The Republican-led Federal Communications Commission approved the $8 billion Paramount-Skydance merger Thursday, following a $16 million legal settlement between Paramount and President Donald Trump. The decision, secured by pledges to appoint a bias ombudsman at CBS, has drawn sharp rebukes from Democratic lawmakers and critics alleging a pay-to-play scheme.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioner Olivia Trusty provided the deciding votes for the merger, effectively clearing the path for the deal. The approval follows Paramount's recent agreement to settle a lawsuit brought by Trump regarding a "60 Minutes" interview with Kamala Harris. While the settlement officially allocates $16 million to Trump's presidential library, the President has publicly claimed the deal includes an additional $20 million in advertising commitments, prompting scrutiny from Congress.Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez cast the lone dissenting vote, characterizing the approval as a "cowardly capitulation" that threatens press freedom. Senators Ed Markey and Ben Ray Luján issued a joint statement describing the transaction as reeking of the "worst form of corruption," while Senator Elizabeth Warren explicitly called for a criminal investigation into whether the approval was the result of a bribe. Attorneys from the nonprofit Protect Democracy warned that such corporate concessions to the administration are unlikely to secure lasting protection, noting that companies often find themselves subject to recurring demands after their initial surrender.
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