The Reason Roundtable Why Elizabeth Warren and Donald Trump Hate the Netflix Deal
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Dec 9, 2025 Liz Wolfe, an associate editor at Reason Magazine, joins the discussion on the controversial Netflix-Warner Bros. deal. The panel dives into Elizabeth Warren's push to block the merger and Donald Trump’s involvement. They explore the implications of Jared Kushner's bid with Paramount and what this means for antitrust politics. Transitioning to the economy, they analyze the effects of Trump's tariff strategy amid rising layoffs. Liz also highlights how faith and community might offer solutions to political polarization.
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Big Media Consolidation Meets New Competition
- The Netflix–Warner Bros. deal would combine huge IP like Batman, Harry Potter, and HBO under one streaming owner.
- That concentration raises antitrust alarm but also may simply reflect industry consolidation responding to new competitors like YouTube and TikTok.
Antitrust Has Shifted From Consumers To Ideology
- Katherine Mangu-Ward warns antitrust has drifted away from consumer-welfare metrics toward ideological fights.
- Both left and right now use antitrust to target large firms for reasons unrelated to prices or consumer harm.
Politics Now Entangles Big Deals
- Matt Welch recounts how politics now tangles large corporate deals and regulatory approval, unlike 25 years ago.
- He argues the system invites corruption and deal-chasing by political actors and allies.
