Sanders Slams FCC Approval of Middle East Stake in Paramount Merger

The FCC, led by chair Brendan Carr, approved a petition allowing foreign entities to control 49.5% of the combined company, a move critics argue poses a direct threat to American media independence. This stake includes 38.5% from sovereign-linked funds in the Middle East. Sanders labeled the deal an attempt to let foreign dictators exert control over domestic news outlets like CBS and CNN.

Democratic commissioner Anna Gomez dissented, noting the ruling was finalized as a staff-level decision without a public vote. She warned that such deep financial ties grant these regimes, known for censorship and human rights abuses, significant leverage over the content produced by one of America's largest media conglomerates. Antitrust experts remain skeptical of the commission’s proposed "firewalls," describing them as unenforceable promises that do nothing to mitigate the inherent pressure to avoid critical coverage of financial backers. While the $111 billion merger remains on hold pending a court trial in March, the FCC's blessing has intensified the debate over whether the U.S. government is effectively inviting autocracies to influence the nation's public discourse.