Pod Save America Trump Joins the Streaming Wars
141 snips
Dec 9, 2025 
Lucas Shaw, managing editor at Bloomberg News and author of the Screentime newsletter, dives into the fierce bidding war for Warner Brothers Discovery involving Netflix and Paramount. He reveals how President Trump might influence this Hollywood showdown, especially with ties to key figures like Larry Ellison and Jared Kushner. Shaw also breaks down the implications of the merger for the future of entertainment and discusses the intersection of politics and media in shaping industry dynamics.
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Tariffs, Then Bailouts, Repeat
- The hosts describe Trump's bailout for farmers as a recurring pattern of tariffs followed by taxpayer-funded relief.
- They cite past and current bailouts and note payments often flow to the largest farms.
ACA Extensions Falter From GOP Division
- Republicans are politicizing the ACA subsidy extension, leaving millions exposed to premium spikes.
- Internal GOP divisions, ideology, and leadership risk make bipartisan fixes unlikely before January 1.
Presidential Influence, Not Sole Authority
- The White House can't unilaterally approve or block mergers but presidential influence matters through DOJ and agency posture.
- Trump can use the process as leverage to extract concessions or curry favor.
