President Donald Trump said Monday he is considering legal action against 2026 Grammy Awards show host Trevor Noah over a jab the comedian directed at the president and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 
While hosting the annual awards show on Sunday, Noah joked that Trump wanted Greenland because he could no longer visit Epstein’s private Caribbean island. In a Truth Social post shortly after the broadcast, Trump said he would be sending his lawyers after Noah. 
“The Grammy Awards are the WORST, virtually unwatchable! CBS is lucky not to have this garbage litter their airwaves any longer. The host, Trevor Noah, whoever he may be, is almost as bad as Jimmy Kimmel at the Low Ratings Academy Awards,” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115999513470647838">wrote</a>. “Noah said, INCORRECTLY about me, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island. WRONG!!!”
Earlier in the broadcast, while announcing the song of the year award, Noah joked that it was “a Grammy that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland,&#8221; adding that &#8220;because Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton.”
Trump, whose Justice Department <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/justice-department-releases-millions-more-epstein-files?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Justice+Department+Releases+Millions+More+Epstein+Files">released</a> millions more Epstein-related files Friday, has repeatedly said he has never been to Little Saint James, the island where Epstein was accused of sex trafficking young girls. 
“I can’t speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and until tonight’s false and defamatory statement, have never been accused of being there, not even by the Fake News Media,” Trump continued. “Noah, a total loser, better get his facts straight, and get them straight fast. It looks like I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C., and suing him for plenty$. Ask Little George Slopadopolus, and others, how that all worked out. Also ask CBS! Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!”
In December 2024, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-wins-millions-in-defamation-suit-against-abc-news-george-stephanopoulos">won</a> a $15 million defamation settlement from ABC News and George Stephanopoulos after Stephanopoulos incorrectly said the president had been found “liable for rape.” Trump also secured a $16 million settlement from CBS News after suing the network over the editing of an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. 
Last year, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-files-massive-libel-lawsuit-against-wall-street-journal-over-fake-epstein-letter">filed</a> a $10 billion libel lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal after it published an article claiming he wrote a 2003 birthday letter to Epstein that included a sketch of a naked woman.
Wild claims about Trump and Epstein circulated on social media Friday after the release of three million more Epstein-related documents. The Justice Department said many of the claims originated in the lead-up to the 2020 election and have no credibility.
“Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election,” the DOJ said. “To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they have a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already.”

MixCollage-02-Feb-2026-07-20-AM-5203

Trump Rips ‘Total Loser’ Trevor Noah Over Grammys Epstein Joke, Threatens Lawsuit

Department of Justice

Donald Trump

Executive

Grammy Awards

Jeffrey Epstein

Politics

Trevor Noah

“The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin” is a masterpiece for so many reasons, including casting, storyline, scope, and scale. But some of the most impressive elements of the newly launched DailyWire+ fantasy series are the heart-pounding stunts.
From idyllic European landscapes to sets filled with horses, armor, and elements of the ancient world, the adaptation of Stephen R. Lawhead’s Arthurian saga is done at a scale rarely attempted in modern television. The result is a show that’s truly extraordinary to behold.
In keeping with the scope of the production, The Daily Wire launched two real-world stunts designed to reflect the overall feeling of “The Pendragon Cycle,” bringing its imagery and themes into public spaces across multiple cities.
The first stunt centers on one of the most striking symbols: the bull.
Across Amsterdam, Spain’s Rotunda, New York City, Durham, and Miami, models posed alongside prominent bull statues, creating visual representations of Pendragon’s ancient symbolism.
The global bull statue stunt reflects the show’s commitment to scale. Much like the production’s emphasis on practical locations and real environments, the stunt relies on a physical presence rather than CGI. There’s a reason why several “Pendragon Cycle” cast members praised the authenticity of the series and noted how it contributed hugely to their performances.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="The Pendragon Cycle Runs to the Bulls" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dISOTJmZ5cY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
A video documenting the bull statue stunt is available now. There’s also a second stunt that takes the immersion one step further.
In Miami, The Daily Wire installed an interactive AR booth that allows participants to see themselves transformed into characters from “The Pendragon Cycle.” The experience converts real-world photos into Pendragon-inspired portraits, placing fans directly into the series.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="The Pendragon Cycle Makes Downtown Miami Legendary" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p2zFTAi4i6I?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Those images aren’t just on social media. They’re also being displayed on Miami billboards, turning everyday participants into part of the show’s hype.
Together, these stunts reinforce that “The Pendragon Cycle” is a fantasy series unafraid to be bold and present in the real world. In an entertainment landscape often defined by run-of-the-mill premieres, “The Pendragon Cycle” chose to create a spectacle, and it chose well.
Watch the 7-part series “The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin” now — only on DailyWire+. New episodes every Thursday.

