In a stunning twist in the months-long war between Netflix and Paramount over which company would purchase Warner Bros., the streaming giant has <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/netflix-backs-out-warners-deal-paramount-win-1236516763/">bowed out</a>.
After Warner Bros. released a statement on Thursday saying that the company’s board of directors viewed Paramount’s latest offer as a “<a href="https://ir.wbd.com/news-and-events/financial-news/financial-news-details/2026/Warner-Bros--Discovery-Board-of-Directors-Determines-Revised-Proposal-from-Paramount-Skydance-Constitutes-a-Company-Superior-Proposal/default.aspx">superior proposal</a>,” and that Netflix had four days to respond, the streamer backed out of the bidding war.
&#8220;Under the terms of the Netflix merger agreement, this notice triggers a four business day period during which Netflix has the right to propose revisions to the Netflix merger agreement so that the PSKY proposal would cease to constitute a &#8216;Company Superior Proposal,'&#8221; Warner Bros. stated in their <a href="https://ir.wbd.com/news-and-events/financial-news/financial-news-details/2026/Warner-Bros--Discovery-Board-of-Directors-Determines-Revised-Proposal-from-Paramount-Skydance-Constitutes-a-Company-Superior-Proposal/default.aspx">press release</a>.
Netflix Co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters responded in a <a href="https://ir.netflix.net/investor-news-and-events/financial-releases/press-release-details/2026/Netflix-Declines-to-Raise-Offer-for-Warner-Bros-/default.aspx">statement</a> of their own.
“The transaction we negotiated would have created shareholder value with a clear path to regulatory approval. However, we’ve always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance’s latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid,” Sarandos and Peters said.
The company heads added that they believe Netflix would have taken good care of the Warner Bros. IP (intellectual property) and “strengthened the entertainment industry and preserved and created more production jobs in the U.S.”
“But this transaction was always a ‘nice to have’ at the right price, not a ‘must have’ at any price,” they concluded.
Paramount’s most recent bid raised the per-share price to $31, and featured a ticking fee, which would have paid shareholders if the deal took too long to come to fruition. Additionally, the company offered a $7 billion breakup fee, which would be paid if the deal were to fall through due to regulatory issues, and a nearly $3 billion fee that Warner Bros. owes Netflix as a result of their prior deal not materializing.
Netflix’s last offer was valued at $82.7 billion, and was aimed at purchasing Warner Bros.’ film and streaming divisions (HBO Max), as well as DC Comics. Paramount, on the other hand, would be purchasing all of Warner Bros. Discovery, including its linear and cable TV networks.
There has been much consternation in Hollywood, especially following the Disney-Fox acquisition, over the Warner Bros. bidding war, with many in the industry voicing concerns that further media consolidation would do irreparable damage to the movie and TV business, with lost jobs and fewer options for creatives.
Though neither company (Paramount or Netflix) were favored by those in the industry, Netflix was viewed with a particularly skeptical eye as some questioned the streaming giant’s commitment to the theatrical experience. Others view Paramount CEO David Ellison&#8217;s apparently close relationship with the Trump administration as a reason for pause.

Netflix

There’s A Winner In The Netflix/Paramount Bidding War

Business

Hollywood

Movies

Paramount

U.S.

