From CBS to TikTok, US media are falling to Trump's allies. This is how democracy crumbles | Owen Jones

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US Media Falls to Trump's Allies, Democracy Crumbles as Orbánisation Takes Hold Across the Atlantic

Larry Ellison and his filmmaker son David have become key players in undermining democracy in the US by using their wealth and influence to sway media outlets. The billionaire co-founder of Oracle has poured tens of millions into Republican coffers and joined a call that discussed challenging the legitimacy of the 2020 election, while his son has a history of backing Democrats but now supports Republicans.

Their influence is evident in CBS News, which was acquired by Skydance Media with financial support from Ellison's father. A Trump appointee was installed as CBS's ombudsman to monitor "bias", and Bari Weiss – a former Democrat turned anti-woke crusader – was made editor-in-chief. This move has effectively silenced liberal voices and pushed a pro-Trump agenda.

Paramount Global, another entity controlled by the Ellisons, is now in talks to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, the parent company of HBO and CNN. This would further consolidate power in the hands of Trump allies and increase the influence of right-wing media outlets.

Meanwhile, Larry Ellison leads a group of investors set to take over TikTok's US operations, with other partners reportedly including Rupert Murdoch and Abu Dhabi's government-owned investment company. The Ellisons' involvement in the platform raises concerns about the spread of anti-Israel propaganda and the erosion of free speech on social media.

Other Trump officials are briefing that they want Paramount Global or another entity to take over Warner Bros Discovery. This move would give right-wing media outlets greater control over CNN, which has been a thorn in Trump's side for years. The pro-Trump newspaper New York Post states that rival bidders will face "regulatory hurdles", with WBD's CEO forced to consider the Trump administration's willingness to crack down on left-wing bias across mainstream media.

The erosion of democracy is not limited to media control. Trump has deployed the national guard to Democratic strongholds, centralised control over elections, and launched new gerrymandering offensives to undermine liberal politics. The denaturalisation and deportation of socialist New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is another example of how Trump's administration is using its power to intimidate and silence opponents.

The Orbánisation model used in Hungary has taken hold across the Atlantic, where democracy is being slowly strangled by a combination of media control, electoral manipulation, and intimidation. The warning signs are clear: US democracy has always been heavily flawed but never thought to succumb to tyranny like Hungary did. Yet, with Trump's 39 months left in office, the threat to democracy looms large.
 
I'm getting really worried about what's happening to our media outlets 🤯💔. It's like we're watching a slow-motion train wreck and not knowing when it's going to derail. I mean, think about it - billionaires like Larry Ellison are basically buying their way into the halls of power and shaping the narrative to suit their own agendas. It's not just about media control; it's about silencing opposing voices and pushing an agenda that doesn't align with the values we hold dear.

And what really gets me is how this is happening under our noses. We're so used to seeing these media outlets as neutral, but now it's clear they've been hijacked by pro-Trump forces. It's like, where are the independent voices? Where are the journalists who dare to question authority?

I'm not naive; I know democracy is flawed and imperfect. But this feels different. This feels like a calculated effort to undermine our institutions and erode trust in the media. And if we don't wake up and take notice, we might just lose everything that makes us great as a society 💔😕
 
I'm not surprised that billionaires are getting involved in politics... I mean, who needs a TV show when you can have a reality TV show of politics? 😂 The Ellisons' influence on media outlets is like a bad episode of "The Simpsons" where Marge tries to get Homer to eat his veggies. Not gonna happen! 🥗 Larry Ellison and his son are just trying to shape the narrative, but it's like they're playing a game of "Media Monopoly" – can't win 'em all... guess that's what happens when you have too many billionaires with too much influence 🤑.
 
🚨 The situation in the US is getting increasingly alarming, and it's not just about media control. We're seeing a deliberate attempt to erode democracy, one that's been carefully crafted by Trump's allies. Larry Ellison and his son David are major players in this game, using their wealth to influence media outlets and sway public opinion. The acquisition of CBS News and Paramount Global is a huge blow to liberal voices and will only serve to amplify pro-Trump agendas.

The involvement of investors like Rupert Murdoch and Abu Dhabi's government-owned investment company in TikTok's US operations raises serious concerns about the spread of misinformation and anti-Israel propaganda. And let's not forget Trump's own tactics: deploying the national guard to Democratic strongholds, centralizing control over elections, and launching gerrymandering offensives. It's a classic playbook for undermining democracy.

