The $8 billion merger between Paramount, CBS's parent company and Hollywood Studio Skydance is

fueling a fierce First Amendment fight and raising sharp questions about the influence of the Trump

administration.

The FCC approved the deal last week by a vote of two to one along party lines.

The vote came shortly after Paramount paid $16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by President

Donald Trump over a 60-minute interview with then Vice President Kamala Harris.

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the sole dissenting vote, issued a blistering statement,

calling it an act of, quote, cowardly capitulation that could set a dangerous precedent, reshaping the future

of entertainment while eroding the freedom of the press. And Commissioner Gomez joins us now.

Thanks for being here. Thank you for having me. I want to talk more about the First Amendment

threats you see resulting from this deal in a moment. But first, the timeline, because you noted

that the FCC approved the merger only after Paramount agreed to the $16 million settlement.

They made concessions like scrapping DEI policies at Paramount, installing a so-called bias monitor at CBS.

How do you view the connection between the settlement and the concessions and the FCC's approval?

So I see this as just another part of this administration's campaign of censorship and control.

Here's what we know. The president pressured Paramount over the 60 Minutes segment. The FCC pressured CBS

over the 60 minutes segment. And it wasn't until we saw both the

settlement of the president's lawsuit and also the concessions that you mentioned, to illuminate

all diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, and to install a media monitor that will

basically self-center CBS's content that this deal was

approved. That is a dangerous precedent. So in your view, how does the government's role in this

case cross the line into threatening press freedom? What are the specific aspects that trouble you?

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