The sole Democrat on the FCC delivered a blistering statement on the FCC’s approval of the Skydance–Paramount merger, saying that the companies bowed to pressure from the Trump administration to secure the deal.Anna Gomez voted against the merger, with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioner Olivia Trusty, both Republicans, voting in favor.“After months of cowardly capitulation to this Administration, Paramount finally got what it wanted. Unfortunately, it is the American public who will ultimately pay the price for its actions,” Gomez said.“In an unprecedented move, this once-independent FCC used its vast power to pressure Paramount to broker a private legal settlement and further erode press freedom. Once again, this agency is undermining legitimate efforts to combat discrimination and expand opportunity by overstepping its authority and intervening in employment matters reserved for other government entities with proper jurisdiction on these issues. Even more alarming, it is now imposing never-before-seen controls over newsroom decisions and editorial judgment, in direct violation of the First Amendment and the law.”In announcing his support for the merger, Carr cited Skydance’s commitment to CBS’ viewpoint diversity and that “reporting will be fair, unbiased, and fact-based.” Skydance also committed to putting in place an ombudsman for a period of two years, tasked with evaluating complaints of bias.Skydance has emphasized that the commitments are voluntary. Previously, Skydance and Paramount had argued against conditions imposed by the FCC to mandate benchmarks for viewpoint neutrality, saying that they would be “squarely foreclosed by the First Amendment and Supreme Court precedent.”But Gomez argued that Skydance agreed to conditions that will jeopardize the freedom of the news division. Earlier on Thursday, she told reporters that “what concerns me is that the president’s administration has led them to basically adopt a person who serves as a check on the news division, and that is what they want.”The FCC approval came just weeks after Paramount agreed to settle a lawsuit that Trump filed against 60 Minutes for the way that it edited an interview with Kamala Harris.The company had called the lawsuit meritless, but as it awaited FCC approval, still settled for $16 million, to go to Trump’s presidential library. Some Democrats have warned Skydance and Paramount that they may have run afoul of anti-bribery laws. In announcing the settlement, Paramount said that it was unrelated to the approval of the merger. But Trump himself has connected the transaction to his 60 Minutes complaint.Carr agreed to Gomez’s request to allow for all commissioners to vote on the merger, she noted in her statement.But Gomez also warned that the Trump administration “is not done with its assault on the First Amendment. In fact, it may only be beginning.”“The Paramount payout and this reckless approval have emboldened those who believe the government can—and should—abuse its power to extract financial and ideological concessions, demand favored treatment, and secure positive media coverage. It is a dark chapter in a long and growing record of abuse that threatens press freedom in this country. But such violations endure only when institutions choose capitulation over courage. It is time for companies, journalists, and citizens alike to stand up and speak out, because unchecked and unquestioned power has no rightful place in America.”Trusty said in a statement, “This transaction reflects the free market at work, where private investment, not government intervention, is preserving an iconic American media institution.“During its review of the transaction, the Commission determined the merger was lawful and would serve the public interest. This deal brings fresh leadership, new capital, and a clear plan to compete with dominant tech platforms. Skydance’s commitment to creative excellence and operational discipline offers New Paramount a real path forward in today’s challenging media environment. “
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