1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

As your constituent, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed $111 billion mergerbetween Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). This consolidation would create an unprecedented media monopoly that threatens the diversity of our news, the stability of the American workforce, and the monthly budgets of families in our district. The New York Times  +2 I urge you to call for a rigorous review by the Department of Justice and the FTC based on the following critical concerns: • Threats to Independent Journalism: This merger would place two of the nation’s largest news organizations, CBS News and CNN, under a single corporate roof. Such concentration risks the elimination of competing editorial voices and opens the door to partisan interference in the newsrooms that millions of Americans rely on for objective information. • Massive Debt and Job Losses: The combined entity will be saddled with upwards of $79 billion to $90 billion in debt. To service this "barbarian" level of leverage, analysts expect deep cost-cutting measures that could lead to thousands of layoffs across the creative and technical sectors, further hollowing out the American film and television industry. • Skyrocketing Consumer Costs: Paramount has already implemented significant price hikes for its streaming services recently. If allowed to absorb HBO Max and WBD’s massive content library, the lack of competition will almost certainly lead to higher subscription fees for "bundled" services that offer consumers less choice for more money. • Cultural Monopoly: Reducing the "Big Five" movie studios to just four would grant the Ellison family control over a staggering portion of American culture, including franchises like Harry Potter, Star Trek, DC Universe, and Mission Impossible. One entity should not hold the keys to such a vast percentage of our nation's storytelling heritage.  • The American Prospect
 +11 I ask that you join other lawmakers and state leaders, such as the California Attorney General, in demanding that this deal be blocked. We must prioritize a free press and a competitive marketplace over the interests of media billionaires. NBC News  +1 Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Sincerely,