David Ellison is hosting an intimate dinner in Washington next week honoring President Donald Trump and CBS White House reporters, according to Breaker and Variety. The event, at the U.S. Institute of Peace on April 23, is described as 'in celebration of the First Amendment.' It is unclear if Trump will attend.
The Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. Discovery merger was approved by shareholders on Thursday but still needs regulatory clearance. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth voiced support, saying 'The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better.' Antitrust experts see a state lawsuit as the main threat.
The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better.
More than 1,000 Hollywood figures signed an open letter opposing the merger. Dozens of protesters, including lawmakers, gathered on the National Mall on Thursday. Representative Jamie Raskin called the dinner 'a lavish oligarch’s dinner for Donald Trump' and said the merger was 'crafted to consolidate old and new media in the interests of the Maga movement.' Representative Becca Balint said Ellison is 'raising a glass to his friend, his supporter, his patron, Donald Trump.' Norm Eisen said the dinner 'resembles a celebration of the first amendment the same way a book burning is a celebration of the written word.'
CBS News has invited Hegseth and Stephen Miller to the Correspondents' Dinner, with Hegseth at a CBS table. After the acquisition, Ellison installed Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief. Observers say coverage has shifted pro-Trump; staffers call it 'state TV.' Trump told CBS's Tony Dokoupil he 'wouldn't have a job' if Democrats won. Trump will attend the Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday.
I wouldn't have a job right now
a lavish oligarch’s dinner for Donald Trump
We’re gathered here together tonight [because] in the building behind us, David Ellison is hosting a dinner to honor President Trump, a dinner that’s designed to cement the Ellisons to the president in their years-running corrupt merger scheme.
crafted to consolidate old and new media in the interests of the Maga movement and the Donald Trump family
Right now, you got David Ellison probably as I speak in that building right behind me raising a glass to his friend, his supporter, his patron, Donald Trump.
Think about that for a moment. Think about that. We’re out here demanding accountability, which we have a right to do, not just as members of Congress, but the people have a right to do – demanding accountability, and while we’re doing that, and we’re doing the work of the people, of the people, by the people, and for the people, we’re doing that work, and inside they are celebrating power. That’s what they’re celebrating: power and corruption.
resembles a celebration of the first amendment the same way a book burning is a celebration of the written word
That has nothing to do with celebrating the first amendment. You all are celebrating the first amendment by being here to block the merger.