Paramount CEO David Ellison has publicly defended his company's proposed $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing in a New York Times op-ed that opposition to the deal stems from concerns about his control over CNN rather than genuine antitrust worries. He insisted he would not "bend newsrooms" to his own political views and pledged that CNN, alongside CBS News, would retain editorial independence under a combined Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery entity, invoking the legacies of Ted Turner and Edward R. Murrow.

The merger faces a legal challenge from 12 US state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America, a fight that could delay completion into 2027 or collapse the deal entirely. Ellison, who also leads CBS's parent company, said he had previously stayed silent on the litigation to avoid appearing to influence news coverage involving his own business, but decided to speak out after others began "writing his story" for him. He also cited a Gallup poll showing trust in the media at a record low of 28%, saying journalism needed to look inward rather than blame external factors.