The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the $8 billion merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, a decision that has immediately drawn sharp criticism from free speech advocates. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) condemned the approval, alleging that the FCC, under Chairman Brendan Carr, conditioned the deal on media outlets' editorial choices. This move has ignited a debate over government intervention in press freedom and First Amendment rights, with critics calling it an "unconstitutional shakedown."
FIRE, through its Legal Director Will Creeley, stated in a tweet that the process "> has been an unconstitutional shakedown from start to finish." The organization argues that the FCC lacks the authority to dictate editorial content or to make merger approvals contingent on the viewpoints a network chooses to air. Creeley emphasized that "> No federal bureaucrat should ever be allowed to play-act as our nation's editor-in-chief," accusing Carr of staggering hypocrisy given his past statements.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr lauded the approval, citing assurances from Skydance that the new company would commit to unbiased journalism and discontinue diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Carr stated these steps would "begin the process of earning back Americans’ trust." However, Democratic Commissioner Anna M. Gomez dissented, stating the agency imposed "never-before-seen controls over newsroom decisions and editorial judgment, in direct violation of the First Amendment and the law."
Critics highlight a perceived hypocrisy in Chairman Carr's actions, noting that less than a year ago, he seemed to acknowledge that the First Amendment barred the FCC from acting as "the nation's speech police." Carr, a Trump appointee, has been associated with Project 2025, which proposes using FCC regulatory powers, including merger reviews, to oversee content. This shift raises concerns about the agency's weaponization for political goals and its departure from its traditional role.
The controversy extends to previous instances where Carr reportedly pressured media companies, such as CBS, over their coverage, specifically regarding a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump against CBS. This pressure, linked to the Paramount-Skydance merger review, is seen by free speech advocates as an attempt to influence editorial decisions. Organizations like Public Knowledge have joined others in urging Carr to defend free speech and media freedom, asserting that the FCC should not be used to target critical speech. The approval of the Paramount-Skydance merger, under these contentious conditions, is seen by many as a significant challenge to the long-standing principle of press freedom in the United States.