Pendragon-Stunt-StillsThumb-w_odwlogo

How ‘The Pendragon Cycle’ Took Its Epic Scale Beyond The Screen

DailyWire+

Entertainment

Television

The Pendragon Cycle

U.S.

The newest “Star Trek” series is apparently so awful that it got the original Captain Kirk to see eye-to-eye with one of President Donald Trump’s closest advisers.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Homeland Security adviser Stephen Miller responded to a brief clip of the new Paramount+ series &#8220;Star Trek: Starfleet Academy&#8221; in an X post, arguing that the only way for producers to save the show would be to give full creative control to actor William Shatner.
&#8220;Tragic. But it’s not too late for @paramountplus to save the franchise,&#8221; Miller said. &#8220;Step 1: Reconcile with @WilliamShatner and give him total creative control.&#8221;
Shatner <a href="https://x.com/WilliamShatner/status/2013275829464383866">responded</a> several days later, saying, &#8220;I am so on the same page with you @StephenM&lt;! The fact that they have not [cured] Hyperopia by the 32rd Century is an abysmal oversight on the writers!&#8221;
&#8220;Also @paramountplus needs to up the budget because I’m sure that a well oiled organization like Starfleet in the distant future could afford more than one pair of glasses for at least this hyperopic bridge crew,&#8221; Shatner continued, adding, &#8220;Do they pass the glasses around while piloting the ship? Shame on the line producers! That is what you meant, right?&#8221;
&#8220;I am ready to assume command of the series! Call me!&#8221; he concluded.
Shatner was written out of the franchise in the 1994 film &#8220;Star Trek: Generations&#8221; – a move he&#8217;s said was made because producers wanted to move on to solely using the &#8220;Star Trek: The Next Generation&#8221; cast led by British actor Patrick Stewart&#8217;s Jean-Luc Picard.
Shatner said that he was told before filming began for &#8220;Generations&#8221; that Captain Kirk was going to die in the film whether he participated or not – and so he opted for an onscreen death that allowed him a heroic exit.
&#8220;So the producer said, &#8216;We&#8217;re going to kill Kirk because we think that The Next Generation will make more money at the box office,'&#8221; he explained.
Three more movies followed with &#8220;The Next Generation&#8221; cast, and the series has since rebooted with three more films, starring Chris Pine as Captain Kirk.

William Shatner

Paramount’s ‘Star Trek’ Series Is So Awful It Brought William Shatner And Stephen Miller Together

