Bulwark Takes Most CORRUPT Takeover Yet? Trump-Backed Paramount to Buy Warner Bros.
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Feb 27, 2026 A surprise takeover of Warner Bros by a Trump-backed Paramount sparks a conversation about the deal's financing, regulatory odds, and the $7 billion backstop. The political motive to control CNN and likely editorial shifts get debated. Discussions also cover which Warner assets really matter, whether Netflix benefits from walking away, and how regulators might respond.
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CNN Is A Political Asset More Than A Financial One
- CNN was the political prize driving interest more than its financial value.
- Jonathan V. Last and others note Trump cares about CNN despite it being a small financial asset inside Warner Bros Discovery.
Acquisition Creates Very High Leverage Risk
- The combined company would carry extreme leverage making the acquisition financially risky.
- Catherine Rampell cites Paramount/Skydance's existing $10B debt and says leverage could jump to ~6–7x after a ~$111B purchase.
Trump Explicitly Pushed For CNN In The Deal
- Sam Stein plays Trump's public comments pressing that CNN be included or sold separately.
- Trump told the White House crowd CNN had been 'run into the ground' and should be guaranteed in any deal or sold.