It is easy to forget that not too long ago, Hollywood commentators were up in arms over Netflix’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Back then, the dread of the demise of theatrical movie-going filled the town.

Overnight, the conversation flipped. Paramount-Skydance (the latter part of the name refers to David Ellison’s not-so-successful production company, bankrolled by his father) won the bidding war over Warner Bros. and its vast library of classics and valuable IP.

Now, the debate became political, and not for nothing. When Ellison, whose father is a prominent Trump supporter, bought Paramount in 2025, he installed anti-woke warrior Bari Weiss as head of CBS News. Many on the left were justifiably enraged, fearing a conservative takeover. Adding insult to injury, the new regime got rid of Stephen Colbert, a vocal critic of the president, and cancelled his late-night show altogether. Even worse, Weiss seems to be tarnishing the crown jewel of broadcast news – 60 Minutes.

To a lesser extent, some of the outrage points to Weiss’s astronomic rise in the media landscape. Following her protest-driven departure as an opinion columnist and editor at The New York Times, Weiss founded The Free Press, an independent journalism Substack known for its critical view of progressive culture-war issues and its pro-Israel stance. In an unprecedented move, The Free Press was purchased by Ellison for $150 million, an unheard-of figure for a Substack. Subsequently, she became Ellison’s confidant and head of CBS News, despite her lack of experience in a TV newsroom.

Post-Warner acquisition, it is reported, Weiss will take over CNN as well.

Many on the left, as seen frequently in social media posts by Senator Elizabeth Warren, warn of a complete takeover of the media........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)