Paramount

Star Trek

Stephen Miller

Wokeness

&#8220;Landman&#8221; is arguably one of the most talked-about shows right now in the United States, but it&#8217;s not getting the recognition from Hollywood. The show&#8217;s leading man, Billy Bob Thornton, said politics are to blame for show creator Taylor Sheridan&#8217;s snubs.
&#8220;I think a lot of it’s political. I really do. I think some people assume Taylor is some sort of right-wing guy or something, and he’s really not,&#8221; Thornton said in an interview with Variety.
Sheridan is a hit maker, and there is no arguing that. The prolific storyteller is the brains behind &#8220;Yellowstone,&#8221; &#8220;Mayor of Kingstown,&#8221; and &#8220;Tulsa King,&#8221; just to name a few. But his awards don&#8217;t match his catalog. &#8220;Yellowstone&#8221; only received one Golden Globe nomination and that was for Kevin Costner, which the actor won. Thornton was up for a Golden Globe this year for his role in &#8220;Landman,&#8221; but didn&#8217;t win.
The cast of &#8220;Landman&#8221; skipped the Emmys last fall because the show received zero nominations. During the five-year &#8220;Yellowstone&#8221; run, the show had one Emmy nomination for production design.
Sheridan&#8217;s work isn&#8217;t represented on entertainment&#8217;s biggest stages. Thornton went to explain he thinks critics have the wrong idea about Sheridan&#8217;s work.
&#8220;Even with this show being about the oil business, he just shows you what it’s like. He’s not saying &#8216;Rah, rah, rah for oil.&#8217; It’s just the people who work in this business or who are affected by this business, the people on the periphery and within the families in the business; this is what happens. These are the kinds of problems and joys and triumphs and whatever happens in this world. It’s a world of gambling, and you never know what’s going to happen. But I think people got the wrong idea about that,&#8221; Thornton said.
Sheridan has pushed back on the narrative that his shows lean a certain way on the political spectrum. In 2022, he told The Atlantic he laughs when &#8220;Yellowstone&#8221; is referred to as a &#8220;Republican show.&#8221;
&#8220;The show’s talking about the displacement of Native Americans and the way Native American women were treated and about corporate greed and the gentrification of the West, and land-grabbing. &#8230; That’s a red-state show?&#8221; Sheridan asked.
After years in the business, Thornton knows awards aren&#8217;t everything. The Oscar-winner said acting isn&#8217;t a sport, so the results aren&#8217;t always objective.
&#8220;If you run the 100-meter dash in the Olympics and you break the tape first, you win. There’s no question about it. Everybody saw it. How do you say in the artistic world who won? It’s an intangible thing. Then people say, &#8216;Well, any one of the nominees besides me could have won this. They’re all wonderful actors.&#8217; Not only them, some other actors in the audience who weren’t nominated, some other ones who aren’t even at the show, some other ones who aren’t even known by people have done an amazing job,&#8221; Thornton added.
Thankfully for Thornton, he is over the allure of more trophies. The 70-year-old finds more satisfaction speaking truth.
&#8220;I’m too damn old now to worry about stuff like that. I got enough awards. I’m good. I’m sure the people that I work for or work with me don’t like to hear that. But I guess when I said I’m too damn old, I guess I’m too damn old to not tell the truth,&#8221; Thornton said.

Credit: Sarah Anne Cohen/Gerald Matzka/Getty Images for Paramount+

Billy Bob Thornton Says Taylor Sheridan Gets No Respect Because Of Politics

Enterainment

Hollywood

Landman

Taylor Sheridan

Late-night host and chronic Trump Derangement Syndrome sufferer Jimmy Kimmel weighed in on the chaos that erupted in Minneapolis on Wednesday after an ICE agent fatally shot a woman who federal officials say tried to plow him over with her car.
The comedian held up a red T-shirt during his monologue, emblazoned with the words “Donald J. Trump Is Gonna Kill You,” and suggested that this was the “new slogan” for MAGA supporters. Kimmel went on to disparage Trump’s response to the shooting, saying, “This maniac, he’s not just killing people overseas.” 
“An ICE agent today shot and killed an unarmed 37-year-old woman during an ICE operation in Minneapolis. They’re there under the guise of protecting us,” he went on. Kimmel then shared the president’s response on social media and disagreed with Trump’s assessment that the woman was acting in a “disorderly” manner and “obstructing and resisting.”
“Now, I saw this video,” Kimmel said. “It didn’t look like anybody got run over to me. It looked to me like a woman got scared, tried to drive away, and they shot her.” He added that it will be “for the court to decide,” but went on to share a clip of Minneapolis Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey telling ICE to “get the f*ck out&#8221; of the city.
“That’s the shirt I want to see,” Kimmel said, prompting someone to throw him another shirt with those words on it. “Get the f*** out of all of these cities,” the late-night host show repeated.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Trump’s Venezuela Money Grab, Problem Falling Asleep in Meetings &amp; Unarmed Woman Killed by ICE" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x03ZxnzfgNA?start=425&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Video from Wednesday&#8217;s fatal shooting shows ICE agents approach the woman’s car, with one agent attempting to open the driver’s side door. Another agent approached the front of the vehicle, and the woman began to drive toward him before shots were fired. The agent near the front of the vehicle appeared to be clipped by the car.
Minneapolis schools <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-ice-agent-fatally-shoots-agitator-as-chaos-erupts-in-minneapolis?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+Minneapolis+Schools+Close+As+City+Braces+For+Anti-ICE+Protests+After+Shooting">are closed Thursday</a> and Friday due to safety concerns. Leftist leaders insist killing was unjustified, while conservatives argue that her actions led to her death.
“The gaslighting is off the charts and I&#8217;m having none of it. This guy was doing his job,” Vice President JD Vance <a href="https://x.com/JDVance/status/2009255599268130914">posted</a> on X on Thursday morning. “She tried to stop him from doing his job. When he approached her car, she tried to hit him.”
“A tragedy? Absolutely. But a tragedy that falls on this woman and all of the radicals who teach people that immigration is the one type of law that rioters are allowed to interfere with,” he added.

