Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• David Ellison reportedly pledged to reshape CNN editorial direction to secure Trump administration support for merger — According to reporting in the article, David Ellison told Trump administration officials that "he'd make sweeping changes to CNN" as part of his campaign to win Trump's support for the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger. This statement, made prior to the settlement, indicates that editorial changes at CNN were explicitly tied to securing political backing for the transaction. The article also notes that since Ellison took over CBS News in August 2025, the network's news coverage has shifted to the right.
• Paramount-Warner Bros. merger consent decree establishes Editorial Independence Board with no independent authority — The settlement between state attorneys general and Paramount includes creation of an "Editorial Independence Board" tasked with monitoring editorial independence at CBS News and CNN. However, all five board members are selected by the combined entity's board of directors, which is fully controlled by David Ellison and his father Larry Ellison (77.5% voting shares). The board has no enforcement power and can only "resolve disputes" regarding alleged violations of editorial principles, with no mechanism specified for how such resolution occurs. The structure ensures that an Ellison-controlled board selects monitors of Ellison's editorial conduct.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration bans CNN, MS Now, and Politico from White House — The Trump administration banned CNN, MS Now, and Politico from White House access. In response, competing television networks suspended shared coverage of the president's events, creating rare solidarity among rival outlets. The ban prompted former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson to call on journalists to collectively resist what she characterized as an "outright onslaught" from the administration, including Trump's documented pattern of insulting female reporters with derogatory language.
• White House revoked press credentials for CNN, Politico, and MS NOW — The White House revoked press credentials for CNN, Politico, and MS NOW after aide Natalie Harp reportedly showed Trump stories that angered him. The revocation followed the aide's curation of news coverage, suggesting retaliation for unfavorable reporting. This action restricts press access to the White House and signals potential use of credential revocation as a tool to punish critical coverage.