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A new nonprofit launched a text campaign to pressure California's AG to drop a challenge against the Paramount-WBD deal; critics call it corporate astroturf (Matt Sledge/The Intercept)
https://theintercept.com/2026/08/21/paramount-merger-war…

This Mysterious “Astroturf” Group Popped Up to Defend the Paramount Merger
In text messages, the newly formed “Neighbors for Strong Communities” boosted reported threats by CEO David Ellison to move Paramount out of California.

We’ve well established how the
$111 billion Paramount and Warner Brothers merger
is terrible for labor, creatives, consumers, and markets.
But the kind of behaviors Paramount leadership have been engaged in to sell the deal also give a pretty clear indication what kind of company we’re dealing with,
-- and why they shouldn’t be allowed to control an even bigger slice of U.S. media.
Recent desperate moves by Paramount include accusing all deal critics of being …

Paramount Caught Using ‘Astroturf’ Group To Drum Up Fake Support For Merger
We’ve well established how the $111 billion Paramount and Warner Brothers merger is terrible for labor, creatives, consumers, and markets. But the kind of behaviors Paramount leadership have …

Paramount Caught Using ‘Astroturf’ Group To Drum Up Fake Support For Merger | Techdirt
https://www.techdirt.com/2026/09/08/paramount-caught-using-astroturf-group-to-drum-up-fake-support-for-merger/