Podcast Summary: The Brett Cooper Show

Episode: The Pettiest $108B Power Move Ever: Netflix vs Paramount | Episode 105
Date: December 9, 2025
Host: Brett Cooper

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the intensifying battle for control of Warner Bros., focusing on the escalating “power move” between Netflix and Paramount. Brett Cooper unpacks not only the financial and corporate intrigue but the broader cultural and political implications, exploring how these shifting ownerships could reshape media, values, and American society at large.

Main Themes

• The high-stakes, hostile takeover saga between Netflix and Paramount for Warner Bros.
• The politicization of big media deals and their impact on American culture and content.
• The encroachment of foreign investment, particularly from the Middle East, into U.S. media.
• The growing consolidation of major media outlets and its ramifications on diversity of content and creative freedom.
• Navigating consumer agency in a rapidly changing media landscape.

Detailed Breakdown & Key Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Paramount's $108 Billion “Nuclear Bomb” Offer

• Paramount, recently itself acquired by David Ellison’s Skydance, launches a $108B bid for all of Warner Bros. Discovery, topping Netflix by $18B ([02:15]).
  • “This new Paramount deal seems like it would be better for the future of Hollywood and moviemaking, it of course has broader implications and the Internet is actively duking it out.” – Brett ([00:35])
• Contrasts with Netflix’s $90B deal, which was limited to the studio and streaming assets; Paramount wants the whole thing—including CNN and cable networks.

2. Political Battle Lines: Left vs Right…Or More?

• The deal is framed as “Obama and socialist backed Netflix” vs. “Republican, Middle East–backed Paramount” ([00:24]).
• “On the surface it seems like this has kind of become a left versus right issue because Netflix is backed by Democrats and Paramount is now backed by Republicans. But it is so much more than that.” – Brett ([00:47])
• Susan Rice (former Obama/Biden official) is on Netflix’s board, shaping its direction.
• Paramount’s backers include not just the Ellison family but major Middle Eastern and Trump-connected stakeholders, notably Jared Kushner’s investment company.

3. The Succession Vibes and Ellison Family Intrigue

• Brett likens the situation to a real-world, high-drama episode of “Succession” ([01:00]).
• Skydance’s David Ellison (son of Oracle founder Larry Ellison) is at the center, intent on creating “the world’s largest media conglomerate.”
  • “David Ellison is basically… trying to create the world's largest media conglomerate… Just three months later, they have set their sights on the entirety of Warner Brothers.” – Brett ([03:30])
• Paramount acquired CBS News, hiring Barry Weiss; Trump puts Larry Ellison in charge of TikTok US operations and data security.

4. The Drama Heats Up: Paramount’s Hostile Tactics

• Unprecedented move: Paramount bypasses Warner Bros.’ board, making their offer public after being “ignored” ([05:25]).
  • "We literally submitted $30 a share in cash. Never got a phone call, never got a single markup... That’s why we’re here today.” – David Ellison on CNBC ([05:35])
• Brett characterizes this as “petty and dramatic… It’s incredible.”, underscoring the personal pride and vengeance at play.

5. The Foreign Investment Angle and Public Concern

• Paramount’s bid is partially funded by Saudi, Qatari, and Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth funds, plus Kushner’s firm ([07:06]).
  • “So to sum that up, the way that I see it, the Middle East is trying to buy Warner Brothers and the entire entertainment industry.” – Brett ([07:15])
• Raises concerns about foreign influence and control over U.S. media narratives and assets.
• Net result: Americans have little control over the consolidation and foreign involvement in their entertainment ([00:55]).

6. Culture Wars, Streaming vs Theatrical, and Consumer Manipulation

• Paramount positions itself as the champion of theaters, pledging “30 plus theatrical releases,” and appealing to creators and traditional movie fans ([09:10]).
  • "We believe that our offer will create a stronger Hollywood… the creative community, the consumers and the movie theater industry… will benefit from enhanced competition and higher content spend.” – David Ellison press release ([09:10])
• Takes subtle jabs at Netflix for streaming-first, “woke” content.
  • Brett mocks a new Netflix film: “A trans woman dreams of working in the coal mines… Trans coal mining. Great. Like the jokes write themselves.” ([09:45])

7. Media Monopoly Fears and Antitrust Issues

• Conservatives like Clay Travis advocate for Paramount, seeing it as an ideological counterweight to Netflix, but Brett questions both sides’ commitments to marketplace diversity and antitrust principles.
  • “If the argument is about anti monopoly and pro marketplace of ideas, then I think there are obviously also concerns with Paramount's bid… A free marketplace of ideas is not just having somebody on your team who's a friend of Trump's.” – Brett ([12:00])
• Both deals must get through regulatory scrutiny, with Trump wielding major influence as president.

