Overview
- Democratic senators asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to step aside from the Justice Department’s review, pointing to her ethics agreement through Feb. 4, 2026 and Ballard Partners’ work for both bidders.
- DOJ has indicated Bondi would lead the review with antitrust chief Gail Slater, and a spokesperson said officials follow guidance from career ethics experts.
- Warner Bros. Discovery told investors it remains committed to its signed asset sale to Netflix and said the regulatory review process has begun.
- Paramount Skydance is pursuing a $30-per-share all-cash hostile tender for the entire company after WBD’s board called the offer inferior to the Netflix deal.
- Concerns about politicization grew after President Trump said he would be involved and suggested CNN be sold, with lawmakers also flagging reports of Middle Eastern sovereign fund financing that could prompt national-security scrutiny.