Ellison's Empire: More Than Media, It's Power Consolidation and Political Leverage
📰 THE STORY: Axios reports on the challenges facing Larry and David Ellison as they build a sprawling media empire, including CBS News, Paramount Pictures, and potentially CNN and HBO. The piece highlights 'political backlash' over a $16 million voter interference lawsuit settlement with Donald Trump and 'editorial controversy' at CBS News under Bari Weiss, particularly concerning a 60 Minutes
segment on Venezuelan deportations. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The Ellisons' acquisition spree isn't just about entertainment. Historically, media consolidation has always been about power. In the US, media ownership has become increasingly concentrated since the 1980s, enabling a handful of corporations to shape public opinion and political narratives. Recall the
Reagan-era deregulation that paved the way for massive media mergers, effectively limiting independent voices and reinforcing establishment viewpoints. When media entities like CBS News, TikTok, and potentially CNN fall under a single, politically aligned ownership, it's not merely a business challenge; it's a threat to diverse discourse. Double Standard: While Axios notes 'political backlash'
against Paramount for settling with Trump, the broader implications of media owners' political leanings are often sanitized. Imagine the outrage if an outlet in a nation deemed 'adversarial' by the US (say, China or Russia) settled a major lawsuit with a politically divisive figure or pulled an investigative piece to align with state interests. In those cases, it would be framed as overt state