Channels with Peter Kafka Brian Stelter on the Trump Media Shakedown Era
Feb 25, 2026
Brian Stelter, CNN chief media analyst and author of Reliable Sources, walks through how Trump is shaping big media deals and the Netflix/Paramount scramble for Warner Bros. Discovery. He unpacks presidential influence on M&A, pressure on broadcasters and late-night, fears of self-censorship in newsrooms, and the strange bedfellows of lawsuits and media power.
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M&A Runs Through The Oval Office
- Donald Trump treats major M&A as something that "runs through the Oval Office," making presidential views a material factor in deals.
- Brian Stelter points to Trump's repeated public interventions and meetings (e.g., David Ellison at the White House) as evidence the president is actively involved.
Trump Wants CNN Sold
- Trump's priority in the WBD fight is clear: he wants CNN sold and is focused on who would control it post-deal.
- Stelter cites Trump's December comment that "it's imperative that CNN be sold" and links that to why he might prefer a Paramount outcome.
Right Wing Narratives Drive Netflix Attacks
- Right-wing research and activists have pushed narratives about Netflix's programming being "woke," which Trump has sometimes amplified selectively.
- Stelter traces the Netflix attacks to a Heritage Foundation offshoot and Laura Loomer's amplification around Susan Rice.