Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations and Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation, working toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all. On the web at theschmidt.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Paramount is mounting a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery.
As NPR's Maria Aspin reports, Saudi Arabia and China are involved in the latest Hollywood drama, and so is President Trump's son-in-law. Paramount is taking on Netflix, which last week agreed to buy some of Warner Bros. businesses. Paramount wants to control all of them and is offering Warner Bros. shareholders a deal worth $108 billion.
Paramount is also controlled by Larry Ellison, one of the world's richest people, and his son David. But they're not putting up all the cash themselves. Instead, they've lined up money from the governments of Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar. Another investor has ties to China, and another was founded by President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Paramount says that if its hostile takeover succeeds, the Middle Eastern governments and Kushner's firm would not be involved in running Warner Brothers. Maria Aspin, NPR News, New York. The Supreme Court seems open to overruling a 90-year-old precedent that's prevented presidents from removing members of independent agencies at will.
As NPR's Andrea Hsu reports, the case could reshape the balance of power within the federal government.
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Chapter 2: What is the latest news on Paramount's takeover bid for Warner Bros.?
Iceblock is an app that went viral for allowing users to anonymously send out alerts when immigration and custom enforcement agents were conducting a raid. Joshua Aaron is the app's developer. It would alert users within a five-mile radius of that location, and they would get a notification on their phone. And then they could make a decision on whether or not they wanted to be in that vicinity.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the app endangers federal agents. Bondi has said Aaron is under investigation, and she convinced Apple to remove the app from its app store. Now Aaron is suing the Trump administration for violating his First Amendment rights and making unlawful threats against him for protected speech.
The Justice Department and Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Bobby Allen, NPR News. The Supreme Court seems open to overruling a 90-year-old precedent that's prevented presidents from removing members of independent agencies at will. As NPR's Andrea Hsu reports, the case could reshape the balance of power within the federal government.
The case before the court today sprung from President Trump's firing of a Democratic member of the Federal Trade Commission. But the case could have far-reaching implications. The Trump administration argued the Constitution gives the president the right to remove anyone who assists him in carrying out his executive duties for any reason.
The administration said the president must have such removal powers in order to remain accountable to the people who elected him. On the other side, lawyers for the fired FTC commissioner said there's a long historical tradition of creating independent agencies insulated from presidential control and that limits on presidential power are necessary to protect the public's interests.
Andrea Hsu, NPR News. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Thailand and Cambodia have resumed fighting over disputed territory just months after agreeing to a ceasefire. The peace agreement had been brokered by the Trump administration in July, but both sides have accused each other of violations. The renewed fighting threatens tourism, a key industry for both countries.
The start of awards season kicked off this morning with nominations for the Golden Globes. NPR's Mandelit Delbarco reports. The dark comedy action thriller One Battle After Another picked up nine Golden Globes nominations, including for director Paul Thomas Anderson and actors Chase Infinity, Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn, Tiana Taylor, and Leonardo DiCaprio, who stars as a washed-up revolutionary.
Viva la revoluciĆ³n! Among the film dramas competing for Golden Globes is the Norwegian comedy Sentimental Value and Ryan Coogler's period horror Sinners, with seven nominations, including for actor Michael B. Jordan, who plays twin brothers. Be careful. I will. Comedian Nikki Glaser will once again host the ceremony, which will be held in Beverly Hills on January 11th.
The Texas comptroller's office says it has purchased $5 million in Bitcoin, its first investment in cryptocurrency. The legislature approved a bill this year to allow the comptroller to invest up to $10 million in Bitcoin. The purchase is one of the first of its kind by a state government. The price of Bitcoin has exploded this year as President Trump has embraced the cryptocurrency. U.S.
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