The Orbánisation model is spreading across the Atlantic, and it's time we take notice. We can't afford to wait until it's too late. The warning signs are clear: US democracy is under threat, and it's up to us to speak out and demand change. 🗣️
 
I'm low-key worried about what's happening with US media 🤕. I mean, the Ellisons are basically using their wealth and influence to sway the narrative and push a pro-Trump agenda on CBS News and other outlets. It's like they're trying to control the narrative before the next election 📊. And now, if Paramount Global gets its hands on Warner Bros Discovery, we'll have even more of a Trump-shaped hole in the media landscape 💔. I'm not sure what's more concerning, though - is it that the Ellisons are using their influence for good or evil? Or is it that we've become so desensitized to media ownership changes that we don't care anymore 🤷‍♂️? Whatever the case, I think we need to keep a close eye on this and make sure we're not losing our democratic values in the process 🔒.
 
man this is getting scary 🤕 the whole thing is just so rigged 🤑 Ellison and his dad are basically buying their way into controlling what we can see on TV and news outlets. it's like they're trying to create a parallel reality or something 😂 how can we trust anyone when our media is being manipulated by people with a personal stake in the outcome? and now tiktok is getting involved 📱 that's just a recipe for disaster i mean what's next, facebook being bought out too? 💸 it's like the whole thing is designed to keep us in the dark and prevent us from making informed decisions about our country. we need some real oversight and accountability here 👮‍♂️ otherwise we're just sitting ducks 🐦
 
The way these billionaires are using their wealth to influence media outlets is getting out of hand 🤑. It's like they're trying to rewrite history and shape public opinion to suit their own agendas. I mean, Larry Ellison pouring tens of millions into Republican coffers? That's just plain wrong 💸. And this Bari Weiss guy being made editor-in-chief at CBS News? She's got a history of being super anti-liberal and pro-Trump 🙄.

And what's up with the Ellisons taking over TikTok's US operations? Is that really necessary? Are we just gonna hand over control to these right-wing influencers and watch as our social media platforms get hijacked by propaganda 💻. It's like, can't we have some critical thinking around here? 🤔
 
🤔 I'm getting really worried about what's going on in the US right now. It seems like they're slowly strangling their democracy by controlling the media and manipulating elections. The fact that Larry Ellison and his son are using their wealth and influence to sway media outlets is just insane 🤑. And it's not just the media, they're also deploying the national guard to intimidate opponents and centralizing control over elections. It's like something out of a dystopian novel 😱.

The Orbánisation model is taking hold in the US and it's terrifying 💥. They're pushing a pro-Trump agenda on mainstream media outlets and silencing liberal voices. And now, they're trying to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, which would give them even more control over CNN 📺. It's like they're trying to take away our freedom of speech and create a dictatorship.

We need to wake up and realize that democracy is under attack in the US 🚨. We can't just sit back and watch as our rights are being taken away. We need to stand up and fight for what's right, even if it's hard 💪.
 
omg u guys can't believe what's goin on w/ media outlets rn 🤯 larry ellison & his son david r basically bribin' their way into controllin' major news orgs like cbs news & paramunt global... it's crazy how much power they have now 💸 and its not just about trump, its about the whole orbánisation thing goin on across atlantic where media control + electoral manipulation = no democracy 🤖 we r losin our grip on freedom of speech & press rn 📺 i'm low-key terrified what's gonna happen to tiktok now w/ ellison & murdoch involved 💥
 
🚨📰 I'm getting really worried about what's happening to our media landscape over here. It's like, we're supposed to be a beacon of free speech and information but now it seems like corporations are pulling the strings from behind the scenes. The Ellisons, who made their fortune on tech, are pouring money into Republican coffers and influencing media outlets in ways that favor their own agenda. It's not just about silencing liberal voices, it's also about pushing a pro-Trump narrative that erodes our trust in facts and journalism.

And let's not forget TikTok, which is basically being sold to the highest bidder without any real oversight. What are we going to do when social media platforms start spreading propaganda and misinformation on a massive scale? It's like we're sleepwalking into a dystopian nightmare.

The thing that concerns me most is how this erosion of democracy can happen so quietly. We're not talking about some grand, overt move towards tyranny, but more like a gradual strangulation of dissenting voices and opposition parties. I'm still holding out hope that there are enough people who care about our institutions and values to push back against this kind of influence. 💔
 
I'm getting super worried about the state of media in the US 🤯. It seems like these billionaire investors are having a huge impact on what we can consume and believe. The fact that Larry Ellison is pouring his wealth into Republican coffers and influencing media outlets through his son's connections is just wild 💸. I get that people have different opinions, but to have it so heavily swayed by one group of interests is concerning.

