When the FCC approved the Paramount-Skydance merger Thursday, one commissioner blasted the decision, calling it an act of “ cowardly capitulation ” on behalf of Paramount and warning that this could lead to a further “erosion of our First Amendment protections.”

The sole Democrat on the FCC delivered a blistering statement on the FCC’s approval of the Skydance-Paramount merger, saying that the companies bowed to pressure from the Trump administration to secure the deal.

She said it was "a deal that was linked to a payout to settle a baseless lawsuit and other troubling concessions"

Despite this regrettable outcome, this Administration is not done with its assault on the First Amendment. In fact, it may only be beginning," Anna M. Gomez said.

Brendan Carr defended new Skydance-Paramount newsroom oversight, saying it's “time for a change” and aims to restore trust in media and unwind DEI policies.

Recently, comedian Stephen Colbert—whose popular CBS Late Show will be canceled next May despite being No. 1 in the late-night talk show ratings, in what many view as censorship due to his jokes about Trump—pointedly mocked the settlement the first chance he got, AP News reported.