US EditionKushner role in bid for Warner Bros raises ethical questions, experts say
The $108 billion bid includes financing from Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners and Middle East sovereign wealth funds, raising concerns over presidential influence in media consolidation.
- On Dec 8, Paramount Skydance launched a hostile $108 billion bid for Warner Bros Discovery, including financing from Jared Kushner, Saudi and Qatari sovereign wealth funds, and L'Imad Holding Co., Abu Dhabi.
- Affinity Partners enjoyed a cash influx from Middle East investors last year, and Jared Kushner, former White House adviser, has maintained involvement in Middle East policy.
- Both Paramount and Netflix face intense antitrust scrutiny, and the Justice Department antitrust unit will review the Warner Bros Discovery deal to assess competition and consumer impact.
- President Donald Trump said on Monday he had not spoken with Kushner about Warner Bros Discovery, and neither Netflix nor Paramount are 'friends of mine,' while Nell Minow warned this 'would be Exhibit A' for conflicts of interest.
- Observers say the extent of President Donald Trump's involvement will test how far the president—whose Trump-family business interests have grown this year—might push conflict-of-interest norms, as questions raised before about Jared Kushner's benefits from his father-in-law’s presidency add context.
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Anderson Cooper's New Boss Could Become the Trump Family
WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE WITH ANDY COHEN -- Episode 22187 Pictured: Anderson Cooper -- (Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images) Popular CNN anchorman Anderson Cooper might soon need to answer to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, if Paramount Skydance succeeds in its bid to take over Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount’s CEO David Ellison, a prominent Trump supporter, is leading the $108 billion takeover bid of the entertainment gian…
Affinity Partners, an American investment firm based in Miami, Florida, founded in 2021 by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, is on the list of investors helping Paramount in its bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, whose assets include CNN.
Stephen Colbert Calls on Paramount to ‘Uncancel One of Their Best Shows’ Amid $108 Billion Hostile Takeover Bid for WBD
'In a totally unrelated story, I'm looking forward to next season's new CBS hit comedy, 'Young Mohammed bin Sheldon,'' the late night host adds The post Stephen Colbert Calls on Paramount to ‘Uncancel One of Their Best Shows’ Amid $108 Billion Hostile Takeover Bid for WBD
Stephen Colbert Calls on Paramount to 'Uncancel One of Their Best Shows' Amid $108 Billion Hostile Takeover Bid for WBD
Stephen Colbert weighed in on Paramount Skydance’s $108 billion hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery by calling on his “beloved parent company” to instead use the money to “uncancel” a popular CBS show. The comedian addressed the bidding war during Tuesday’s monologue for “The Late Show,” where Colbert broke down how Paramount Skydance was able to make such a hefty bid for WBD. “Just yesterday morning, my beloved parent company, Param…
Investors are expecting a win for Paramount's bid in the takeover battle for film studio Warner Bros. Discovery. Its shares are up 3.5 percent, while the competing bid from streaming service Netflix is failing to move investors. Paramount is backed by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, the second-richest man in the world. President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is also bidding through the American investment firm Redbird Capital.
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