We need a healthy dose of diversity in the media landscape, and it sounds like this consolidation of power might be threatening that 📰. The idea of right-wing media outlets gaining more control over CNN and other outlets is just, like, no thanks 😒. And what's up with the national guard being deployed to Democratic strongholds? That's some serious intimidation tactics.

I'm also worried about the spread of misinformation on social media platforms like TikTok 🤖. We need to make sure that we're holding our leaders accountable and not letting them manipulate us through the media. The Orbánisation model is a red flag, and if we're heading down that path, it's going to be really scary 😳.

We need to start talking about these issues more and finding ways to promote a healthier media landscape 🗣️. It's time for some real change! 💪
 
I'm getting really worried about what's happening with the media outlets in the US 🤯. It seems like Larry Ellison and his son are using their wealth to influence who gets hired and promoted, which is basically undemocratic. I get that they have a right to support whoever they want, but not at the expense of fairness and balance.

And what's up with CBS News? A Trump appointee as ombudsman? That's like having a fox guarding the henhouse 🐓🕵️‍♂️. And Bari Weiss being made editor-in-chief is just shady. I'm all for free speech, but not when it comes at the expense of truth and accuracy.

The fact that Paramount Global is in talks to acquire Warner Bros Discovery makes me even more anxious 😬. This would give Trump allies even more control over the media landscape, which is a recipe for disaster. And what about CNN? If right-wing media outlets get their hands on it, we're basically watching our democracy slip away.

And don't even get me started on TikTok 🤪. The Ellisons' involvement raises serious concerns about free speech and the spread of propaganda. It's like they're trying to silence opposing voices and promote a particular agenda.

The Orbánisation model is definitely concerning, but I'm not sure if it's a direct comparison 🤔. Trump's administration has been doing some pretty underhanded stuff, from gerrymandering to deploying the national guard in Democratic strongholds. It's like they're trying to intimidate and silence opponents.

I just hope we can wake up before it's too late 🕰️. We need to hold our elected officials accountable and make sure that media outlets remain independent and unbiased. Otherwise, we might be watching a slow-motion erosion of democracy 😱.
 
🚨💥 It's super worrying 🤔 when billionaires 💸 like Larry Ellison have so much power 🤯 in shaping what we see and hear on our screens 📺. Their influence is creeping into every corner of the media landscape 🌐, and it's not just about the content – it's about who gets to decide what gets shown or said 📝.

The fact that Bari Weiss 👩‍🎓 has been brought in as editor-in-chief at CBS News 📰 is a huge red flag 🔴. She's got a pretty extreme right-wing agenda 🔄, and bringing her on board is just going to push out liberal voices 💔. It's like they're trying to silence dissenting opinions 🗣️.

And what about the Ellisons' involvement with TikTok 📹? That's another way for right-wing propaganda 📰 to spread unchecked 🚫. I'm all for free speech 🤝, but when it comes at the expense of accuracy and fairness 🤔, that's a problem 😬.

It's like the Orbánisation model 🌿 is taking hold across the Atlantic 📍, and it's not looking good ⛈️. We need to stay vigilant 👀 and make sure our democracy doesn't get strangled 💀 by those who want to manipulate us 🤯.
 
I'm getting this vibe that we're witnessing a slow-motion coup across the Atlantic 🌪️. Like, I know there are concerns about media bias and influence, but Larry Ellison and his crew taking control of major outlets through financial backing is just plain shady 💸. And what's up with these Trump allies being installed in key positions? It feels like they're setting the stage for a right-wing media empire 📺.

Meanwhile, the US government is basically saying that free speech is overrated 🤥. Denaturalization and deportation of candidates who don't align with their agenda? That's not democracy, dude 👊. And what about these "regulatory hurdles" being thrown around to silence opposing voices? It sounds like a classic case of Orwellian doublespeak 📚.

I mean, I'm no expert, but it seems like we're witnessing a gradual erosion of democratic norms and institutions. The Orbánisation model is a clear warning sign, and if left unchecked, US democracy might end up being the next to fall 🤯. Can't we just have a respectful conversation about our differences without resorting to manipulation and intimidation? 🤷‍♂️
 
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