This Mysterious “Astroturf” Group Popped Up to Defend the Paramount Merger
In text messages, the newly formed group boosted reported threats by CEO David Ellison to move Paramount out of California. The post This Mysterious “Astroturf” Group Popped Up to Defend the Paramount Merger appeared first on The Intercept .
A recently formed nonprofit organization has emerged to defend a contentious merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, drawing accusations of being an "astroturf" front group. This group, Neighbors for Strong Communities, sent text messages urging Californians to pressure Democrat Attorney General Rob Bonta to support the merger, which he has vowed to block in court.
The text messages have escalated tensions between Bonta and Paramount CEO David Ellison, who has threatened to relocate his studio to Texas or Tennessee if the merger is blocked by a coalition of state attorneys general, led by Bonta. Neighbors for Strong Communities denied the allegations but did not disclose its donors, prompting free-speech advocates to criticize the group's lack of transparency.
Warner Bros. Discovery denied funding the text message campaign, while Paramount declined to comment. The group's creation has raised questions about its origins and funding, with critics alleging it is a corporate-backed astroturf campaign designed to create the illusion of grassroots opposition. The group's incorporation papers show that several listed directors have backgrounds in political consulting.
The debate over the merger has been dominated by concerns about job losses and potential corporate influence on media outlets like CNN, which is owned by Disney, parent company of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Written by urgent.news from The Intercept's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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