Craig Aaron
@notaaroncraig.bsky.social
Co-CEO of *The Real* Free Press and Free Press Action and guy with two first names freepress.net (No, not *The* Bari Weiss one. We love journalism, democracy and public media!) Subscribe to my Pressing Issues newsletter: https://pressingissues.org/
“This tech-Trump alliance — far from bringing expertise to responsibly guide policy on tech and AI — has only furthered the administration’s corruption and enabled its campaign to censor and control our information ecosystem.” — Shilpa Jindia, @freepress.bsky.social
Trump’s FTC Is Threatening to Punish Big Tech for “Woke AI”
As Elon Musk defends nude deepfakes, the FTC is moving to censor AI models trained to recognize historical injustices.
truthout.org
This is a win for free speech and press freedom. www.freepress.net/news/civil-l...
Civil-Liberties and Press-Freedom Groups Applaud First Circuit Ruling in Rodríguez-Cotto v. González-Colón, Affirming First Amendment Rights
This is a huge win for free speech and press freedom at a time when we need them most.
freepress.net
Just your friendly neighborhood billionaire with views “like most Americans” … I mean except for their views on corporate power, monopolies, censorship, corruption and the talents of Bari Weiss.
Opinion | David Ellison: In Defense of the Paramount-Warner Deal
The issue is whether I can be trusted as a steward of CNN
nytimes.com
Free Press called the proceeding “an arbitrary and capricious abuse of power, ordered by Brendan Carr to exact the revenge Donald Trump demands against ABC for exercising its First Amendment rights.” www.freepress.net/news/free-pr...
Free Press Calls for End to Carr’s Unconstitutional Crusade Against ABC
"Carr is embarrassing himself again by concocting this utterly shameful censorship campaign on behalf of a petty president" says Free Press' Matt Wood.
freepress.net
People think "Hollywood" is rich and famous. The reality? Film and TV is a national industry. It's a blue collar industry. And it is an industry free fall. My latest for @newrepublic.com on how the Paramount merger would crush blue collar workers who can not afford it newrepublic.com/article/2136...
There’s a Blue-Collar Hollywood—and the Paramount Merger Will Kill It
Hollywood isn’t all glamour. It’s thousands of line workers. And a Paramount takeover of Warner will make their lives even more precarious.
newrepublic.com
You should read this new Pressing Issues essay by @juliorvarela.com on the harrowing and inspiring moments he experienced while in New Orleans for the NAHJ conference. It's a reminder of the hope, humanity and community we need to do the best journalism. Also Pitbull makes an appearance.
How I Found Hope and Humanity at a Journalism Conference in New Orleans
Reflections from a harrowing and inspiring long weekend with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists
pressingissues.org
"Paramount can pretend that it looks forward to that test, but that's just more bluster trying to spin a major setback. Now this deal will face its day in court, and we are confident the evidence will show this mega-merger should be blocked." - @notaaroncraig.bsky.social via @arstechnica.com
Paramount/WBD merger delayed for months as states' lawsuit moves toward trial
“Halting this merger while our case proceeds is a critical victory," NY AG said.
arstechnica.com
"We have watched, with growing alarm, what consolidation does to the breadth and depth of the work we produce."
A TV and cinema calamity could be disastrous for what you watch and what you know. Act now to stop that | Alan Cumming, Benedict Cumberbatch and Benedict Wong
The Paramount-Warner Bros merger is being fought on both sides of the Atlantic. Britain’s culture secretary knows the risks and can intervene. She should, say actors led by Alan Cumming, Benedict Cumb...
theguardian.com
Evan Greer@evangreer.bsky.social · last wk.“This “privacy for me, surveillance for thee” attitude feels like a perfect encapsulation of the future we’re already living in: one where wealthy elites can afford privacy, while the rest of us are forced to live in a corporate surveillance panopticon.” www.ms.now/opinion/tayl...
The Ellisons looked to their corrupt cronies in the Trump administration to force this $111 billion mega-merger through without proper legal scrutiny. State AGs said "not so fast" and have won the day, week, month and year: www.freepress.net/news/paramou...
Paramount Retreats, Pausing Dangerous Takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery as State AGs' Antitrust Suit Moves Forward
Now this deal will face its day in court, and Free Press is confident the evidence will show this mega-merger should be blocked.
freepress.net
UPDATE: Right after Pressing Issues went to press, Paramount retreated, agreeing to pause the deal for months as the case goes to trial. Free Press statement below. Short version: Paramount promised a slam dunk and shot an airball. See you in court!
Paramount Retreats, Pausing Dangerous Takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery as State AGs' Antitrust Suit Moves Forward
Now this deal will face its day in court, and Free Press is confident the evidence will show this mega-merger should be blocked.
freepress.net
Craig Aaron@notaaroncraig.bsky.social · 2w agoWhat's next in the People vs. Paramount? @jgo4justice.bsky.social and I explain what's happening in court, Paramount's ugly desperation, and how the growing ranks of merger opponents are changing the political landscape around media consolidation and capitulation. New Pressing Issues! Subscribe!
“Paramount tried to tell us this deal was a slam-dunk, but it just shot an airball. Late in the game, Paramount’s lawyers grasped what we’ve said all along: The states have a very solid case that this deal violates U.S. antitrust law." -- me In other words: Merger opponents are winning.
