California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) and 11 other states drop their lawsuit to block David Ellison’s Paramount from acquiring Warner Bros. — and get little in return.
This made me sick. You know that all those networks will be flooded with red ads spewing complete and utter lies about Dem candidates, which means I, for one, will NOT be watching any of them. Will ANYONE join me? It's the only thing these greedy people understand.
Gavin is hyping his "Centrist" card. Ostensibly to woo $$$ support from Wall Street in '28.
But in bending over for this merger Newsom has made the case for anti-Oligopoly and Trust-busting to be a CENTRAL PLANK of the Democratic Party going forward. BREAK UP the Oligopolies, duopolies and monopolies. And let healthy market competition drive prices back down.
Market concentration--like this $110 billion mega-merger exacerbates--is one of the chief drivers of the UNAFFORDABILITY crisis.
Don't watch. I haven't watched anything but clips on any network since Bush. Of course Substack really helps.....and The Guardian. Very little of the NYT and nothing of the WP.
I am this close to cancelling all of my streaming services and watching TV shows from the 80s which I missed because of distractions. How much worse can it get?
It would be instructive if we all cancelled our subscriptions to HBO and all the other entities wrapped up in this deal. Even if it is only for one month, and it is a pain to do it, it would demonstrate the power of the marketplace, and that the Ellison are subject to the power of the public. The same is true of WaPo and other once legitimate news outlets. I quit Meta, twitter, etc long ago. My one subscription means nothing to them , but a coordinated, mass removal of these greedy bastard’s source of income would get their attention.
Until we have a justice department that is willing to enforce anti trust laws we are going to have to enforce them ourselves by banding together to show these assholes that
No HBO, Meta, Twitter, X. Never had. Unfortunately after I canceled my WaPo subscription, I was offered a $12/year deal. There are worthy journalists and articles in the WaPo so I gave into temptation and eventually renewed. (Ditto NYT) Do I feel guilty? Yes.
This is exactly why Gavin Newsom should never be president. And why Karen Bass needs to go. But mostly, Gavin needs to never ever be our nominee. Between this deal and his opposition to the billionaires tax, this dude has shown exactly who he is, a kinder gentler slicker DJT. Hard pass.
Money rules. Donor money. Billionaire donor money. Total greedy schmucks. All sides. With very few exceptions. As long as money buys influence it’s a rich guys world. Real simple. And very sad. Americans worship money. Very sad.
At some point we are going to have to deal with the denizens of the tech industry and all the little weirdos who have their heads in a computer instead of in the real world. They think that they are smarter than anyone else because they are “on the cutting edge of technology”.
They know NOTHING about life outside of their bubble that has made them too rich, too fast.
They are now coming up against pushback over AI and its dangers and the environmental damage that they want to inflict on us to support their new toy.
They have no idea what they are doing, and it is up to us to rein them in before they destroy human civilization.
It's more complex than just being "a white man." Larry Ellison has not explicitly self-identified with the label "Zionist," but he is a major donor to Israeli causes and the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) (!!), and he maintains close ties with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. I find this extremely disconcerting. And no, I am not antisemitic. I just think it is worthy of notice.
He will control: Paramount, Warner Bros. The combined company would own two of the largest movie studios, two of the largest streaming platforms (Paramount+ and HBO Max), and a slew of broadcast and cable TV networks (CBS, CNN, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Showtime, HBO, TNT, TBS, truTV, Animal Planet, Cartoon Network, and Food Network).
Break them All up… Amazon, Mecca, etc. Impeach Trump! Trump & Family go to jail.. not a resort jail either. Every cabinet member Impeached & prosecuted & Imprisoned!
Defense Secretary to World Court for war crimes! Impeachment of Roberts, Scalia, Kavanaugh and Thomas for shadow docket manipulation Investigate Thiel & Musk…to determine if lied during naturalization process, cancel every contract with their corporations and investigate bribery , Lastly but not limited to
oto But especially Miller & Vought investigate for crimes of treason. Investigate & prosecute Ice officials and officers !
