1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to scrutinize—and if necessary block—any media merger that would concentrate control of major American news organizations in the hands of a small group of politically connected billionaires. History shows that authoritarian systems do not begin with tanks in the streets. They begin when powerful interests quietly seize control of information, eliminate competition, and decide which voices are heard and which are marginalized. Reports that Paramount, backed by tech billionaire Larry Ellison, has made a hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery raise precisely these concerns. This is not just another corporate deal. It is part of a broader pattern in which wealthy insiders seek influence over media outlets that have been critical of those in power. This is how authoritarian systems operate. They maintain the appearance of free speech while quietly narrowing the range of acceptable debate. The result is a public that believes it is free, while being systematically denied unfiltered information. Congress has a responsibility to prevent this outcome. That means enforcing antitrust laws as written, holding hearings on the democratic and national consequences of media concentration, and ensuring regulatory agencies are not used to reward allies or punish critics. I surge you to act now—before media capture becomes irreversible.