The Jim Acosta Show – April 14, 2026

Actor Mark Ruffalo on Blocking the Paramount Merger, Olivia Troye Runs for Congress, LA Mayor Karen Bass and Norm Eisen

Episode Overview

This episode centers on urgent political and media developments: the fight against the proposed Warner Bros Discovery–Paramount merger, the congressional run of former White House official Olivia Troye, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s leadership on homelessness and local industry, and broader threats to American democracy. A surprise appearance by actor and activist Mark Ruffalo – alongside legal expert Norm Eisen – puts a spotlight on the mobilization in Hollywood to block media consolidation. The tone is urgent, passionate, and deeply engaged with questions of justice, democracy, and the future of independent news.

Key Segments and Insights

1. Olivia Troye Announces Congressional Run (00:06–11:53)

• Background & Motivation (00:49–03:17)
  • Olivia Troye recounts her journey as the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, a national security professional, and whistleblower against the Trump administration.
  • Troye frames her candidacy as part of a personal and national struggle to hold powerful figures accountable, particularly Donald Trump and his allies.
    • “MAGAs have been coming after me and... they should be [scared] because they better be ready... I know exactly how to go after these people.” (02:48 – Olivia Troye)
• Campaign Platform (05:20–07:33)
  • Emphasizes affordability, healthcare (Medicare/Medicaid), and education (Pell Grants), speaking from her lived experience as a first-generation college graduate.
  • Strong critique of current domestic and foreign policy, highlighting the impact of ongoing war with Iran on American families.
  • Calls for oversight of ICE and DHS.
    • “I'm watching what's happening... never mind the doge cuts... affordability here... [impacts] working class families... I want to go after THS and ICE and really do a full review of what they're doing...” (06:38 – Olivia Troye)
• Response to Trump, 25th Amendment (07:33–10:54)
  • Discusses Trump’s social media post depicting himself as Christ; shares her outrage as a Catholic and calls for action on the 25th Amendment to assess Trump’s mental fitness.
    • “I never saw that asshole pray once when I was there in the White House. Sorry, am I allowed to say that word when you’re running for Congress?” (09:19 – Olivia Troye)
• Campaign Engagement (11:06)
  • Invites voters to engage at OliviaTroy.com, promises closeness to the community and accessibility as a candidate.
    • “If you’re in Virginia, please come out. I will come out and meet you...” (11:13 – Olivia Troye)

2. LA Mayor Karen Bass on Leadership Challenges (12:13–25:50)

• Reaction to Eric Swalwell’s Resignation (13:04–15:14)
  • Expresses shock and concern, underscores importance of stability in California's governorship to avoid Republican leadership.
  • Endorses Antonio Villaraigosa for governor: “Day one, the minute he jumped into the race... he’s a fighter to the end.” (14:28 – Karen Bass)
• Homelessness & Housing Solutions (15:36–17:06)
  • Details LA’s first two-year decline in street homelessness and ongoing efforts to fast-track affordable housing construction.
    • “It was a tough decision to leave Congress, but that's how important the issue was... We have 40,000 people who are unhoused, and a good 40%... literally living on our streets.” (15:37 – Karen Bass)
• ICE & Federal Government Tensions (17:06–19:35)
  • Describes continued aggressive ICE enforcement despite less public attention, recounts the trauma of military occupation of LA and the chilling effect on immigrants and local economies.
    • “It’s just not in the headlines ... And that's when it becomes even more frightening...” (18:37 – Karen Bass)
• Impact of Potential Warner Bros–Paramount Merger (19:35–21:51)
  • Warns of a “serious setback” for LA’s creative economy if the merger leads to middle-class job losses and studio shutdowns.
    • “This is our foundational industry... we do not want it to be another body blow to our local economy.” (20:16 – Karen Bass)
• LA’s Readiness for Olympics & Trump’s Unpredictability (22:01–24:53)
  • Expresses confidence in LA’s Olympic preparations, reassures listeners that Trump is too invested in the Games’ global prestige to sabotage them.
    • “I think he is as obsessed and as interested and committed to these Games as anybody...” (23:13 – Karen Bass)
• Blasphemous Trump Imagery (24:53–25:22)
  • Dismisses Trump’s behavior as predictable but troubling, emphasizing the large and offended Catholic community in LA.

3. Spotlight: Blocking the Media Merger

Jim Acosta, Norm Eisen, & Surprise Guest Mark Ruffalo (25:50–46:53)

Background and Reporting (25:50–28:28)

• Acosta details industry outrage and breaking coverage of Paramount pulling ads from The Ankler for opposing the merger.
• Paramount’s intimidation tactics signal broader threats to dissent and independent journalism.