Jimmy Kimmel

Jimmy Kimmel Politicizes ICE Shooting, Debuts ‘Trump Is Gonna Kill You’ T-Shirt

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Minneapolis

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison has stepped in to personally guarantee $40.4 billion in Paramount Skydance&#8217;s latest effort to pry Warner Bros Discovery away from selling its prized Hollywood assets to streaming giant Netflix.
The guarantee, disclosed in a filing on Monday, seeks to allay the Warner Bros board&#8217;s doubts about Paramount&#8217;s financing and the lack of full Ellison family backing, which had pushed it toward the competing cash-and-stock offer from Netflix.
Here&#8217;s what analysts and market experts are saying about the latest development:
SETH SHAFER, PRINCIPAL ANALYST AT S&amp;P GLOBAL, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
&#8220;I don&#8217;t think the revised bid from Paramount Skydance significantly alters the current status quo. I doubt many WBD shareholders that are on the fence or planning to vote &#8216;no&#8217; were holding out due to issues the revised bid addresses such as a guarantee from Larry Ellison on the funding front.&#8221;
&#8220;We&#8217;re still likely months away from a shareholder vote on the Paramount offer and the planned closing date of the deal agreed with Netflix would be in the second half of 2026. There will likely be many more twists and turns ahead and both Paramount and Netflix have a chance.&#8221;
MICHAEL PACHTER, MANAGING DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC PLANNING AT WEDBUSH SECURITIES, CALIFORNIA
&#8220;The WBD Board rejected the last offer because they thought it was speculative and revocable. This one makes the offer irrevocable and directly addresses the Board&#8217;s concern.
&#8220;If the board is rational and ethical (a big if), it must accept the offer, since the $108 billion PSKY offered is more than the $83 billion offered by Netflix. We;ll see what the Board does, but PSKY is right to make this offer directly to them.&#8221;
&#8220;Yes, Paramount has a chance to win, approaching 100%&#8221;
ROSS BENES, SENIOR ANALYST AT EMARKETER, NEW YORK
&#8220;The updated offer from Paramount doesn&#8217;t change the fact that WBD&#8217;s executives prefer Netflix. The new offer does make Paramount&#8217;s case more compelling to the board and shareholders. But WBD executives will keep fighting to maintain the Netflix deal as long as they can. This battle will be prolonged.&#8221;
PAOLO PESCATORE, ANALYST AT PP FORESIGHT, LONDON
&#8220;Paramount remains in a precarious position and is making a last-ditch effort to avoid being left out in the shadows. It cannot afford to lose out and be a weaker player compared to its stronger rivals.&#8221;
&#8220;The improved offer is a step in the right direction, but it is unlikely to be enough.&#8221;
REUBEN MILLER, HEAD OF ANTITRUST AT DEALREPORTER, WASHINGTON DC
&#8220;The financing from the sovereign wealth funds opens a regulatory box that needs to be checked. Having these players involved will bring another dimension of scrutiny, as well as a big diplomatic question &#8211; how far will using money from Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds bring them into partnership with one America&#8217;s cultural touchstones?&#8221;
&#8220;Paramount has claimed that any influence from the funds will be neutralised due to their lack of voting rights, but there are other questions at play which make the picture far murkier. Notably, the access of these funds, as key stakeholders, to WBD and Paramount&#8217;s data, as well as the wider diplomatic implications of foreign bodies having a vested stake in such a huge entity in U.S. media production and consumption.&#8221;
(Reporting by Kritika Lamba in Bengaluru, compiled by Arpan Varghese; Editing by Anil D&#8217;Silva)

