Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• California and 11 state attorneys general settled antitrust lawsuit against Paramount without requiring meaningful concessions — On September 23, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 11 other state attorneys general settled a lawsuit to block Paramount, controlled by the Trump-supporting Ellison family, from acquiring Warner Bros. According to Popular Information, the settlement did not require Paramount to divest important assets or make any meaningful concessions, representing a capitulation by the state officials.
• California and 11 states drop antitrust lawsuit against Paramount-Warner Bros. merger without securing meaningful concessions — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 11 other Democratic state attorneys general withdrew their antitrust lawsuit challenging Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. on September 23, 2026. The lawsuit, filed July 13, had secured a temporary restraining order blocking the merger and placed Paramount in a weakened negotiating position. The settlement, formalized in a consent decree, required no asset divestiture and included only nominal commitments: an "Editorial Independence Board" controlled entirely by David Ellison's family (which will hold 77.5% voting shares), and a pledge to release 30 films annually—a commitment Ellison had already made voluntarily months earlier. The settlement also exempts Paramount from obligations during strikes, labor disruptions, or economic recessions.

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.

Supporting reports

• Thousands protest Trump's takeover of Kennedy Center and threat to demolish or rename it — Thousands gathered outside the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday evening to protest Trump's takeover of the building and his threat to shut it down or demolish it unless his name is added to the facade. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper of the District of Columbia had previously ordered the Kennedy Center board to provide 30 days' notice before making any major physical changes to the building.
• Kennedy Center ceiling collapse and Trump-ordered closure — A 5-foot piece of ceiling plaster fell at the Kennedy Center in mid-September. Rather than repair the damage immediately, staff documented it extensively for a 55-page board briefing. Trump claimed online that a security guard narrowly avoided "certain death." Within two hours, Trump-allied board members voted to close the center, citing safety concerns. Trump, who serves as the center's chairman, had previously announced in February a two-year closure for renovations. Democratic board members alleged the closure was a pretext to avoid humiliation from plummeting ticket sales and fleeing artists.