Mark Ruffalo’s Perspective & The Artists’ Campaign (28:28–41:02)

• Ruffalo’s Industry Warning (30:42–33:01)
  • Outlines the devastating impact of prior media consolidation (Disney-Fox) on film/TV output and jobs.
  • Analyzes the math: $78B of debt, “goofy trumpy math,” and impossibility of producing promised film output.
    • “To make 30 pictures a year, starting out at $78 billion in debt... that's 30 Avengers: Endgame... It's insane.” (31:21 – Mark Ruffalo)
• Experience Organizing the Open Letter (33:02–34:11)
  • Describes initial defeatism among artists, then a flood of support for the letter — over 1,000 signatures in days, including filmmakers with deep studio ties.
    • “Everyone signed it. Everyone we asked. And in four days, there's a thousand people... These are people who have deals inside of Paramount and Warner Brothers.” (33:20 – Mark Ruffalo)
• Solidarity, Fear, Industry Power (36:23–39:01)
  • Warns of a chilling effect: retaliation against journalists and workers, referencing the canceled Ankler ads.
    • “The first thing they do out of the gate is they, they, they cancel the anchor's [ads]...” (37:42 – Mark Ruffalo)
  • Norm Eisen emphasizes unity as the key to past victories against authoritarian overreach: “When people have stood together and stood up to the administration, they succeed.” (41:09 – Norm Eisen)

Democracy vs. Oligarchy — Why This Merger Matters (41:02–45:30)

• Comparison to Hungary and Global Backsliding (39:09–39:29)
  • Acosta likens the danger to the erosion of free media under Viktor Orban, asking whether America will face years of recovery if oligarchs gain control.
• Working People on the Line (39:29–41:02)
  • Ruffalo highlights the “crews and working people” whose jobs are at risk.
    • “If you merge these two groups... the first thing that they're going to do is start firing people and laying people off to service $78 billion in debt.”
• Call for United Action & Broader Significance (44:13–45:30)
  • Ruffalo urges every agency, union, and management firm to unite, painting the anti-merger fight as part of a nationwide struggle against oligarchy and worker disempowerment.
    • “We're not just fighting for our industry. It’s also signals to all of the other industries that are under consolidation right now in the United States... this is a moment where we have to fight an oligarchy that is in full control of our Congress and presidency. And the only way that we're going to win is if we fight — together.” (44:13 – Mark Ruffalo)

Emotional Close and Rally to Action (45:30–46:53)

• Acosta thanks Ruffalo and Eisen, calling Ruffalo an “American hero for early days” and pledges to support the activist fight.
• The segment closes on a note of urgency and solidarity, with references to the responsibility of public figures and ordinary citizens alike.

Most Notable Quotes & Highlights

• “MAGAs have been coming after me and... they should be [scared] because... I’m coming for them and I know exactly how to go after these people.”
  — Olivia Troye (02:48)

• “I never saw that asshole pray once when I was there in the White House.”
  — Olivia Troye (09:19)

• "This is our foundational industry... and to lose these middle class jobs... we do not want it to be another body blow to our local economy."
  — Karen Bass (20:16)

• “To make 30 pictures a year, starting out at $78 billion in debt... that's 30 Avengers: Endgame... It's insane.”
  — Mark Ruffalo (31:21)

• "Everyone signed it. Everyone we asked. And in four days, there's a thousand people... These are people who have deals inside of Paramount and Warner Brothers."
  — Mark Ruffalo (33:20)

• "The first thing they do out of the gate is they, they, they cancel the anchor's [ads]..."
  — Mark Ruffalo (37:42)

• "The only way we can fight is by doing it together... the more we see each other, the braver we become. Every industry in the United States is under attack. The workers are under attack."
  — Mark Ruffalo (44:13, 45:27)

• "The oligarchs, people like the Ellisons, who not only want to take over CBS and Paramount, they now want to take over Warner Brothers, Discovery and CNN... this is not the American way... Rising up against it is very much the American way."
  — Jim Acosta (49:13)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Olivia Troye Congressional Announcement: 00:06–11:53

  • Personal story and campaign launch: 00:49–03:17
  • Video excerpt: 03:28–05:20
  • Domestic policy positions: 05:20–07:33
  • Trump discussion, 25th Amendment: 07:33–10:54

• LA Mayor Karen Bass: 12:13–25:50

  • Swalwell resignation & endorsement: 13:04–15:14
  • Homelessness & housing: 15:36–17:06
  • ICE practices & military occupation: 17:06–19:35
  • Merger impact: 19:35–21:51
  • Olympic prep & Trump: 22:01–24:53

• Media Merger Fight (Ruffalo, Eisen, Acosta): 25:50–46:53

  • Background and intimidation tactics: 25:50–28:28
  • Ruffalo’s activism and letter organizing: 28:28–41:02
  • Unity, democracy, and the meaning of the fight: 41:02–45:30
  • Closing remarks and rally to action: 45:30–46:53

Takeaways

• Troye’s candidacy is a testament to courage and the hope for accountability in government, while also foregrounding essential “bread and butter” issues.
• Mayor Bass’s leadership highlights the intersection of economic, social, and political challenges facing urban America, especially for the entertainment capital.
• Mark Ruffalo and Norm Eisen’s surprise appearance galvanizes listeners with a call to collective action against media oligarchy, linking the future of news and democracy in the fight against the Warner-Paramount merger.
• Throughout, Jim Acosta’s passionate, unapologetically activist tone reinforces the stakes for democracy and independent media.

This episode serves as both a newsmaking discussion and a rallying cry for listeners concerned with democracy, media freedom, and the power of collective action – whether in politics or in Hollywood.