In this photo illustration, the Warner Bros Discovery logo

Ellison Steps In With Personal Guarantee As Paramount Fights For Warner Bros

Antitrust

Movies

Netflix

Warner Bros

In a major break with tradition, the Oscars will leave ABC, its broadcast home since 1976, and move to YouTube in 2029 as the Academy tries to court younger and more global audiences.
The Wednesday announcement surprised the entertainment industry and marked a turning point in how people consume content and how they will continue to do so. Disney-owned ABC will continue to air the show until its 100th anniversary in 2028, per <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/oscars-bolt-from-abc-to-youtube-starting-in-2029-1236453188/">The Hollywood Reporter</a>.
YouTube will stream the Academy Awards ceremony and related content on its platform, which boasts two billion users worldwide. This includes red-carpet pre-shows, behind-the-scenes footage, nominee announcements, and the Governors Awards, where honorary Oscars are presented.
Neal Mohan, CEO of the streaming giant, said in a statement Wednesday: “The Oscars are one of our essential cultural institutions, honoring excellence in storytelling and artistry. Partnering with the Academy to bring this celebration of art and entertainment to viewers all over the world will inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy.”
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ABC also issued a statement, saying, “ABC has been the proud home to The Oscars for more than half a century. We look forward to the next three telecasts, including the show’s centennial celebration in 2028, and wish the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continued success.”
The Oscars have suffered a steep, decades-long ratings decline, exacerbated by a major drop during the pandemic, with only occasional minor upticks since. Viewership was up 1% this year, reaching 19.7 million viewers. 
While this year’s host, Conan O’Brien, mostly steered clear of politics, the Oscars are known for being a leftist lovefest, which has drawn criticism from the potential audience. This includes the show itself and the projects that get nominated. O’Brien was invited back to host in 2026.
This year, the anti-Israel film “No Other Land” won Best Documentary Feature. Daily Wire podcast host Matt Walsh had his runaway hit documentary, “Am I Racist?” snubbed by the Academy in 2024 despite its massive popularity and cultural impact.

Oscars

Oscars Trade ABC For YouTube In 2029, Because Fewer People Are Watching Anyway

The Oscars Ditch ABC, Will Air Exclusively On YouTube Beginning In 2029

Academy Awards

YouTube

The newest episode of Taylor Sheridan’s show “Landman” includes a dig mocking “The View,” which is getting a lot of attention on social media.
During Episode 5 of the second season, which is titled “The Pirate Dinner,” Tommy (Billy Bob Thornton) suggests that his father, T.L. (Sam Elliott), should waste time at home by watching a TV show. Tommy suggests “The View” as an option of what to put on.
T.L. responds that he’s not familiar with the program, prompting Tommy to give a brief synopsis.
“A bunch of p****ed-off millionaires bitching about how much they hate millionaires and Trump and men and you and me and everybody else they got a bee up their a** about. It’s pretty funny,” he says.
T.L. responds, “Don’t sound funny.”
“Well, it ain’t joke funny, it’s like ‘fart in church’ funny, you know what I mean?” Tommy answers.
T.L. replies, “That don’t sound funny, either,” to which Tommy quips, “Well, it depends on your proximity to the fart.”
Some commenters noted it was an interesting scene because “Landman” doesn’t usually include references to real-life pop culture. They also pointed out how Thornton was on “The View” in 2024 to promote the series.
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“The world is healing,” one response <a href="https://x.com/Variety/status/2000285952544325992">said</a>.
“Couldn’t have put it better,” another commenter <a href="https://x.com/WilliCaroline/status/2000315650074726541">agreed</a>.
“Think he summed it up pretty well,” <a href="https://x.com/Variety/status/2000285952544325992">echoed</a> a third.
The Paramount Plus show “Landman” follows Tommy, a crisis manager in West Texas, as he navigates the world of the oil and gas industry and the conflicts that arise from it. Sheridan is great at making hit shows, as evidenced in part by the enormously popular “Yellowstone” and subsequent spinoffs.
While plenty of fans attempted to prove “Yellowstone” promoted conservative values, Sheridan <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/yellowstone-creator-taylor-sheridan-laughs-at-the-idea-of-series-being-a-red-state-show">pushed back</a>, saying that was never his intention.
“They refer to it as ‘the conservative show’ or ‘the Republican show’ or ‘the red-state Game of Thrones,’ ” Sheridan said of “Yellowstone” in 2022.
“And I just sit back laughing. I’m like, ‘Really?’ The show’s talking about the displacement of Native Americans and the way Native American women were treated and about corporate greed and the gentrification of the West, and land-grabbing. That’s a red-state show?”

