FCC Funding Application Notes Paramount Will Be 49.5% Foreign-Owned Post-Merger
Paramount’s planned merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, which would leave the combined media giant nearly 49.5% owned by Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, is raising alarms about foreign influence over major U.S. news and entertainment outlets like CNN, HBO, and CBS. Commenters question how this aligns with “America First” political rhetoric, debate whether foreign direct investment in media should be restricted, and argue over how much power legacy cable networks still have in shaping U.S. public opinion compared with newer digital platforms.
Foreign ownership & media influence
- Many worry about nearly half of Paramount (and associated assets like CNN, CBS, HBO) ending up owned by Gulf sovereign wealth funds.
- Concerns center on potential content shifts toward the political and cultural preferences of those governments (e.g., soft-pedaling critical coverage, changing entertainment standards).
- One commenter argues media companies should have zero foreign ownership; another questions how that principle would apply to dual citizens.
“America First” rhetoric vs actions
- Multiple comments see the deal as contradicting “America First” / “MAGA” promises about jobs, domestic investment, and national control.
- Some frame the slogan as always having been a lie or mere marketing for self‑enrichment.
- Others say foreign direct investment is economically positive and not inherently at odds with such rhetoric.
US party politics and policy follow-through
- Debate over whether politicians generally keep promises:
- Some insist most try but are blocked by institutions.
- Others see pervasive bad faith and say both parties have “sold us out.”
- Strong disagreement on “both-sides” framing:
- One side argues Democrats at least try on healthcare and student debt but are blocked by Republicans and courts.
- Another emphasizes that both parties use propaganda, protect donors, and avoid obvious popular reforms (e.g., marijuana legalization).
California as governance case study
- California is used as an example in both directions:
- Critics say it shows one-party Democratic rule still produces high taxes, infrastructure failures, and housing crises.
- Defenders counter that it remains one of the world’s largest economies with major advantages (education, environment, rights), and many structural problems (like Prop 13) aren’t purely partisan.
Middle East alliances & Islamophobia
- Some note the irony that US elites eagerly partner with rich Gulf states while parts of the US electorate remain Islamophobic.
- Discussion touches on how urban/rural divides, education, and exposure to Muslims may shape attitudes, with disagreement over how strong those effects are.
Media power, cable decline & new platforms
- Several argue CNN and cable news are now niche, aging-audience outlets with limited political influence compared with YouTube, TikTok, and independent creators.
- Others respond that even diminished legacy outlets still matter for agenda-setting and election-night legitimacy.