States settle lawsuit over Paramount-Warner merger, clearing key hurdle for $81 billion deal

The briefing

Twelve states and Hollywood writers reached settlements on Monday in lawsuits challenging Paramount’s $81 billion buyout of Warner Bros. Discovery, clearing a major hurdle for the mega-merger. Under the agreement led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Paramount committed to increasing U.S. film production, funding displaced workers, and establishing editorial independence monitoring. The transaction still requires final approval by a judge.