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
&#8220;A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,&#8221; which aired the final episode of its first season on Sunday, has become <a href="https://variety.com/2026/tv/ratings/knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-the-pitt-season-2-viewership-1236667803/">incredibly popular</a>, even among many conservatives who are otherwise critical of George R.R. Martin’s &#8220;Game of Thrones&#8221; universe. Movie reviewer The Critical Drinker <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRAoyJ493N4">called it</a> &#8220;probably the best show on TV right now.&#8221;
Many on the Right have long accused &#8220;Game of Thrones&#8221; of being dark and nihilistic and subverting traditional notions of heroism. Prequel &#8220;A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms&#8221; lacks those flaws: Its protagonist, Dunk, is a clearly good person who sets out on a hero’s journey. While he’s not perfect, he’s strong and good-hearted. As he travels throughout the world, he meets compelling side characters, overcomes adversity and danger, and becomes a better, wiser person in the process.
As is typical for HBO, the series is brilliantly shot, acted, scored, and so forth. The story is well written, and you get a real sense of the characters even when they have limited screen time. Some of the more childish humor doesn’t land well, but my primary critique of &#8220;A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms&#8221; is a good one to have: It was too short. The show is excellent, and its message is a lot more complex than it may seem. (Warning: This article contains spoilers for Season 1 of &#8220;A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.&#8221;)
After the death of Dunk’s mentor and surrogate father, Arlan of Pennytree, Dunk decides to compete in a tournament. On his way, he meets a boy with a shaved head who calls himself Egg. Egg, innocent but suspiciously well-informed about the world, wants to squire for Dunk. Dunk, however, encounters a problem: None of the lords remember who Arlan was, let alone will vouch for Dunk’s claim to be a knight — nobody, except for Prince Baelor Targaryen, the wise, even-tempered, and honorable heir apparent to the Iron Throne. With that settled, Dunk prepares to compete.
When Baelor’s nephew Aerion attacks a puppeteer over a play, Dunk leaps to her defense. Aerion’s guards subdue Dunk, but before they can do him any harm, Egg reveals himself to be Aerion’s younger brother Aegon. Dunk now has to fight for his very life: He must find six champions to fight in a trial by combat against Aerion and his six. Unexpectedly, Baelor takes Dunk’s side over that of the rest of his family because, despite the political considerations, he’s convinced of the righteousness of Dunk’s cause. Dunk prevails, only for Baelor to be accidentally slain by a blow to the head from his own brother, Maekar, the father of Aerion and Egg. In the aftermath, Dunk agrees to take Egg on as his squire, and the two head out on the road together to future adventures.
What complicates things is that Dunk’s story may all be built on a lie. The show strongly hints Dunk was never knighted by Arlan. That means that he had no right to take Egg on as a squire, no right to compete in the tournament, and no right to demand a trial by combat. Had he not told that lie, none of the events surrounding the tournament would have happened, and Baelor and the others who died in his defense would still be alive. I did not like this theory at first because I felt it besmirched Dunk’s character and the righteousness of his cause. And in one sense, it does. But in another sense, it makes the character all the more compelling.
It shows that heroism is not the sole province of the morally unblemished. If Dunk did lie, he did the wrong thing — yet it was his moral courage that got him into trouble. Regardless of whether he was one or not, Dunk still did what any true knight should have done by defending a woman from Aerion’s cruelty. Egg did the right thing by standing by Dunk and rallying men to his side. And Baelor did the right thing by putting his life on the line to defend Dunk against Baelor&#8217;s own family.
The prince’s demise is a blow to the royal family and to the whole realm, and Dunk personally feels guilt for his part in depriving the Seven Kingdoms of what would have been a great king. And yet, Dunk doesn’t take the understandable path of wallowing in his own culpability. He does the only thing he can do: try to live his life in a way that makes Baelor’s sacrifice worth it. And the best way he can do that is to shape Baelor’s good-natured but impressionable nephew Aegon into a virtuous man.
The message of &#8220;A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms&#8220; is this: A hero is not a perfect person. A hero is an imperfect person who chooses to do the right thing anyway. In the short term, heroes are not always rewarded, no matter if you’re Baelor Targaryen or Ned Stark of &#8220;Game of Thrones.&#8221; But even so, it’s still important to do the right thing — both for its own sake and because it inspires the people watching you to follow in your footsteps. In our own fallen, imperfect world, that’s a lesson that’s both aspirational and applicable.
While George R.R. Martin is no conservative, his writing speaks to timeless human principles and nature that conservatives accept and liberals reject. &#8220;A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms&#8221; is doubtless a more traditional story than is typical for Martin. And yet, it still explores what he describes as the key theme of his work: <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/07/george-rr-martin-on-sex-fantasy-and-a-dance-with-dragons/241738">the human heart, in conflict with itself</a>. On that topic Dunk the Lunk, thick as a castle wall though he is, has a lot to teach us.
* * *
Stephan Kapustka is a writer at the American Spectator. Follow him on X <a href="https://x.com/SteveKapustka">@SteveKapustka</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” Special Screening

