Power
power
Max Knoblauch

Paramount doesn’t improve its offer for Warner Bros., leaving its fate to a long-shot shareholder appeal

Paramount Skydance on Thursday reaffirmed its $30-per-share offer to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, again stating that it believes the offer to be superior to rival Netflix’s.

In a press release, Paramount said its last amendment to the offer — which included a $40.4 billion personal guarantee from Larry Ellison, the father of Paramount CEO David Ellison — “cured every issue raised by WBD.”

The problem: Warner Bros.’ board on Wednesday unanimously voted to reject that offer, its sixth rejection of a Paramount takeover and second rejection of this specific $30-per-share bid. Warner’s board stated that it believes Paramount’s offer to be inferior to Netflix’s due in part to an “extraordinary amount of debt financing” and lower effective termination fees should the deal not clear the regulatory process.

By not improving the bid, Paramount is effectively leaving the deal in the hands of Warner Bros.’ shareholders, who will have to weigh the bids and the multiple rejections. Event contracts show a moderate boost in Parmount’s odds to end up in control of WBD on Thursday morning, jumping to 31% as of 9:30 a.m. ET, up from 27% at 9:00 a.m. ET.

(Event contracts are offered through Robinhood Derivatives, LLC — probabilities referenced or sourced from KalshiEx LLC or ForecastEx LLC.)

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power
Jon Keegan

Report: Anthropic CEO Amodei meeting with Hegseth at the Pentagon as tensions mount

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has been summoned to meet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon on Tuesday, according to a report from Axios. Tensions are running high between the Trump administration and Anthropic, as the startup’s surveillance restrictions on the use of its AI are reportedly causing outrage within the Pentagon.

Last month’s attack on Venezuela that led to the capture of Maduro reportedly involved the use of Anthropic’s Claude AI models for planning, which caused the startup to push back on the alleged violation of its terms of use.

Per the report, the Pentagon is considering effectively blacklisting Anthropic’s AI from government work if it doesn’t capitulate to the administration’s terms.

Antagonizing the Trump administration could cause Anthropic to face potential regulatory hurdles as it races toward an IPO this year. The company recently hired former Microsoft CFO Chris Liddel to its board, who formerly served as deputy White House chief of staff in the first Trump administration.

Scoop: Hegseth to meet Anthropic CEO as Pentagon threatens banishment

Scoop: Hegseth to meet Anthropic CEO as Pentagon threatens banishment

Last month’s attack on Venezuela that led to the capture of Maduro reportedly involved the use of Anthropic’s Claude AI models for planning, which caused the startup to push back on the alleged violation of its terms of use.

Per the report, the Pentagon is considering effectively blacklisting Anthropic’s AI from government work if it doesn’t capitulate to the administration’s terms.

Antagonizing the Trump administration could cause Anthropic to face potential regulatory hurdles as it races toward an IPO this year. The company recently hired former Microsoft CFO Chris Liddel to its board, who formerly served as deputy White House chief of staff in the first Trump administration.

President Trump Participates In Champion Of Coal Event At The White House

President Trump, the “Undisputed Champion of Beautiful, Clean Coal,” wants the Defense Department to start buying more of it

US total coal consumption, however, has plummeted in the last two decades.

Tom Jones2/17/26
power
Jon Keegan

Anthropic donates $20 million to pro-AI regulation PAC

The war to build a better AI model may be mostly happening in Silicon Valley, but now another important front has opened: Washington, DC.

Anthropic announced a $20 million donation to Public First Action, a new super PAC that advocates for AI policies and regulations that prioritize public safety. The PAC describes itself as “a counterforce that will defend the public interest against those who aim to buy their way out of sensible rule-making.”

The move is seen as a counter to OpenAI’s growing investments in PACs that argue for less AI regulation.

OpenAI recently donated to Leading the Future PAC, which has received over $50 million from the family of OpenAI president and cofounder Greg Brockman, and the VC firm Andreessen Horowitz. The PAC says it is focused on “identifying, maintaining, and growing pro-AI candidates in order to support an AI innovation policy agenda at the state and federal level.”

OpenAI’s Brockman and his wife, Anna, recently donated a total of $25 million to the pro-Trump MAGA, INC. PAC.

Anthropic Invests $20 Million in Super PAC to Counter OpenAI

Anthropic Invests $20 Million in Super PAC to Counter OpenAI

OpenAI recently donated to Leading the Future PAC, which has received over $50 million from the family of OpenAI president and cofounder Greg Brockman, and the VC firm Andreessen Horowitz. The PAC says it is focused on “identifying, maintaining, and growing pro-AI candidates in order to support an AI innovation policy agenda at the state and federal level.”

OpenAI’s Brockman and his wife, Anna, recently donated a total of $25 million to the pro-Trump MAGA, INC. PAC.

Dollar Bill Detail

A new rule from the Trump administration could make it easier to dismiss senior government workers

US federal employment levels already hit a 12-year low in October.

Claire Yubin Oh2/10/26
power
Max Knoblauch

Looking into its Warner Bros. acquisition, the DOJ probes Netflix for anticompetitive tactics

As the Department of Justice probes Netflix’s proposed $83 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, it has reportedly subpoenaed at least one other entertainment company to investigate whether the streamer has taken part in anticompetitive behavior.

Netflix said the DOJ is conducting a standard review and it expects its acquisition to be approved.

Per Wall Street Journal reporting, the DOJ is also seeking out information on how Paramount’s proposed acquisition could harm competition in the entertainment industry.

Netflix has argued that its acquisition of WBD would not be anticompetitive, as there is an 80% overlap in Netflix and HBO Max subscribers. The company has said it competes not just with streaming services but also with broader content platforms like YouTube and TikTok for attention. Netflix booked $45.2 billion in revenue in 2025, compared to YouTube’s $60 billion.

The streamer has repeatedly said it will stick to a 45-day theatrical release window for Warner Bros. films. Movie theater trade groups have pointed out that after theatrical release, many films move to premium video on-demand (PVOD), where they can be digitally rented or purchased for several more weeks or months before moving to streaming (subscription video on-demand, or SVOD). According to Cinema United, the average SVOD window for major theatrical films is 102 days, significantly longer than the potential 45-day window for Netflix.

Exclusive | Justice Department Casts Wide Net on Netflix’s Business Practices in Merger Probe

Exclusive | Justice Department Casts Wide Net on Netflix’s Business Practices in Merger Probe

Per Wall Street Journal reporting, the DOJ is also seeking out information on how Paramount’s proposed acquisition could harm competition in the entertainment industry.

Netflix has argued that its acquisition of WBD would not be anticompetitive, as there is an 80% overlap in Netflix and HBO Max subscribers. The company has said it competes not just with streaming services but also with broader content platforms like YouTube and TikTok for attention. Netflix booked $45.2 billion in revenue in 2025, compared to YouTube’s $60 billion.

The streamer has repeatedly said it will stick to a 45-day theatrical release window for Warner Bros. films. Movie theater trade groups have pointed out that after theatrical release, many films move to premium video on-demand (PVOD), where they can be digitally rented or purchased for several more weeks or months before moving to streaming (subscription video on-demand, or SVOD). According to Cinema United, the average SVOD window for major theatrical films is 102 days, significantly longer than the potential 45-day window for Netflix.

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