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Yes, CNN is in the final stages of being acquired by a corporate entity with strong ties to Donald Trump and the Republican platform. In June 2026, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice officially approved a $110 billion mega-merger allowing Paramount Skydance, led by billionaire David Ellison, to buy CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.
The Key Players and Political Ties
- David Ellison: The CEO of Paramount Skydance who is poised to take direct control of CNN. He is the son of Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison, a prominent megadonor and close ally to Donald Trump.
- Bari Weiss: Currently running CBS News under Ellison, Weiss is being strongly considered to take over leadership of CNN. Her tenure at CBS has already seen a sharp shift toward conservative and MAGA-friendly programming.
- Donald Trump: Trump has long publicly demanded that CNN be sold to new ownership and reportedly received assurances from Ellison that sweeping changes would be made to reshape the network’s tone.
The Precedent at CBS News
Journalists and media critics point to Ellison’s recent overhaul of CBS News as a blueprint for CNN’s future. Under the current Paramount leadership, CBS has:
- Hired heavily from a pool of conservative on-screen talent.
- Hosted town halls featuring MAGA figures like Vice President JD Vance.
- Ousted veteran, critical journalists including Scott Pelley, Anderson Cooper, and Sharyn Alfonsi.
- Faced accusations of delaying or suppressing investigative reports critical of the Trump administration.
Internal Backlash and Resignations
The looming takeover has sparked deep anxiety within CNN’s newsroom over the future of its editorial independence. High-profile departures have already begun, including Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent Paula Reid, who chose to walk away from contract renewals specifically citing discomfort with the chaotic transition and the new rightward ideological trajectory. Other top network anchors, including Anderson Cooper, have reportedly expressed a refusal to work under the incoming leadership.
Current Status of the Deal
While David Ellison has publicly claimed that CNN’s “editorial independence will absolutely be maintained,” the political climate surrounding the acquisition suggests otherwise. The deal has cleared federal antitrust hurdles via the DOJ, but it still faces active pushback and potential lawsuits from a coalition of Democratic State Attorneys General as well as international regulatory reviews in the UK and European Union. Barring a legal block, the deal is expected to finalize and fully close by September 2026.
[9] https://www.poynter.org/commentary/2026/whats-next-cbs-news-cnn-60-minutes-paramount-bari-weiss/
[17] https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/cnns-takeover-uncertainty-spooks-star-162743159.html