Hollywood Makes A Story Where Doing The Right Thing Still Matters

Culture

Entertainment

Upstream

A judge for the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) has resigned after a man with Tourette’s syndrome shouted the n-word during Sunday night’s televised ceremony, sparking backlash over how the incident was handled.
Jonte Richardson resigned from BAFTA&#8217;s emerging talent judging panel, calling the organization&#8217;s handling of the situation “utterly unforgivable,” Variety <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/awards/bafta-jury-member-steps-down-over-n-word-incident-1236671070/">reported</a>.
The controversy began when Tourette&#8217;s advocate John Davidson shouted the slur while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting the award for Best Visual Effects. Both presenters are black, and the moment drew particular criticism given the word&#8217;s history and the setting.
Davidson has said Tourette&#8217;s syndrome includes <a href="https://tourette.org/resource/understanding-coprolalia/">coprolalia</a>, a vocal tic that can involve &#8220;involuntary outburst of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks.&#8221; He and advocacy groups said the symptom was responsible for the slur shouted during the presentation. 
“I cannot and will not contribute my time, energy, and expertise to an organization that has repeatedly failed to safeguard the dignity of its black guests, members, and the black creative community,” Richardson <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bafta-jury-member-quits-jonte-richardson-tourettes-awards-1236513461/#:~:text=Jonte%20Richardson%20posted%20on%20social,By%20Lily%20Ford">said</a> in a statement.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/friendly-fire?utm_campaign=dwplus&amp;utm_content=20260224_sotu_aa_desktop&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=banner" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Watch the State of the Union with The Daily Wire! Live coverage from the nation’s capital begins at 7:45 ET.</a>
BAFTA and the BBC, which broadcast the remarks, are facing backlash for initially airing the ceremony without editing out the slur. 
Following the incident, the event host, BAFTA, and Davidson each issued apologies. Davidson said he was “deeply mortified” by what occurred. 
“You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience. Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone,&#8221; host Alan Cumming said immediately afterward.
“I can only add that I am and always have been deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning,” Davidson said in a <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/tourettes-campaigner-john-davidson-statement-apology-bafta-1236512771/">statement</a> to The Hollywood Reporter. 
Davidson said he appreciated that the audience had been warned in advance that his tics are involuntary and not reflective of his beliefs, adding that he was &#8220;heartened&#8221; by applause that followed. He said he later chose to leave the ceremony early because he was &#8220;aware of the distress&#8221; the incident had caused.  
Davidson also said he has &#8220;spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette&#8217;s community&#8221; and remains committed to promoting empathy and understanding.
In its own statement, BAFTA acknowledged that guests &#8220;heard very offensive language that carries incomparable trauma and pain for so many” and apologized for the &#8220;harm this has caused&#8221; while thanking Davidson for &#8220;his dignity and consideration.&#8221;
The U.K.-based charity Tourette’s Action also issued a statement stressing that Davidson&#8217;s remarks were involuntary.
In a statement <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVGnQbrjh2d/">posted</a> to Instagram, Tourette&#8217;s Action said it was &#8220;deeply sorry to the black community for the harm caused&#8221; while emphasizing that tics are &#8220;not a reflection of a person’s beliefs, intentions, or character.”
The organization added that people with Tourette&#8217;s might say words they do not mean or endorse because the symptoms are neurological, not intentional, and said media backlash over the incident &#8220;has been extremely saddening.&#8221;

Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo

Live Awards Show Racial Slur Ignites Firestorm And Debate Over Tourette’s

United Kingdom

World

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
As a girl dad, I was horrified by a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/two-sisters-were-abducted-by-a-man-who-groomed-them-on-roblox">recent story</a> about two girls in Florida who were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/grooming">groomed</a> online by a man they met through the gaming platform Roblox. He lured the girls into trusting him and then abducted them. Thankfully, law enforcement intervened before the worst happened. But the relief of a rescue should not blunt the warning embedded in this story.
It may be fair to direct our outrage at the platform, lax moderation, or the internet itself. But focusing only on the digital predator misses a deeper and more uncomfortable truth: Children who are guided at home are far harder to groom.
This isn’t to say the family in this case was negligent or uncaring. But if you’re a parent, the biggest thing you can do to protect your children online is not to buy new parental control software or limit their screentime. The best way to help your kids is to let them know that you’re present, you’re listening, and you’re there to provide guidance.
Our culture has lowered expectations for fathers, especially when it comes to vigilance, authority, and involvement. And when fathers retreat from those roles, children are left exposed, not just online, but everywhere.
Predators start with attention. They look for children who are bored, lonely, unsure, unsupervised, or unseen. They exploit curiosity and emotional gaps long before they exploit technology. Online platforms don’t create those vulnerabilities. They reveal them.
For decades now, we’ve told men, explicitly and implicitly, that fatherhood is unessential. Nowhere is that message reinforced more consistently than on television. The modern TV father is rarely a figure of authority or competence. He’s the lovable idiot or the well-meaning buffoon.
In Modern Family, one of the most popular sitcoms of the past two decades, patriarch Phil Dunphy is charming, enthusiastic, and affectionate, but he’s also chronically unserious. When real decisions need to be made, he’s not the one calling the shots.
Look at Homer Simpson, perhaps the most influential fictional dad in American pop culture. For generations, he’s been the butt of The Simpsons’ jokes. Sitcoms and movies treat fathers as nothing but punchlines. 
When our culture tells us fatherhood is unnecessary, we shouldn’t be surprised when real men absorb the message. You don’t have to be absent to be disengaged. You just have to believe that your presence doesn’t really matter.
An engaged father changes everything. I know what my kids are playing and watching because we talk about it. We discuss what brings them joy and what bothers them. Rather than judging their decisions, I start conversations about them. I am their content filter.
Predators rely on secrecy, isolation, and emotional manipulation to operate. When kids are seen, protected, and navigating life with their fathers, it rips the pages from that playbook.
When regular conversation and open communication between a parent and child, especially a father, is the norm, it becomes easier for kids to recognize evil. And when it’s revealed, the “I didn’t know who to tell” moment never arrives because someone has already been listening.
This is where modern parenting often goes wrong. We’ve outsourced too much responsibility to screens and software. We trust parental controls more than parental presence. We assume that because a platform markets itself as “safe,” our role has diminished. It hasn’t. It has intensified.
Fatherhood now requires engagement in spaces our fathers never had to patrol. That can feel unfamiliar. But discomfort is not an excuse for abdication. A dad doesn’t need to be a gamer to ask questions. He doesn’t need to understand every app to establish rules. He doesn’t need technical mastery to exercise authority. He needs willingness: a willingness to say no, to exert authority, and to ask questions.
One of those questions should be, “Who are you talking to?” Too many fathers fear this type of confrontation with their kids. But failing to engage opens up avenues of exploitation that far outweigh the consequences of an uncomfortable conversation. 
Children seek connection. If they aren’t finding it at home, they will find it elsewhere. The internet is not just a playground. It’s a marketplace of attention. And predators know how to sell.
Strong fatherhood fills that void before it opens.
Children are not equipped to navigate adult dangers alone, especially in a digital world designed to blur age, identity, and intent. We should absolutely demand accountability from tech companies. We should support law enforcement. We should aggressively prosecute predators. But we should also confront the cultural lie that says fathers are spectators in their children’s lives.
When fathers step up, visibly, confidently, and consistently, kids are safer — not perfectly safe, but safer.
The story of these girls should make us not only angry but also serious about supervision, involvement, and reclaiming the role of fathers as protectors. The internet didn’t create this danger. It simply exposed what happens when we pretend that presence doesn’t matter. It does. And a father’s presence matters more than he can ever know. 
* * *
Gates Garcia is the host of the YouTube show and podcast “We The People.” Follow him on Instagram and X @GatesGarciaFL.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Illustration of father and child share a tender moment on a sunny terrace with plants and solar panel

