1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to take immediate action to block the proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery by Paramount Skydance, owned by the Ellison family. This merger represents an unprecedented consolidation of media power that threatens competition, consumer choice, and the integrity of American media. The Ellison family would control an empire spanning CNN, CBS, HBO, and TikTok. This concentration of news, entertainment, and social media platforms in the hands of a single family poses a direct threat to media diversity and marketplace competition. Senator Elizabeth Warren has correctly identified this as "an antitrust disaster threatening higher prices and fewer choices for American families." The financing structure raises additional concerns. Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar are reportedly backing this purchase. The irony is stark: Congress moved aggressively to force the sale of TikTok over foreign ownership concerns, yet this deal would place major American media assets under the influence of foreign governments through their financial backing. This double standard undermines the credibility of our national security arguments and suggests political favoritism rather than principled policy. Netflix withdrew from its competing $82.7 billion bid after Paramount Skydance offered $31 per share plus a $7 billion regulatory termination fee. The revised offer's aggressive terms, including $650 million quarterly ticking fees beginning after September, suggest the Ellison family is determined to close this deal quickly, potentially before thorough regulatory review can occur. Warner Bros Discovery shareholders are scheduled to vote on this merger, but with Netflix out and White House officials reportedly favoring the Paramount bid due to the Ellison family's relationship with the president, this appears to be a fait accompli unless Congress intervenes. I urge you to publicly oppose this merger, call for comprehensive antitrust review, and support legislation that prevents this level of media consolidation. Congress has both the authority and the duty to prevent monopolies from forming. Please use it.