So folks much to do… if midterms fail!
You better pack your bags. This long journey for Democracy is Over!
I think that is right but was it a credible threat? This is already a very expensive acquisition. They would move out of California, at a considerable cause (and a huge strategic disadvantage strategically for a movie studio) out of spite? It's a much easier thing to threaten than to actually do.
Well bullying your opponents is the norm in Trump world. Empty threats to take your toys and go home has worked so far. Time for someone to call their bluff. Obviously Bass and Newsome are not up to the task.
Thanks for replying! Calling someone's bluff is easier for you and I, but there millions of jobs and votes on the line, and a crazy person backed by an even crazier person who's backed by an even crazier person, you tend just to pretty much cave. Heck, I could care less. I want good movies and bums on seat.
It has been proven over and over that Trump backs down when someone stands up to him. Bullies are the same anywhere. Where is Ellison going to go? Who is he going to hire to replace the talented and knowledgable people he would leave in Calif? It would cost him a shit ton of money to pick up the movie industry and all the allied crafts that make it work, and he is strung out for money as a result of financing this deal. When someone says I want it all my way or I will take my toys and go home....the best answer is "go right ahead, don't let the door hit you in your big fat ass on the way out"
I’m not sure how credible the threat was as these giant corporations have been threatening to leave the state of CA for all sorts of reasons for many years.
But, as you said, this deal was always going to go through and making a lot of “this is wrong” noise but eventually siding with big money is kind of what many powerful Dems do best.
This is ANOTHER of Multiple examples of why people are MAD at Democrats.........they have a chance to make an impact that will make a difference and then they CAVE and GIVE UP and GIVE IN. Just like what happened with the Fairness Doctrine. It was and IS all part of the plans of the right to keep chipping away at every institution and every protection people have until they are gone - and too many Democrats are to BLIND to see it happening right before their eyes! Need examples - Abortion, Environmental Protections, Right to Vote, control of the Supreme Court, Fairness Doctrine,.......NOW they are coming after Social Security and Medicare, Public Schools, Natural Resources.....And EVERY time Democrats BACK DOWN and REFUSE to FIGHT and STOP IT!!! Vote for people with TEETH who will FIGHT and Pay Attention to the LONG GAME that the Right is using AGAINST them as they are being played and is Playing them!!!! Need some inspiration.....read about Gordie Howe they hockey players how he operated......there were lines you did NOT cross......and if you did there WAS consequences....so the lesson you learned.......do NOT do that and do NOT do it again EVER!!!
It’s troubling to see the destruction of cbs, and to know the exact same thing will happen to cnn. We need awareness and sunlight to then trigger accountability and consequences and punishment
We are all but headed into "state media". We will no longer see what is really happening in the world, only the President will have the knowledge, since we mere mortals can't be trusted with the facts and truth. Looks more everyday we are headed to mad max territory.
This made me sick. You know that all those networks will be flooded with red ads spewing complete and utter lies about Dem candidates, which means I, for one, will NOT be watching any of them. Will ANYONE join me? It's the only thing these greedy people understand.
And to add to your idea … boycott Gavin as a presidential candidate.
Absolutely. I would never vote for him anyway, after he threw Trans folks under the bus on Joe Rogan.
Gavin is hyping his "Centrist" card. Ostensibly to woo $$$ support from Wall Street in '28.
But in bending over for this merger Newsom has made the case for anti-Oligopoly and Trust-busting to be a CENTRAL PLANK of the Democratic Party going forward. BREAK UP the Oligopolies, duopolies and monopolies. And let healthy market competition drive prices back down.
Market concentration--like this $110 billion mega-merger exacerbates--is one of the chief drivers of the UNAFFORDABILITY crisis.
Already decided that Newsom is NOT anyone that I could support. Too many other people in the Democratic side who are more genuine than Gavin is.
Don't watch. I haven't watched anything but clips on any network since Bush. Of course Substack really helps.....and The Guardian. Very little of the NYT and nothing of the WP.
Same here.
