CNN: Who's Really in Control?

CNN is in a tough spot. It's like a hot potato, and everyone wants a piece. First, Netflix wanted to buy most of CNN's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery. But they didn't want the news networks. They wanted the movie studios and streaming services. CNN staff thought this was good news. They remembered the layoffs when Warner canceled CNN+ just a month after it launched. They hoped this new deal would let them focus on their work. But now, things are getting complicated. President Trump wants a say in CNN's future. He's not a fan of CNN. He's called it "fake news" and wants it sold. This is unusual. Presidents don't usually get involved in business deals. But Trump has a history of this. He's even sued CBS's 60 Minutes and got a settlement. Now, he's backing the Ellison family's bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery. The Ellisons are rich and powerful. Larry Ellison is the co-founder of Oracle. His son David is now the head of Paramount Global. They've made changes at CBS that seem to appeal to conservatives. They hired a conservative think tank head as ombudsman and a right-of-center journalist as editor in chief. They also ended DEI initiatives. But CNN staff are worried. If the Netflix deal goes through, CNN could still be sold to someone else. Maybe a local TV giant or an investment fund. Or maybe Paramount will try to buy it again. The Ellisons have suggested CNN is worth very little. This has staffers feeling dread. Trump's comments about CNN's leadership are unprecedented. CNN anchor Jake Tapper said Trump is thin-skinned and wants an obedient press. Meanwhile, Paramount is trying to build trust. They're promising to save Hollywood from being swallowed by Netflix. But major investors in their bid have ties to Trump. This includes the Saudi Crown Prince and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. CNN staff are not happy about this. They don't want Trump allies owning their network. But the auction isn't over yet. Netflix's deal isn't final. And there's no clarity on who will own or control CNN. It's a mess, and it's not clear who's really in control.