Norm Eisen: Paramount Ruling is a Huge Victory
July 21, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The following is a statement from Amb. Norm Eisen (ret.), co-founder and board member of Democracy Defenders Action, in response to Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín’s decision to grant a temporary restraining order blocking the massive $110 billion merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery.
“This ruling is a huge victory in our fight to block the dangerous, anti-democratic Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. Discovery merger. This harmful consolidation should never have gotten the green light and has only made it this far because it has the gilded Trump stamp of approval. The Ellisons might have hoped this was a done deal, but thanks to the Block the Merger coalition and 12 courageous state attorneys general, its future is uncertain. This decision proves that when the facts are laid out, the truth is evident: this merger would hurt our film and entertainment industry, our independent press, and our freedom of speech, and it must be blocked. We were proud to help build the Block the Merger coalition and we intend to keep fighting.”
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Democracy Defenders Action brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state, and local allies across the country to defend in real-time the foundations of our democracy.
For media inquiries, contact, press@democracydefenders.org.
