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On December 8, 2025, Paramount Skydance launched a hostile $108 billion all-cash bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), challenging Netflix's $83 billion deal announced the previous week. Paramount's offer includes WBD's cable assets like CNN, unlike Netflix's bid. The Ellison family, backed by Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds and Jared Kushner's private equity, finances Paramount's bid. President Trump has expressed intent to involve himself in regulatory approval, citing competition concerns.
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UBS's latest report shows a record increase in billionaires worldwide, reaching 2,919 with collective wealth of $15.8 trillion. Women are outpacing men in wealth growth for four consecutive years, and inheritance continues to drive the rise, especially in the US and Europe. The billionaire class is diversifying and expanding rapidly.
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As of December 31, 2025, Larry Ellison has personally guaranteed $40.4 billion to support Paramount Skydance's $108 billion hostile all-cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). This move addresses WBD's concerns over financing reliability, challenging Netflix's $82.7 billion cash-and-stock offer for part of WBD. The Ellisons aim to acquire all of WBD, including CNN and Discovery, intensifying a contentious bidding war with regulatory and shareholder implications.
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On December 18-19, 2025, TikTok and its Chinese parent ByteDance signed binding agreements with Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi's MGX to form a US joint venture. The deal, set to close January 22, 2026, complies with US law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok's US operations or face a ban. The new entity will control US data, algorithm security, and content moderation, while ByteDance retains global commercial control.
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Georgia Power's $16.3 billion plan to build a large-scale data center to meet AI demand has been approved, with projected costs covered by future customer payments. Critics warn of financial risks and environmental concerns amid political tensions and industry backing.
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On December 21, 2025, CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss abruptly pulled a "60 Minutes" investigation into Venezuelan migrants deported by the Trump administration to El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison. The decision, citing the need for additional reporting and context, sparked internal backlash and accusations of political censorship amid Paramount Skydance's ongoing Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition bid. The unaired segment leaked online after briefly streaming on Canadian TV.
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CBS pulled a segment of '60 Minutes' about abuses at El Salvador's CECOT prison, citing lack of critical voices. The segment was leaked online, revealing harrowing stories of torture and mistreatment. Critics see the move as politically motivated, raising concerns over media censorship and editorial independence.
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On January 23, 2026, TikTok finalized a deal creating a majority American-owned joint venture to operate its US business, avoiding a ban mandated by a 2024 law. Investors including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Emirati firm MGX hold over 80%, while ByteDance retains 19.9%. The US algorithm will be retrained on American data, with data stored locally under strict safeguards.
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Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was shot and killed by federal agents during an altercation in Minneapolis. Video evidence contradicts official claims that he posed a threat, sparking protests and calls for investigation amid political outrage. The incident follows a similar case involving Renee Good earlier this month.
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California lawmakers are advancing a bill to expand remote work for state employees, backed by a union and aimed at increasing transparency on cost savings. The bill challenges Governor Newsom's return-to-office mandate, highlighting ongoing debates over remote work, fiscal savings, and political influence in the state.
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Paramount's $81 billion bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, creating a media giant with major franchises, is expected to close in Q3 2026. The deal faces regulatory scrutiny and involves significant debt, with key players linked to political figures and international investors.