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Attacking the media is a foundational strategy of authoritarianism, used to control information, silence critics and avoid accountability. But the fight for our First Amendment rights is growing. Here's the latest with media consolidation, and local newsrooms over the last few weeks...

FCC Chair Brendan Carr is using ABC's license review to punish speech. This order is a threat to Disney's licenses, and alters how broadcasters exercise their First Amendment rights and freedom of the press. The FCC must stop its unconstitutional attacks on ABC. Our statement:

Free Press Calls for End to Carr’s Unconstitutional Crusade Against ABC"Carr is embarrassing himself again by concocting this utterly shameful censorship campaign on behalf of a petty president" says Free Press' Matt Wood.www.freepress.net

“BreakThrough News is not the first, nor will it be the last, to come under official attack for bringing people alternative and useful news coverage about ICE abuses, foreign policy, Palestinian rights, and other topics.” - Free Press' @attorneynora.bsky.social via @commondreams.org

"Paramount can pretend that it looks forward to that test, but that's just more bluster trying to spin a major setback. Now this deal will face its day in court, and we are confident the evidence will show this mega-merger should be blocked." - @notaaroncraig.bsky.social via @arstechnica.com

Paramount/WBD merger delayed for months as states' lawsuit moves toward trial“Halting this merger while our case proceeds is a critical victory," NY AG said.arstechnica.com

Paramount retreats. They said it was a done deal. Not anymore. Paramount and the state attorneys general have agreed to a freeze of the Ellisons' dangerous takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, allowing the antitrust suit to move forward. Our statement: www.freepress.net/news/paramou...

Paramount clearly understood what anyone would who followed the facts in this case: that this deal is clearly a violation of U.S. antitrust laws. Instead of fighting the inevitable, they've resigned to fighting this where it was always going to end up: an antitrust trial in Federal court.

Paramount Agrees to Delay Warner Bros. Merger for Months (Gift Article)The company agreed to a proposed freeze until June 2027, unless a judge issues a ruling before then on a lawsuit blocking the deal.www.nytimes.com

"Organizations need to shift how they do their work, stop being tied to legacy platforms, and look at where audiences are, where people are gaining information and how we can shift our services to meet those needs." - Matt Schuster of @publicmedianet.bsky.social on new community media models

Community Media Centers Can Benefit from New Public-Funding Models for News and Civic InformationA Pressing Issues conversation with Matt Schuster, executive director of Public Media Networkpressingissues.org

Wisconsinites are often in the dark about what's happening in their communities. Free Press Action gathered a group of newsroom leaders to map out a path forward. More here: https://www.freepress.net/blog/pass-legislation-wisconsin-journalists-and-media-leaders-are-getting-organized

To Pass Legislation, Wisconsin Journalists and Media Leaders Are Getting OrganizedPeople in Wisconsin are struggling to find basic information about everything from wildfire smoke to local ICE activity. A new coalition could change that.www.freepress.net

🚨 One of the defining battles for modern democracy is media consolidation. Watch the full conversation between @jgo4justice.bsky.social and Robert Weissman of @publiccitizen.bsky.social on the deliberate consolidation and control of the media ecosystem: substack.com/inbox/post/2...

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The 12-state coalition, led by CA AG @robbonta.bsky.social, sought the temporary restraining order for up to 28 days. The states are also seeking a preliminary injunction, which would block it until the judge rules on the merits of the states’ lawsuit. More: www.freepress.net/news/federal...

Breaking news: A federal judge issued a temporary halt to Paramount Skydance's $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. More here:

Federal Judge Issues Temporary Restraining Order to Stop Paramount Skydance Takeover Without Further Court ReviewThese state attorneys general are stepping up to enforce the nation’s laws when the Trump administration is refusing to do so.www.freepress.net

"The national cap remains good policy. It promotes competition, localism, and diversity in broadcasting, incentivizing stations to preserve local newsrooms and journalism jobs instead of duplicating stories nationwide to pass off as local news." - @mattfieldwood.bsky.social via @commondreams.org

FCC Chair Ripped Over 'Unlawful' Plan to Hand 'Public Airwaves to Billionaire Buddies' of Trump | Common DreamsThe lone Democrat on the FCC said Brendan Carr's plan would "destroy local newsrooms, silence community reporting, and drive-up costs for the American families."www.commondreams.org

The lawsuit to block the Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. Discovery deal is a huge win. But there's a long road ahead in this fight. Here's what will happen next from @jgo4justice.bsky.social:

What's Next in the Fight to Derail the Ellisons' Warner Bros. TakeoverTwelve state attorneys general have sued to block the corrupt and illegal merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery. Here’s what will happen next.www.freepress.net

Jay Clayton — Trump's nominee to serve as director of national intelligence — has zero qualifications for the job. He's an election denier and is the same guy who subpoenaed NY Times reporters for no legitimate reason. More here:

Trump Nominee Jay Clayton's Refusal to Respond Honestly to Senators Is DisqualifyingMaking a Trump loyalist the director of national intelligence would undermine national security and devastate the civil liberties of everyone in the United States.www.freepress.net

Brendan Carr is once again attempting to intimidate broadcasters that air any criticisms of Trump. Carr has tarnished his office and weaponized the FCC, choosing to kneel before a rogue president — instead of actually protecting the public interest and upholding his constitutional oath. 🧵 >>>

"The national cap is not a special disadvantage for broadcasters. In fact, broadcasters have a special advantage with their exclusive licenses to use precious national airwaves the way they do." - @mattfieldwood.bsky.social via @theverge.com

Brendan Carr plans to let broadcast giants dominate the airwavesOpponents say only Congress can do that.www.theverge.com

"Just as the FCC had no power to waive a congressional statute to grease the skids for Nexstar's merger with Tegna, it has no power now to completely obliterate the limit Congress set." - Free Press' @mattfieldwood.bsky.social via @commondreams.org

FCC Chair Ripped Over 'Unlawful' Plan to Hand 'Public Airwaves to Billionaire Buddies' of Trump | Common DreamsThe lone Democrat on the FCC said Brendan Carr's plan would "destroy local newsrooms, silence community reporting, and drive-up costs for the American families."www.commondreams.org

FCC Chairman Carr aims to please Donald Trump at all costs. And now he wants to ignore a longstanding law to push through the Nexstar-Tegna merger. More here: https://www.freepress.net/news/trump-fcc-attempts-illegal-repeal-congress-national-broadcast-ownership-cap

Trump FCC Attempts Illegal 'Repeal' of Congress’ National Broadcast Ownership CapBrendan Carr’s arrogance matches that of his boss Donald Trump as the FCC chairman works to bend or break every rule to grow his own power and aid his political allies.www.freepress.net

Congress set the 39% cap in a 2004 law. "Brendan Carr cannot undo the limit that Congress set just because he feels like it." - Free Press' @mattfieldwood.bsky.social via @cnn.com https://edition.cnn.com/2026/07/15/media/fcc-carr-trump-broadcasters-sinclair-nexstar

Now that 12 state attorneys general have sued to block Paramount's takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, what will happen next? Free Press' @jgo4justice.bsky.social breaks it down for you.

What's Next in the Fight to Derail the Ellisons' Warner Bros. TakeoverTwelve state attorneys general have sued to block the corrupt and illegal merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery. Here’s what will happen next.www.freepress.net