Kids Don’t Need More Online Monitoring. They Need Involved Dads.

family

Fathers

Internet

Safety

Technology

Five years after Disney+ fired Gina Carano from “The Mandalorian” for expressing her opinion via social media posts, the actress and former MMA fighter is coming back into the spotlight, literally.
Netflix <a href="https://www.netflix.com/tudum/features/ronda-rousey-gina-carano-mma-live-on-netflix">announced on Monday</a> that Carano will face off against MMA competitor Ronda Rousey in a live, professionally sanctioned fight on Saturday, May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The event marks Netflix&#8217;s first-ever mixed martial arts event and is being co-promoted by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the combat sports company co-founded by Jake Paul.
The fight will take place at featherweight, 145 lbs, inside a hexagon cage instead of the traditional UFC octagon. The format will be up to five 5-minute rounds under the Unified Rules of MMA.
Carano holds an MMA record of 7-1 with wins by submission, knockout, and decision, and her earlier Muay Thai record is 12-1-1. She has not competed since 2009. Rousey has a 12-2 record, but has not competed in the sport in a decade following a WWE career.
“Been waiting so long to announce this: Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women’s combat sport history!” Rousey <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/gina-carano-ronda-rousey-netflix-mma-fight-the-mandalorian-1236507548/">said</a> in a statement, per The Hollywood Reporter. “And we’re partnering with the fighter-first promotion MVP as well as the biggest and baddest streamer on the planet Netflix. This is for all MMA fans past, present and future. More to come… much more.”
“Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for and it has been her dream to make this fight happen between us,” Carano said. “She thanked me for opening up doors for her in her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen. This is an honor. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win and I anticipate it will not come easy, which I welcome. This is as much for Ronda and me as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community. What a time to be alive.”
This un-cancellation comes just a few short years after Carano was abruptly fired from “The Mandalorian” in February 2021 after Lucasfilm objected to her social media posts.
The firing was widely condemned by conservatives as a case of Hollywood cancel culture. Carano filed a lawsuit against Disney alleging she was wrongfully terminated for her political beliefs.
Shortly after the high-profile termination, Carano partnered with The Daily Wire for a movie deal that resulted in the feature film “Terror on the Prairie,” which premiered in June 2022.
The actress <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/yes-im-smiling-disney-settles-lawsuit-with-gina-carano-over-mandalorian-firing?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98Yes%2C+I%E2%80%99m+Smiling%E2%80%99%3A+Disney+Settles+Lawsuit+With+Gina+Carano+Over+%E2%80%98Mandalorian%E2%80%99+Firing">settled her case</a> against Disney in August 2025. &#8220;I am humbled and grateful to God for His love and grace in this outcome,” she wrote on social media at the time. “I’d like to thank you all for your unrelenting support throughout my life and career; you’ve been the heartbeat that has kept my story alive. I hope to make you proud… yes, I’m smiling.”

