California AG blasts Paramount-WBD merger as ‘illegal,’ says threat to leave state is ‘blackmail’ effort

Left: <a href="https://www.rawstory.com/david-ellison-paramount/" rel="noopener nofollow">State AG scoffs at Trump ally&#39;s &#39;last-ditch&#39; attempt to &#39;blackmail&#39; him over mega merger — www.rawstory.com
Left: <a href="https://www.rawstory.com/paramount-tennessee-david-ellison/" rel="noopener nofollow">Red state courts Trump-allied Hollywood giant looking to flee California: reports — www.rawstory.com
Center-Right: <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/paramount-states-antitrust-case-subscriber-suit-1236810616/" rel="noopener nofollow">Paramount Skydance Agrees to Link Merger Antitrust Case to Pre-Existing Paramount+ Subscriber Suit — www.variety.com
Center-Left: <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-07-13/states-sue-to-block-paramounts-111-billion-warner-bros-takeover" rel="noopener nofollow">States sue to block Paramount&#39;s $111-billion Warner Bros. takeover — www.latimes.com
Center-Left: <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/industry-news/deals-ma/rob-bonta-very-concerned-cbs-news-cnn-under-paramount/" rel="noopener nofollow">Rob Bonta Says He Worries for CNN’s Future at Paramount, Citing Bari Weiss’ CBS News Revamp — www.thewrap.com
Center-Left: <a href="https://www.engadget.com/2215270/the-wga-is-also-suing-to-block-paramount-warner-bros-discovery-merger/" rel="noopener nofollow">The WGA is also suing to block Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger — www.engadget.com

Source: www.foxbusiness.com · Section: business-tech · Bias: Right · Published: Tue, 14 Jul 2026 19:27:25 GMT

California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the $111 billion Paramount takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery "illegal" and is leading 12 attorneys general in a Clayton Act lawsuit.