California Attorney General Rob Bonta arrived at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland, Calif., on Aug. 18 to attend proceedings related to allegations against Meta’s platforms regarding children’s mental health.
On Tuesday, Bonta defended his decision to settle an antitrust challenge to Paramount’s proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. He emphasized that maintaining the company in Hollywood did not influence the timing of the settlement. Paramount had reportedly considered relocating its operations outside California. Bonta clarified on NPR’s Morning Edition, “Not at all. We focused on our antitrust concerns in this case.”
While previously expressing ambivalence, Bonta stated that the settlement was not a support vote for the merger; it was the best course of action. He reiterated on Tuesday that demands were made, requiring certain conditions and commitments from Paramount.
The settlement aims to resolve a lawsuit filed by 12 states opposing the merger, representing a substantial legal challenge. It proposes to establish an editorial board to ensure the independence of CNN and CBS News, one of the prominent provisions in the agreement. Bonta assured, “The state of California will have no input in it. No government entity will have any input into it. It will consist of seasoned, experienced, hopefully trusted journalists who know the craft and know the need for independence and objectivity and fairness.”
The settlement includes standards to select board members to maintain its autonomy. An auditor will oversee compliance, with states having the option to return to court if Paramount neglects the agreement terms.
Criticism persists despite the settlement. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong expressed disappointment, advocating for the full divestiture of CNN and CBS News under the settlement. Other critics argue the settlement inadequately tackles media consolidation, potential job cuts, and the validity of editorial safeguards.
The original interview can be accessed via the audio player provided above. The digital story was edited by Suzanne Nuyen, with contributions from David Folkenflik.