Taylor Sheridan Show ‘Landman’ Mocks ‘The View’: ‘Bunch Of P***ed Off Millionaires’

Taylor Sheridan Show 'Landman' Mocks 'The View': 'Bunch Of P***ed Off Millionaires'

The View

Some members of Congress on Friday deemed Netflix&#8217;s $82 billion proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery&#8217;s studios and streaming unit an antitrust &#8220;nightmare&#8221; for consumers and creatives, while the company touted the deal as driving value for viewers, workers and shareholders.
Netflix said the deal would create jobs and give its 300 million subscribers &#8220;more bang for their buck&#8221; by adding content at a time when President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration is focused on lowering prices.
Nevertheless, Republicans in Congress have warned of potential antitrust problems with Netflix absorbing HBO Max and Warner Bros&#8217; content rights. Democrats including U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren also criticized the transaction.
Warren said the deal &#8220;would create one massive media giant with control of close to half of the streaming market — threatening to force Americans into higher subscription prices and fewer choices over what and how they watch, while putting American workers at risk.&#8221;
Both Warren and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, who co-chairs the House Monopoly Busters Caucus, called the deal a &#8220;nightmare.&#8221;
&#8220;It would mean more price hikes, ads, &amp; cookie cutter content, less creative control for artists, and lower pay for workers,&#8221; she said in a post on social media site X.
Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, said the &#8220;proposed deal, and any other, should be closely scrutinized.&#8221;
While Netflix won the bidding war for Warner Bros studio and streaming assets, it has been the political underdog compared with David Ellison-led Paramount Skydance, which has close ties with the Trump administration.
Paramount is considering making an alternative takeover offer directly to Warner Bros shareholders, who have yet to vote on the Netflix deal, CNBC reported on Friday. Reuters could not verify the report.
As the process played out, Republicans in Congress warned that a Netflix acquisition would reduce choice for consumers and give Netflix an unacceptably high share of the streaming market.
On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican who leads the antitrust committee, said a Netflix buy of Warner Bros Discovery&#8217;s streaming assets &#8220;should send alarm to antitrust enforcers around the world.&#8221;
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&#8220;Netflix built a great service, but increasing Netflix’s dominance this way would mean the end of the Golden Age of streaming for content creators and consumers,&#8221; Lee wrote in a post on X.
Last month, Republican Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas and Representative Darrell Issa of California also called on U.S. antitrust enforcers to scrutinize any possible Netflix-Warner Bros deal, saying it could lead to fewer movies in theaters.
The deal, given its size alone, is likely to face significant antitrust review by the U.S. Department of Justice, and also because it would eliminate competition between HBO Max, which has 128 million subscribers, and Netflix.
Netflix could counter by pointing to shifting media habits and the fact that Alphabet&#8217;s YouTube has recently been the most popular way for Americans to watch TV.
&#8220;We&#8217;re highly confident in the regulatory process. This deal is pro-consumer, pro-innovation, pro-worker, it&#8217;s pro-creator, it&#8217;s pro-growth,&#8221; Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos said after the deal was announced.
A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment on Friday.
George Hay, a law professor at Cornell University, said the review will depend on how much of the content market Netflix would control after the deal, and whether or not it could be addressed by a partial sale of some assets.
&#8220;Warner Bros has a lot of content already in the can. So you can imagine spinning off some of that content to another supplier, maybe a Paramount or something like that as a way of ameliorating or diminishing the market share,&#8221; he said.
The deal will likely trigger intense antitrust scrutiny in the European Union due to the combined companies&#8217; market share. UNIC, the EU trade body representing cinema trade associations and operators covering 39 territories, said it will share its concerns and opposition to the deal with competition authorities.
The DOJ antitrust unit is led by Gail Slater, a former executive at Fox Corp and Roku. She was later an economic advisor to Vice President JD Vance.
Last month, Slater signaled that the &#8220;main thing&#8221; for her office is focusing on the average American&#8217;s biggest expenditures. Housing, transportation, food, healthcare and utilities lead the list, with entertainment in fifth place at 5% of household spending, according to a pie chart Slater posted on X.
But those entertainment costs have been rising. Netflix raised the price of its own standard ad-free plan by $2.50 to $17.99 a month in January. HBO Max followed suit, raising its ad-free service price last month by $1.50 to $18.49.
Trump has a history of getting involved in big media mergers and weighing in on one side. He actively lobbied the DOJ in his first term to stop AT&amp;T&#8217;s $85 billion purchase of Time-Warner, voicing concerns about media concentration and his own displeasure with Time-Warner&#8217;s CNN cable network. AT&amp;T ultimately won in court in 2018 and 2019.
Warren warned on Friday against political favoritism tainting the deal review process.
&#8220;The Justice Department must enforce our nation’s anti-monopoly laws fairly and transparently — not use the Warner Bros. deal review to invite influence-peddling and bribery,&#8221; she said.
(Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York, Foo Yun Chee in Brussels and Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; editing by Chris Sanders, Franklin Paul, Nick Zieminski and Chizu Nomiyama and David Gregorio)

