The $72 Billion Netflix Deal Now Needs the Trump Administration’s Blessing

WSJ What’s News

The Wall Street Journal

Daily News, News

4 • 4K Ratings

🗓️ 5 December 2025

⏱️ 14 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

P.M. Edition for Dec. 5. The streaming company won the fight for Warner Bros. in a deal that would shake up Hollywood. But first it has to win approval from the Trump administration, which is already scrutinizing the acquisition, as Wall Street Journal entertainment reporter Joe Flint explains. And a key vaccine panel at the CDC voted to drop a longtime recommendation that all newborns get a first dose of hepatitis B vaccine. WSJ reporter Sabrina Siddiqui covered the vote. Plus, the WSJ reports that SpaceX is kicking off a secondary stock sale that would value the company at $800 billion, ahead of a potential IPO for the rocket maker next year. Pierre Bienaimé hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:27.8	survey among real estate professionals. Netflix is buying Warner Brothers for $72 billion in a huge Hollywood deal, but is a huge fight next.
0:42.0	Plus, a CDC panel remade by RFK Jr. votes to drop longtime hepatitis B recommendations for newborns.
0:48.9	Kennedy pushed out all the previous members who were longtime public health and infectious disease experts.
0:55.9	So you had people who were presenting on the hepatitis B vaccine who are longtime anti-vaccine
1:04.6	activists. And Western buyers line up for Israel's latest military technology.
1:12.3	It's Friday, December 5th.
1:15.5	I'm Pierre Bienname for the Wall Street Journal, filling in for Alex Oslo.
1:18.0	This is the PM edition of What's News,
1:21.4	the top headlines and business stories that moved the world today.
1:28.1	First up, we have an update on that Netflix deal we mentioned on this morning's show.
1:38.2	The streaming giant has agreed to buy Warner Brothers Discovery Studios and HBO Max streaming service for $72 billion, beating out Paramount and Comcast.
1:44.7	On an investor call this morning, Netflix's co-chief executive Ted Sarandos acknowledged that some were surprised by the deal,
1:46.9	the company's largest acquisition ever.
1:48.5	This is a rare opportunity.
1:55.4	It's going to help us achieve our mission to entertain the world and to bring people together through great stories.
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