House Democrats Investigate Skydance-Paramount $8B Merger, Trump Settlement

Top House Democrats, including Reps. Frank Pallone and Jamie Raskin, have launched an investigation into Skydance's $8 billion merger with Paramount, scrutinizing the federal approval process and a $16 million settlement paid to President Donald Trump. The lawmakers are demanding documents and communications related to the deal and have raised concerns that the payment to Trump, which was designated for his future presidential library, may have been an illegal bribe connected to the merger's FCC approval. Trump publicly claimed a side deal involving up to $20 million in advertising and programming on CBS following the merger, which Paramount has denied. As part of the merger approval, Paramount agreed to install a CBS News ombudsman, eliminate diversity hiring practices, and canceled the top-rated late-night show hosted by Trump critic Stephen Colbert, actions celebrated by Trump and the FCC chair Brendan Carr. The investigation also seeks details on communications between Skydance leadership and Trump, including alleged discussions at UFC events, and whether editorial changes aligned with the Trump administration's political agenda. The probe highlights concerns about potential political influence and regulatory fairness in the media industry under the current administration.