I'll join you,
I am this close to cancelling all of my streaming services and watching TV shows from the 80s which I missed because of distractions. How much worse can it get?
I'm afraid there's no basement with this crowd. Just another lower level followed by another.
I started 2 months ago not watching hardly any tv when the ads started appearing. Not a sacrifice at all, my life feels better for it.
It would be instructive if we all cancelled our subscriptions to HBO and all the other entities wrapped up in this deal. Even if it is only for one month, and it is a pain to do it, it would demonstrate the power of the marketplace, and that the Ellison are subject to the power of the public. The same is true of WaPo and other once legitimate news outlets. I quit Meta, twitter, etc long ago. My one subscription means nothing to them , but a coordinated, mass removal of these greedy bastard’s source of income would get their attention.
Until we have a justice department that is willing to enforce anti trust laws we are going to have to enforce them ourselves by banding together to show these assholes that
They cannot own the damn world.
They're trying to, aren't they?
No HBO, Meta, Twitter, X. Never had. Unfortunately after I canceled my WaPo subscription, I was offered a $12/year deal. There are worthy journalists and articles in the WaPo so I gave into temptation and eventually renewed. (Ditto NYT) Do I feel guilty? Yes.
I want someone to love me like Democrats love negotiating without guaranteeing meaningful concessions.
LOL...still amused and smiling. That's a great wish! I'm thinking of Roy Cohn's mother.
This is exactly why Gavin Newsom should never be president. And why Karen Bass needs to go. But mostly, Gavin needs to never ever be our nominee. Between this deal and his opposition to the billionaires tax, this dude has shown exactly who he is, a kinder gentler slicker DJT. Hard pass.
And his treating of trans-folks rights as an afterthought to be bargained away.
Typical corporate dem....pretty much all the same
Money rules. Donor money. Billionaire donor money. Total greedy schmucks. All sides. With very few exceptions. As long as money buys influence it’s a rich guys world. Real simple. And very sad. Americans worship money. Very sad.
It's as though Jesus himself was on the Board of Directors and Mary was handing out $100 bills.
This stinks. Why capitulate in this way? And the union busting bit hidden in it is egregious.
Kinda doubt we’ll see quite as much of Bonta making the interview rounds as we did prior to this “settlement.” Talk about “Taco Tuesday.”
Why not just call the state of California "Ellisonville" and let the white men decide everything? Oh, yeah, right...
At some point we are going to have to deal with the denizens of the tech industry and all the little weirdos who have their heads in a computer instead of in the real world. They think that they are smarter than anyone else because they are “on the cutting edge of technology”.
They know NOTHING about life outside of their bubble that has made them too rich, too fast.
They are now coming up against pushback over AI and its dangers and the environmental damage that they want to inflict on us to support their new toy.
They have no idea what they are doing, and it is up to us to rein them in before they destroy human civilization.
It's more complex than just being "a white man." Larry Ellison has not explicitly self-identified with the label "Zionist," but he is a major donor to Israeli causes and the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) (!!), and he maintains close ties with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. I find this extremely disconcerting. And no, I am not antisemitic. I just think it is worthy of notice.
He will control: Paramount, Warner Bros. The combined company would own two of the largest movie studios, two of the largest streaming platforms (Paramount+ and HBO Max), and a slew of broadcast and cable TV networks (CBS, CNN, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Showtime, HBO, TNT, TBS, truTV, Animal Planet, Cartoon Network, and Food Network).
All three democrats, this is so disappointing.
Corporate Democrats. Not my type at all.
Newsome apparently intervened. The question - who paid him and how much to sell out the studios, the news rooms and the country?
Owned by the same folks as Nancy
Judd, very timely information…
We all Thank You!
Folks…quit looking for a villain in the Demos…
They have no power !!!! Yet!
The view from America is right on…
Now, Get the power back…than
Teddy Roosevelt time.
Break them All up… Amazon, Mecca, etc. Impeach Trump! Trump & Family go to jail.. not a resort jail either. Every cabinet member Impeached & prosecuted & Imprisoned!