Netflix-Warner Bros Deal Faces Bipartisan Political Pushback

Business

President Donald Trump said on Friday he would likely sue the BBC next week for as much as $5 billion after the British broadcaster admitted it wrongly edited a video of a speech he gave but insisted there was no legal basis for his claim.
The British Broadcasting Corporation has been plunged into its biggest crisis in decades after two senior leaders resigned following accusations of bias, including over the editing of Trump&#8217;s speech on January 6, 2021, when his supporters entered the Capitol.
Trump&#8217;s lawyers had initially set a Friday deadline for the BBC to retract its documentary or face a lawsuit for &#8220;no less&#8221; than $1 billion. They also demanded an apology and compensation for what they called &#8220;overwhelming reputational and financial harm,&#8221; according to a letter seen by Reuters.
The BBC, which has admitted its editing of Trump&#8217;s remarks was an &#8220;error of judgement,&#8221; sent a personal apology to Trump on Thursday but said it would not rebroadcast the documentary and rejected the defamation claim.
&#8220;We&#8217;ll sue them for anywhere between $1 billion and $5 billion, probably sometime next week,&#8221; Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he headed to Florida for the weekend.
&#8220;I think I have to do that, I mean, they&#8217;ve even admitted that they cheated,&#8221; he said. &#8220;They changed the words coming out of my mouth.&#8221;
Trump said he had not spoken with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with whom he has built a solid relationship, about the issue, but that he planned to call him this weekend. He said Starmer had tried to reach him, and was &#8220;very embarrassed&#8221; by the incident.
The documentary, which aired on the BBC&#8217;s flagship &#8220;Panorama&#8221; news program, spliced together three video excerpts from Trump&#8217;s speech, creating the impression he was inciting the January 6, 2021, riot. His lawyers said this was &#8220;false and defamatory.&#8221;
In an interview with British right-leaning TV channel GB News, Trump said the edit was &#8220;impossible to believe&#8221; and compared it to election interference.
&#8220;I made a beautiful statement, and they made it into a not beautiful statement,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Fake news was a great term, except it&#8217;s not strong enough. This is beyond fake, this is corrupt.&#8221;
Trump said the BBC&#8217;s apology was not enough.
&#8220;When you say it&#8217;s unintentional, I guess if it&#8217;s unintentional, you don&#8217;t apologize,&#8221; he said.
BBC Chair Samir Shah sent a personal apology on Thursday to the White House and told lawmakers the edit was &#8220;an error of judgement.&#8221; The following day, British culture minister Lisa Nandy said the apology was &#8220;right and necessary.&#8221;
The broadcaster said it had no plans to rebroadcast the documentary and was investigating fresh allegations about editing practices that included the speech on another program, &#8220;Newsnight.&#8221;
The dispute has escalated into the broadcaster&#8217;s most serious crisis in decades. Its director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness quit this week over the controversy amid allegations of bias and editing failures.
Starmer told parliament on Wednesday he supported a &#8220;strong and independent BBC&#8221; but said the broadcaster must &#8220;get its house in order.&#8221;
&#8220;Some would rather the BBC didn&#8217;t exist. Some of them are sitting up there,&#8221; he said, pointing to opposition Conservative lawmakers.
&#8220;I’m not one of them. In an age of disinformation, the argument for an impartial British news service is stronger than ever.&#8221;
The BBC, founded in 1922 and funded mainly by a compulsory license fee, faces scrutiny over whether public money could be used to settle Trump&#8217;s claim.
Former media minister John Whittingdale said there would be &#8220;real anger&#8221; if license payers&#8217; money covered damages.
(Reporting by Nandita Bose and Andrea Shalal in Washington, Costas Pitas in Los Angeles and Sam Tabahriti in London; editing by Leslie Adler, Tom Hogue and Shri Navaratnam)

