Slate Daily Feed What Next | How Big Media Obeys in Advance
11 snips
Sep 22, 2025 This week’s guest is Nitish Pahwa, a staff writer at Slate focusing on business and technology. He dives into how major media companies like Paramount and Disney are aligning with the Trump administration and the FCC's Brendan Carr. They discuss Carr’s tactics, like using licensing threats to influence media mergers. Pahwa also examines the Ellison family's plans for CBS, potential acquisitions, and the risks that media consolidation poses to dissenting voices in journalism. It’s a revealing look at power dynamics in the media landscape.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
FCC Chair's Public Pressure Works
- Brendan Carr's public threats pressured broadcasters to self-censor quickly.
- That pressure changed staffing decisions and signaled who can speak on air.
Self-Interest Drives Media Capitulation
- Major media groups fold to administrations out of self-interest to protect business.
- Consolidation plus regulatory threats incentivize compliance over editorial independence.
Media Becoming More Consolidated And Right-Wing
- Media looks likely to become more consolidated and more right-wing, Nitish warns.
- Changes affect TV, newspapers, and social platforms simultaneously.