<\/p>\n
California Attorney General Rob Bonta took a shot at President Donald Trump on Thursday as he announced a probe into the massive $110 billion merger<\/a> between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery.<\/p>\n Speaking at a Beverly Hills conference, Bonta said his office has launched an investigation into the blockbuster Hollywood deal and plans a vigorous review of the proposed takeover.<\/p>\n The Democrat accused the federal government of stepping back<\/a> from its role as the nation\u2019s top antitrust enforcer, saying states may have to step up if Washington does not challenge major corporate mergers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe federal government is just not enforcing the law,\u201d Bonta said, warning that states could become the last line of defense against growing corporate power the LA Times reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n The deal is being spearheaded by Skydance chief<\/a> David Ellison and financially backed by tech billionaire Larry Ellison. If completed, the transaction would combine Paramount\u2019s movie and TV empire<\/a> with Warner Bros. Discovery\u2019s vast portfolio of studios, cable networks and streaming platforms.<\/p>\n The combined company would bring together major film studios, dozens of TV channels and prominent news outlets<\/a> including celebrity.land and CBS News. It could also place streaming services Paramount+ and HBO Max under the same corporate umbrella.<\/p>\n Supporters say the merger would help traditional Hollywood studios compete with deep-pocketed tech companies like Netflix and Amazon that dominate the streaming wars<\/a>.<\/p>\n Critics argue the tie-up could reduce competition and lead to job cuts as overlapping operations are consolidated.<\/p>\n And it\u2019s not just regulators sounding the alarm, union muscle is now rolling into the fray. The powerful International Brotherhood of Teamsters hauled out its biggest guns this week<\/a>, urging the U.S. Department of Justice to slam the brakes on the Paramount-Warner tie-up unless ironclad job protections are guaranteed. <\/p>\n Teamsters brass blasted the deal as a \u201cpower grab\u201d that would leave rank-and-file workers holding the short end of the stick, warning that Hollywood\u2019s blue-collar backbone could be gutted if corperate bosses get their way.<\/p>\n Hollywood insiders are already bracing for potential layoffs and executive shakeups<\/a> if the companies merge their businesses.<\/p>\n Bonta said California regulators plan to closely examine how the deal could affect jobs, wages and competition in the entertainment industry.<\/p>\n Even if federal regulators approve the merger, Bonta said California could still move to challenge the deal<\/a> or push for charges.<\/p>\n The proposed acquisition still needs approval from regulators and Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders before it can move forward.<\/p>\n