Bloomberg News Now December 16, 2025: Trump Blocks Oil Tankers, Warner Ready to Reject Paramount Bid, More
Dec 17, 2025
The latest news covers Trump's blockade of oil tankers targeting Venezuela, a bold move against Maduro's regime. Warner Bros. Discovery plans to reject a bid from Paramount, favoring a more promising deal with Netflix instead. In tech, Amazon is eyeing a massive investment in OpenAI, potentially exceeding $10 billion. Meanwhile, the investigation into a shooting at Brown University continues, with a reward offered for information. Tension within the GOP is palpable as Speaker Mike Johnson faces criticism over voting procedures.
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US Escalates Pressure On Venezuela
- President Trump ordered a total blockade of sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela to increase pressure on Nicolás Maduro's regime.
- He also designated the Maduro regime as a foreign terrorist organization to escalate diplomatic and economic isolation.
Warner's Board Prefers Netflix Deal
- Warner Bros. Discovery plans to reject Paramount Skydance's hostile bid, citing financing and term concerns and favoring its Netflix deal.
- Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners withdrew from financing, reducing Paramount's backing and complicating the takeover effort.
Amazon Could Back OpenAI
- Amazon is reportedly negotiating a $10 billion-plus investment in OpenAI that could value OpenAI above $500 billion.
- The deal may steer OpenAI toward using Amazon Web Services and Amazon's Tranium AI chips for infrastructure needs.