Paramount Skydance has finally settled with California and 11 other states, along with the Writers Guild of America, in regard to the antitrust suits challenging its $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. In order to tackle the issue of market consolidation and political influence due to the relationship between Paramount’s owner Larry Ellison and US President Donald Trump, the settlement involves establishing independent editorial boards and headcount guarantees for CNN and CBS, along with an additional $30 million fine if the company does not release 30 movies each year. However, despite opening the path for the formation of one of the biggest media companies in the world, and saving Paramount from substantial delays due to penalties, freedom of expression supporters have cautioned about new First Amendment problems arising out of government-mandated oversight boards.