CDC Vaccine Vote; Netflix Buys Warner Bros; Economic Outlook

16.889 - 31.032 Eder Peralta

But we've never had a year quite like this one before. That's because federal funding for public media was eliminated as of October 1st. That means NPR is now operating without federal support for the first time in our history.

31.934 - 38.965 Ayesha Roscoe

This is a huge change and a big challenge, but it's one that we can overcome together.

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49.932 - 64.429 Ayesha Roscoe

Listeners like Joshua in Oregon who says, A little sanity amidst a sea of chaos does my heart and mind some good. I love Up First. It's been a wonderful addition to my daily routines.

65.185 - 68.649 Eder Peralta

That is very sweet, and no one has said, I'm sane.

499.139 - 513.068 Mandalit Delbarco

And all of that will belong to Netflix now, along with a library that includes The Wizard of Oz and DC Comics with superheroes Batman and Superman. But one note here is that some of Warner Brothers cable channels like CNN are not part of this deal.

513.487 - 520.1 Eder Peralta

I imagine that Netflix is feeling pretty great at the moment. But what about everyone else in the industry? How are they feeling?

520.661 - 540.45 Mandalit Delbarco

Well, theater owners are very worried about this mega deal. In fact, Cinema United, the trade organization representing thousands of theaters around the world, It says it opposes the deal. And they say that 25% of the annual domestic box office could disappear if Warner Brothers movies go straight to the streaming platform. That's been Netflix's business model.

541.051 - 549.58 Mandalit Delbarco

James Cameron, the director, he's always urging people to watch movies in the theaters. Well, last week before the deal was made, he speculated about what would happen.

575.762 - 598.118 Mandalit Delbarco

Yes. The Producers Guild, the Actors Union, they say they're very concerned. And the Writers Guild wants the merger blocked. They warn in a statement that the deal will eliminate jobs, push down wages, and raise prices for consumers. The Directors Guild of America, that's headed by filmmaker Christopher Nolan, they say it will be meeting with Netflix to understand more of what all of this means.

598.098 - 617.484 Mandalit Delbarco

Actress Jane Fonda calls this a catastrophic business deal that could destroy Hollywood and the entire entertainment industry. She spoke on behalf of the Committee for the First Amendment, which her father, Henry Fonda, helped create during the McCarthy era. And we should note that the Actors Union SAG-AFTRA also represents many of us at NPR.

618.105 - 623.312 Eder Peralta

So this is a huge business deal. Will regulators okay it?

623.697 - 646.03 Mandalit Delbarco

Well, we'll have to see, but there is bipartisan concern about the deal. Utah Senator Mike Lee, he tweeted that there's sure to be an antitrust hearing. Another Republican, Kansas Senator Roger Marshall, he suggests the deal could hurt consumers and even Western society. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, tweeted that the Netflix deal looks like an anti-monopoly nightmare.

646.351 - 660.236 Mandalit Delbarco

She said it'll create a massive media giant that would force consumers into higher prices. and fewer choices? California Congressman Ro Khanna, a member of the Progressive Caucus, he told NPR the deal should be scrutinized by regulators.