The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the $8.4 billion merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media on Thursday in a 2-1 vote. The deal places CBS, Paramount Pictures, and Nickelodeon under Skydance CEO David Ellison. This follows a $16 million settlement Paramount paid to resolve a lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump, concerning CBS News' election coverage. Democrat Anna Gomez, the sole dissenting FCC commissioner, accused Paramount of "cowardly capitulation" to the Trump administration.

The timing of the FCC's approval has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats. Senators Edward Markey and Ben Ray Lujan stated that the approval "reeks of the worst form of corruption," citing the close proximity to the settlement with Trump. Senator Elizabeth Warren echoed these concerns, highlighting the cancellation of "The Late Night Show with Stephen Colbert" three days after Colbert criticized the settlement as a "big fat bribe." Trump celebrated Colbert's dismissal on social media.

Impact Statement: The merger's approval, coupled with the timing and circumstances surrounding the settlement with Trump, raises serious concerns about potential corruption and undue influence in regulatory decisions.