Paramount Retreats, Pausing Dangerous Takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery as State AGs' Antitrust Suit Moves Forward
Now this deal will face its day in court, and Free Press is confident the evidence will show this mega-merger should be blocked.
freepress.net
Apparently hit send on that Paramount update a few minutes too soon www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/b...
Paramount Agrees to Delay Warner Bros. Merger for Months
The company agreed to a proposed freeze until June 2027, unless a judge issues a ruling before then on a lawsuit blocking the deal.
nytimes.com
What's next in the People vs. Paramount? @jgo4justice.bsky.social and I explain what's happening in court, Paramount's ugly desperation, and how the growing ranks of merger opponents are changing the political landscape around media consolidation and capitulation. New Pressing Issues! Subscribe!
What’s Next in the People vs. Paramount?
The bad guys are losing, but we still have a long way to go
pressingissues.org
BREAKING: @wired.com (apparently undeterred by James Dolan's bogus lawsuit) reveals that MSG turned off their controversial facial recognition system during Taylor Swift's wedding. MSG has always claimed their use of AI surveillance is for security. It's hard to imagine a higher security event...
For Taylor Swift, Madison Square Garden’s Controversial Cameras Briefly Went Dark
MSG’s sprawling surveillance system can monitor guests down to the second. Its owners made an exception for the pop star’s rehearsal dinner.
wired.com
The Censorship Czar is performing for Trump again. This is what you get when you capitulate to blowhards and bullies. The only way to stop them is to fight back. deadline.com/2026/07/fcc-...
FCC Chairman Warns About ABC's Decision Not To Carry Trump's Speech
Brendan Carr said the issue of ABC not airing Donald Trump's primetime speech is expected to come up in the FCC's early review of broadcast licenses.
deadline.com
New Pressing Issues: Vanessa Maria Graber and Matt Schuster talk about how to create a better model for the next 50 years of community, civic and public media. pressingissues.org/community-me...
Community Media Centers Can Benefit from New Public-Funding Models for News and Civic Information
A Pressing Issues conversation with Matt Schuster, executive director of Public Media Network
pressingissues.org
We just won a court order stopping the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. while our lawsuit continues. We’re going to keep fighting to keep costs down for consumers, protect jobs, and stop this illegal merger.
This is the best film I've seen all year -- and it's not even finished yet. New Pressing Issues on the documentary Barrio TV and an interview with director Christina DiPasquale.
‘Barrio Television’ Broke the Mold
Christina DiPasquale is making sure this important moment of media activism isn’t forgotten
pressingissues.org
Bay Area! Come out this Friday, July 17 @ 9AM outside Oakland US District Courthouse. Stand up to #BlockTheMerger because artistic freedom can’t be bought by billionaires and authoritarians! Address: 1301 Clay St, Oakland, CA 94612 Spread the word and bring your friends!
if acquiring data like home addresses, birth dates, and the political affiliation of millions of U.S. voters is an urgent national security risk, boy do I have some bad news about data brokers
“Nothing prevents a company like Nexstar from having a national website or cable-news channel. The national cap is not a special disadvantage for broadcasters. In fact, broadcasters have a special advantage with their exclusive licenses to use precious national airwaves the way they do."
Trump FCC Attempts Illegal 'Repeal' of Congress’ National Broadcast Ownership Cap
Brendan Carr’s arrogance matches that of his boss Donald Trump as the FCC chairman works to bend or break every rule to grow his own power and aid his political allies.
freepress.net
New Pressing Issues! @juliorvarela.com interviews the community-driven journalists scooping major newsrooms on coverage of ICE killings. Plus the big news of the State AGs challenging Paramount Skydance ...
El Grito in the Time of ICE Killings
How LULAC’s new digital-only newsroom is leading with community-driven journalism
pressingissues.org
California State Attorney General Rob Bonta: "This deal is illegal under the Clayton Act.... Antitrust enforcement is a check on billionaires currying favor with the president so he'll do their bidding." www.youtube.com/live/lPbbKvj...
Attorney General Bonta Holds Press Conference on Warner Bros./Paramount Lawsuit
YouTube video by California Department of Justice
youtube.com
Our statement on the news that 12 State AGs are moving to block the terrible and corrupt Paramount-Warner Bros. merger. We’re standing with the workers and artists at the heart of the news and entertainment industries — and against the greedy billionaires and unethical politicians.
State Attorneys General Sue to Stop Paramount Skydance's Corrupt Takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery
Free Press hails this state-led effort to defend consumer choice and journalism against a billionaire push to censor and control the media.
freepress.net
12 states led by California are moving to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger!!! They have a very strong case -- but so many people speaking out about the many harms of this deal pushed them to act. Keep up the pressure! oag.ca.gov/news/press-r...
Attorney General Bonta Files Lawsuit to Block $110 Billion Warner Bros./Paramount Merger
LOS ANGELES — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today led a coalition of 12 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (Warner B...
oag.ca.gov
We cannot build the next generation of public-interest media by asking each sector to fight alone. The future of publicly funded media must be broader than public broadcasting as we’ve known it, and broader than local journalism as an industry category. www.freepress.net/blog/future-...
Building a Bigger Vision for Publicly Funded Media
In a media environment flooded with AI-generated content, the need for accurate and trustworthy information has never been greater.
freepress.net