8. Trump’s Take and Shifting Allegiances

• Trump on Netflix’s acquisition risk:
  • "That's going to be for some economists to tell. And also, and I'll be involved in that decision too… They have a very big market share, but it is a big market share. There's no question about it. Could be a problem.” – Donald Trump, Kennedy Center event ([14:57])
• Trump turns on the new Paramount ownership after a 60 Minutes episode with Marjorie Taylor Greene:
  • "...the new ownership of 60 Minutes Paramount would allow a show like this to air. They are no better than the old ownership…” – Donald Trump, Truth Social ([15:20])

9. The Big Picture: Lose-Lose for American Consumers?

• Brett concludes that neither outcome truly benefits Americans; both deals concentrate power, threaten independent voices, and risk foreign/state control over news and movies.
  • “I feel like I'm still figuring it out. Like right now, I am less concerned with the quote, unquote wokeness and gayness from Netflix than I am with one family and foreign governments literally owning the majority of our media.” – Brett ([16:30])
• She ironically notes Disney already owns much of American media, so this sort of conglomeration isn’t unprecedented.
• Final takeaway: Consumer control lies in what individuals allow into their homes, and the imperative to support independent voices is stronger than ever.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the pettiness of the battle:
  • “Paramount has now taken its offer directly to shareholders and its board of directors to ensure that they have the opportunity to pursue this clearly superior alternative. Mic drop. I mean, that is so petty and dramatic. It's incredible.” – Brett ([06:25])
• On the illusion of consumer choice:
  • “It genuinely feels like we are living in a choose your own adventure simulation episode of the TV show Succession. However, we actually can't choose our own adventure because this entire story unfortunately just shows us how little control we actually have as American consumers...” – Brett ([00:55])
• On the stakes for American culture:
  • “You can't control what Netflix produces, what Paramount produces, who buys who, but you can control the content that is allowed in your home. So regardless of what happens, you still decide.” – Brett ([17:30])
• On conglomerate overreach:
  • “Larry Ellison and his son will control TikTok, Warner Brothers Studios, Paramount, CBS, CNN, all of HBO, Paramount Plus… They would have distribution that is possibly even greater than Disney. No wonder Netflix doesn't want them to have Warner Brothers.” – Tweet cited by Brett ([18:10])

Important Timestamps

• 00:24 – Setting the rhetorical battle lines: Netflix as “Obama/socialist backed” and Paramount as “Middle East-backed.”
• 05:25 – David Ellison on being rebuffed by Warner Bros. and going hostile with the bid.
• 07:06 – Brett details foreign and political stakeholders in Paramount’s war chest.
• 09:10 – Paramount’s public rationale and promises to consumers and creatives.
• 14:57 – Trump’s comments on Netflix’s potential monopoly during Kennedy Center event.
• 15:20 – Trump’s about-face criticizing Paramount after 60 Minutes segment.
• 16:30-18:10 – Brett’s conclusion: consumer empowerment amid the corporate/foreign power struggle.

Tone and Style

• Sharp, sarcastic, and conversational; frequently interspersed with pop culture references ("Succession") and pointed jokes about both sides.
• Blunt skepticism towards power—whether from tech, Hollywood, old money, or foreign interests.

Takeaway

Brett Cooper’s analysis frames the Netflix vs Paramount/Warner Bros. saga as a microcosm of America’s media, ideological, and generational battles. She warns that regardless of which behemoth wins, the ordinary consumer’s control diminishes as foreign interests and political alliances shape what people see and hear. The episode closes with a call to vigilance, encouraging audiences to support independent creators and curate their own media, as consolidation and culture wars rage on.