Trump Says He’ll Likely Sue BBC For Up To $5 Billion Over Edited Speech

Courts

Media

Media Bias

World

Late-night host Stephen Colbert just admitted that shows like his are meant to instruct viewers on how to think.
The host of “The Late Show” was attempting to defend the existence of the late-night genre during a recent <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/stephen-colbert-gq-cover-story-interview-men-of-the-year-2025">interview</a> with GQ.
While speaking on the topic, Colbert said, “Well, we are like your friend who at the end of the day paid attention to what happened today more than you did. And then we curate that back to you at the end of the day.”
“But it’s really more about how we feel about—or I, as the person who is the vehicle for that—how we felt about today. All those things that might’ve made you confused, angry, or anxious or happy or surprised or something like that,” Colbert added. “I share those feelings with the audience and they laugh or they don’t laugh. And there’s a sense of community there.”
The host claimed that “these late-night shows are for millions of Americans a third space to come together and think about the day.”
Social media commenters couldn’t help but notice that Colbert was basically admitting to influencing his audience into certain reactions.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 NEW: Stephen Colbert Says the Role of Late Night TV is to Tell You How to Think About the News
“We&#8217;re like your friend who … paid attention to the news more than you did … and then we curate that back to you at the end of the day. But it&#8217;s really more about how we feel… <a href="https://t.co/w2PNiOL7Gz">pic.twitter.com/w2PNiOL7Gz</a>
— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheChiefNerd/status/1986765425246441743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Amazing admission. Basically late night TV is [propaganda.] They&#8217;ll tell you what to think,” one X user <a href="https://x.com/TheChiefNerd/status/1986765425246441743">marveled</a>.
“He said the quiet part out loud,” another person <a href="https://x.com/TheChiefNerd/status/1986767863701524575">wrote</a>.
“Hence his decline into irrelevance. Anyone taking guidance from this narcissist needs to seek immediate help,” a third person <a href="https://x.com/HawkeyePilot/status/1986774581751730592">chimed in</a>.
CBS announced in July that it was canceling “The Late Show” after the upcoming season, which inspired outsized reactions from the Left. The network described the move as a “purely financial decision.” A report stated that the program was losing $40 million annually.
Colbert went off on an expletive-laced tirade during his first monologue following the announcement, blasting President Donald Trump and CBS. Colbert mentioned how the network’s parent company, Paramount Global, paid Trump a $16 million settlement after being accused of election interference.
Other late-night mainstays such as Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon came to Colbert’s defense, saying the reports claiming that “The Late Show” was losing tens of millions were “nonsensical.”

Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert Says Quiet Part Out Loud, Admits Late-Night TV Tells You How To Think

Propaganda

The activist group GLAAD is sounding the alarm that LGBT character representation on television will drop by more than 40% next season.
The organization’s “Where We Are On TV” <a href="https://glaad.org/whereweareontv24/">report</a> showed that, despite the number of LGBT characters increasing last season to 489, 41% of those characters will not return due to series cancellations or endings, limited series appearances, or being killed off. 
“There is a definite concern that it’s not going to bounce back next year and see a growth just in terms of what’s been announced up to this moment,” GLAAD rep Megan Townsend <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/glaad-where-we-are-on-tv-2024-2025-report-findings/">told</a> TheWrap. “We have not had a ton of announcements or news about new series and returning series within the research period that would make up for some of these losses.”
Townsend also <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/glaad-study-gay-characters-on-television-where-we-are-on-tv-1236415828/">insisted</a> that “inclusive stories resonate with audiences and drive business success” and that “over 84 million American adults say they’re more likely to watch a TV show if it features at least one LGBTQ character.”
Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO and President of GLAAD, was also unhappy with the findings.
“Nearly a third of non-LGBTQ+ Americans say that LGBTQ+-inclusive media has changed their perception of our community,” she said. 
“Today, we are at a critical juncture, with hateful rhetoric running unchecked from politicians and news media and given a falsely amplified platform, even as the majority of this country overwhelmingly supports the LGBTQ+ community. With so many diverse, entertaining and impactful series being canceled at an alarming rate, it is imperative that networks and streamers do not back down.”
While the activists panicked, many social media commenters agreed that the LGBT characters being written off was merely a reflection of what viewers wanted.
“Call me crazy but that&#8217;s the free market. If demand isn&#8217;t there, characters and shows will be canceled,” one X user <a href="https://x.com/adamtoo__/status/1986620655903625336">said</a>. 
“If you don’t make money, you get canned,” another commenter <a href="https://x.com/knockhead/status/1986785036079661329">agreed</a>. “Not rocket science.”

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