contended the deal would hurt local journalism in markets like Sacramento, San Diego, and Buffalo. The FCC has signaled support for the deal but has not decided whether to change ownership rules; Nexstar and Tegna had not commented at press time. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California and adds to a broader regulatory scrutiny of media consolidation.
A coalition of 24 Democratic state attorneys general and governors filed suit in the U.S. Court of International Trade to block President Trump's new 10% global tariff for 150 days, arguing it is unconstitutional and violates the law; they seek an injunction and refunds, building on the Supreme Court’s ruling that Trump exceeded authority under the IEEPA and highlighting questions about Section 122 and exemptions.
Twenty-four states sue the Trump administration, arguing that new 10% tariffs under Section 122 (potentially rising to 15%) exceed presidential authority after the Supreme Court ruled IEEPA-based tariffs unlawful; they seek a court decision voiding the tariffs and refunds for costs incurred, as the White House defends the measures as restoring fair trade.
Five Democratic-led states sued the Trump administration for withholding billions in social safety net funds, claiming it overstepped its authority and violated constitutional rights by freezing approved federal aid programs aimed at helping low-income families, amid allegations of fraud and political targeting.
Nineteen states and D.C. sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over a declaration that labels gender-affirming treatments for minors as unsafe, aiming to restrict access and potentially cut federal funding, amid ongoing legal and political battles over transgender healthcare rights.
Sixteen states and D.C. are suing the Trump administration for withholding over $2 billion in EV charging funds allocated by Congress, arguing this violates legal obligations and hampers efforts to combat climate change and promote clean transportation. The lawsuit highlights ongoing conflicts over EV policies and infrastructure funding, with the Trump administration having previously halted spending and rolled back Biden-era EV initiatives, amid slowing EV sales and industry shifts.
A coalition of 20 state attorneys general has sued the Trump administration to block its demand for private SNAP recipient data, fearing it will be used for immigration enforcement and deportations, despite the USDA's claims that the data is for fraud prevention. The lawsuit argues that sharing such sensitive information violates privacy laws and that the administration's true intent is to target immigrants, raising concerns among privacy advocates.
Multiple states and D.C. sued the Trump administration for withholding over $6 billion in federal education funds, claiming it violates the law and harms students, as the pause in funding continues without clear timelines, risking significant program cuts and layoffs.