Gina Carano

Gina Carano Vs. Ronda Rousey: Netflix Announces First-Ever Live MMA Event

Fighters

Televison

“Late Show” host Stephen Colbert is furious that CBS decided not to air an interview he did with Texas representative James Talarico (D) due to “equal time” laws, which require broadcast networks and radio stations to give equal time to all candidates in an election.
Colbert’s show is canceled and will air its last episode in May. But in the meantime, he’s not going quietly as he defied the network’s request that he not bring up the Talarico interview situation. The host threw a hissy fit during his Monday night episode.
&#8220;Then I was told, in some uncertain terms, that not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on,&#8221; Colbert said during his show Monday night. &#8220;And because my network clearly doesn&#8217;t want us to talk about this, let&#8217;s talk about this.&#8221;
The “Late Show” host explained the “equal time” rule, which has been in place since the 1930s, and explained why he believed the exceptions made in the 90s should continue forever.
“There’s long been an exception for this rule, an exception for news interviews and talk show interviews with politicians,” Colbert said. “That’s crucial. How else were voters supposed to know back in ’92 that Bill Clinton sucked at saxophone?”
“[FCC chair Brendan Carr] hasn’t done away with [the exceptions] yet, but my network is unilaterally enforcing it as if he had,” the host admitted.
Addressing Carr, he said, “FCC you … because I think you are motivated by partisan purposes yourself, sir. Hey, you smelt it ’cause you dealt it. You are Dutch-ovening America’s airwaves.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Why CBS Didn&#039;t Broadcast Stephen Colbert&#039;s Interview With James Talarico" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oh7DPSP65JA?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>
“Let’s just call this what it is. Donald Trump’s administration wants to silence anyone who says anything bad about Trump on TV, because all Trump does is watch TV. He’s like a toddler with too much screen time. He gets cranky and then drops a load in his diapers. So it’s no surprise that two of the people most affected by this threat are me and my friend Jimmy Kimmel,” Colbert whined.
Colbert also told the audience that he was posting the interview on his YouTube channel and instructed them to find it there.
During the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiTJ7Pz_59A">interview</a>, Talarico said he believed he was being censored because he had a good chance of winning.
&#8220;I think Donald Trump is worried that we&#8217;re about to flip Texas,&#8221; the Texas rep said. &#8220;This is the party that ran against cancel culture. And this is the most dangerous kind of cancel culture, the kind that comes from the top.&#8221;
CBS announced last summer that “The Late Show,” which began in 1993, would conclude this year and not be replaced.
“This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount,” the network said in a statement at the time.
One report stated that the program was losing $40 million annually.

Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert Throws Hissy Fit Over CBS Enforcing Equal Time Rule, Nixing Dem Candidate Interview

Brendan Carr

Politics

Television

Warner Bros Discovery is considering reopening sale talks with rival Hollywood studio Paramount Skydance after receiving its hostile suitor&#8217;s most recent amended offer, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.
Members of Warner Bros&#8217; board are discussing whether Paramount could offer the path to a superior deal, the Bloomberg report said, adding that the board has not decided how to respond and may stick to the current deal with Netflix.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Paramount, Warner Bros and Netflix did not respond to requests for comment.
Paramount had enhanced its Warner Bros bid last week by offering shareholders extra cash for each quarter the deal fails to close after this year. It also agreed to cover the breakup fee the HBO parent would owe Netflix if it walked away, even though the CBS owner did not raise its per-share offer.
Paramount said it has offered shareholders a 25-cent-per-share quarterly &#8220;ticking fee&#8221; (about $650 million) in cash starting in 2027 until closing and agreed to cover Warner Bros’ $2.8 billion breakup fee to Netflix. However, it did not raise its $30-per-share offer, valuing the deal at $108.4 billion including debt.
Both Netflix and Paramount covet Warner Bros for its leading film and television studios, extensive content library and major franchises such as &#8220;Game of Thrones,&#8221; &#8220;Harry Potter&#8221; and DC Comics superheroes Batman and Superman.
Activist investor Ancora Holdings, which has built a nearly $200 million stake, last week said it plans to oppose the Netflix deal, arguing the board did not sufficiently engage with Paramount over its rival bid, which includes cable assets like CNN and TNT.
(Reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Chris Reese and Matthew Lewis)

In this photo illustration, the Warner Bros Discovery logo

Warner Bros Weighs Reopening Sale Talks With Paramount, Bloomberg Reports

Media

Warner Bros

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

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.
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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.

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

DailyWire+

The Pendragon Cycle

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

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

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.
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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

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