Defense Secretary to World Court for war crimes! Impeachment of Roberts, Scalia, Kavanaugh and Thomas for shadow docket manipulation Investigate Thiel & Musk…to determine if lied during naturalization process, cancel every contract with their corporations and investigate bribery , Lastly but not limited to
oto But especially Miller & Vought investigate for crimes of treason. Investigate & prosecute Ice officials and officers !
So folks much to do… if midterms fail!
You better pack your bags. This long journey for Democracy is Over!
The bit that killed the Dems was the threat of moving the whole opposition outside of California.
Would have been a gargantuan loss both jobs and votes-wise.
Plus, the deal was always going to happen.
The hilarious bit is whether Larry Ellison can afford to service the debt
I think that is right but was it a credible threat? This is already a very expensive acquisition. They would move out of California, at a considerable cause (and a huge strategic disadvantage strategically for a movie studio) out of spite? It's a much easier thing to threaten than to actually do.
Well bullying your opponents is the norm in Trump world. Empty threats to take your toys and go home has worked so far. Time for someone to call their bluff. Obviously Bass and Newsome are not up to the task.
Who wants to do that before Midterms? I wouldn’t have…
You’re in a recession with high gas prices!
Are you coining a new acronym? NACO ??
NACO??
Thanks for replying! Calling someone's bluff is easier for you and I, but there millions of jobs and votes on the line, and a crazy person backed by an even crazier person who's backed by an even crazier person, you tend just to pretty much cave. Heck, I could care less. I want good movies and bums on seat.
It has been proven over and over that Trump backs down when someone stands up to him. Bullies are the same anywhere. Where is Ellison going to go? Who is he going to hire to replace the talented and knowledgable people he would leave in Calif? It would cost him a shit ton of money to pick up the movie industry and all the allied crafts that make it work, and he is strung out for money as a result of financing this deal. When someone says I want it all my way or I will take my toys and go home....the best answer is "go right ahead, don't let the door hit you in your big fat ass on the way out"
I’m not sure how credible the threat was as these giant corporations have been threatening to leave the state of CA for all sorts of reasons for many years.
But, as you said, this deal was always going to go through and making a lot of “this is wrong” noise but eventually siding with big money is kind of what many powerful Dems do best.
Whether Larry borrows or steals the money, I wouldn't lose sleep over it.
"The consent decree, moreover, does not include any real concessions by Paramount."
Again? Democrats. Ever poised to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
This is ANOTHER of Multiple examples of why people are MAD at Democrats.........they have a chance to make an impact that will make a difference and then they CAVE and GIVE UP and GIVE IN. Just like what happened with the Fairness Doctrine. It was and IS all part of the plans of the right to keep chipping away at every institution and every protection people have until they are gone - and too many Democrats are to BLIND to see it happening right before their eyes! Need examples - Abortion, Environmental Protections, Right to Vote, control of the Supreme Court, Fairness Doctrine,.......NOW they are coming after Social Security and Medicare, Public Schools, Natural Resources.....And EVERY time Democrats BACK DOWN and REFUSE to FIGHT and STOP IT!!! Vote for people with TEETH who will FIGHT and Pay Attention to the LONG GAME that the Right is using AGAINST them as they are being played and is Playing them!!!! Need some inspiration.....read about Gordie Howe they hockey players how he operated......there were lines you did NOT cross......and if you did there WAS consequences....so the lesson you learned.......do NOT do that and do NOT do it again EVER!!!
It’s troubling to see the destruction of cbs, and to know the exact same thing will happen to cnn. We need awareness and sunlight to then trigger accountability and consequences and punishment
As always pop info is a shining light
This makes me sick!!! Why did they do this? I’m not sure I can support Newsome or Bonita after this!!!
Nope. Newsome makes "deals" a little too readily.
We are all but headed into "state media". We will no longer see what is really happening in the world, only the President will have the knowledge, since we mere mortals can't be trusted with the facts and truth. Looks more everyday we are headed to mad max territory.