Larry Ellison Talked CNN Host Purge With White House Amid Bid to Buy Warner Bros Discovery • Kind Joe

A billionaire, a media empire, and a Trump-aligned White House, and conversations about firing CNN anchors.

Here’s the breakdown

Read this if you follow media consolidation, political influence in newsrooms, or the future of CNN.

• Senior White House officials privately expressed support for Paramount Skydance’s bid to acquire Warner Bros Discovery.

• Larry Ellison, Paramount’s largest shareholder, discussed potential CNN programming changes with a White House official.

• That included possibly firing CNN hosts Trump hates, like Erin Burnett and Brianna Keilar.

• CNN, the White House, Paramount, and Ellison all declined comment.

• Paramount is preparing a formal bid as WBD opens first-round offers.

• Ellison floated replacing Burnett and reshaping CNN’s lineup.

• Discussions included airing CBS properties like 60 Minutes on CNN.

• These talks weren’t “official,” but Ellison has direct access to the administration.

• White House officials reportedly welcomed the ideas.

• The Ellisons have long-standing ties inside Trump’s orbit, including ex-Oracle consultants now in government.

• Trump has openly attacked CNN for years and still views it as hostile.

• A Paramount takeover could shift CNN’s tone, staffing, and editorial direction.

• Paramount recently paid Trump $16M over a previous lawsuit, earning goodwill.

• Supporting the bid allows the White House to influence a major news ecosystem without direct intervention.

• Former Trump DOJ antitrust officials say the deal likely wouldn’t face major regulatory hurdles.

• Other interested buyers: Netflix and Comcast.

• Netflix wants HBO’s library and studio power.

• Comcast wants scale, but Trump may block them after years of MSNBC criticism.

• Paramount is pitching itself as the easiest to approve and most aligned with the administration.

• FCC Chair Brendan Carr says his agency probably wouldn’t need to review the deal at all.

Ellison wants WBD.

The White House wants a friendlier CNN.

And senior officials are privately helping shape a takeover that could redefine the American media map.