Jan. 8, 2026

Permission to republish original opeds and cartoons granted.

 

Netflix-Warner Merger Gets Big Boost From House Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing

By Robert Romano

“[A] merger that results in greater choice in video libraries at lower prices is welcome while delivering to consumers a solution to their current frustration with the fractionalized streaming content.”

That was U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wis.), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform and Antitrust at a hearing on Jan. 7 expressing support for the recently announced merger of Netflix and Warner Brothers Discovery. Paramount is also attempting to wage a hostile bid for the company.

Fitzgerald rightly noted that the decision about any merger should be up to the companies’ shareholders: “let me be clear, this hearing is not about picking winners or losers in the merger context. This is for Warner Brothers’ shareholders.” Here, Fitzgerald was appearing to defer to Netflix, who Warner has chosen for the merger over Paramount’s bid.

Those thoughts were echoed by Elevecon founder Jay Ezrielev, who stated, “In reviewing the potential Netflix and Paramount deals, antitrust enforcement should focus on the core antitrust goal of preventing harm to competition. The enforcers should not be picking which of the two deals [Netflix or Paramount] should go through based on what they think will deliver the best outcome for consumers. This choice is for Warner Brothers Discovery shareholders.”

On that count, whether to go with Paramount, the vote by Warner was unanimous against.  “Following a careful evaluation of Paramount's recently launched tender offer, the Board concluded that the offer's value is inadequate, with significant risks and costs imposed on our shareholders," said Samuel A. Di Piazza, Jr., Chair of the Warner Bros. Discovery Board of Directors in December. “This offer once again fails to address key concerns that we have consistently communicated to Paramount throughout our extensive engagement and review of their six previous proposals. We are confident that our merger with Netflix represents superior, more certain value for our shareholders and we look forward to delivering on the compelling benefits of our combination.”

At the Jan. 7 hearing, Ezrielev also warned that the Trump administration should not try to extract concessions from merger, “The enforcers should also not use their leverage to extract a settlement that advances a policy agenda. The focus should be strictly on preventing harm to competition. I don't know if there's a compelling antitrust case against either of the deals… However, I would be highly skeptical of an enforcement case based entirely on a structural presumption or a presumption of a substantial lessening of competition based on an increase in market concentration in the relevant market. Such an increase in market concentration should be a starting point for determining whether to move further in the investigation. An increase in market concentration by is not by itself a reliable indicator of harm to competition.”

Overall, Fitzgerald appeared satisfied the merger would result in lower costs for consumer, stating, “Economic theory teaches us that mergers create efficiencies, and that's no different when it comes to the streaming industry. By vertically integrating content production and distribution, platforms can eliminate and also work on lowering redundancies and focus on delivering high quality content to consumers at lower prices.

That’s all exactly right. 

There is very little question that will help American consumers save money on their ever expanding monthly streaming budgets and make Warner’s library of titles more widely available than ever before. 

The merger will also keep the Warner and Discovery studios (the latter of which is being spun off to Discovery Global) owned independently of Disney, Paramount and Universal, ensuring all four remain competitive. That’s a win for consumers and dramatically reduces antitrust concerns. It also protects Warner and Discovery workers who still work at their respective studios. 

And the marketplace for streaming options will remain competitive as Netflix will still be competing with Amazon, Disney, Paramount, Apple and YouTube. That’s all great news. 

Finally, and most importantly, the deal puts America first by keeping iconic and historic American cinema — spanning generations of beloved films and franchises — under American ownership. That will keep Batman, Superman and other beloved Warner characters right where the belong in the U.S. 

On all counts, protecting consumers, saving money, more options, overcoming antitrust objects and serving American interests, the American people win.

Robert Romano is the Executive Director of Americans for Limited Government. 

To view online: https://dailytorch.com/2026/01/netflix-warner-merger-gets-big-boost-from-house-judiciary-subcommittee-hearing/ 

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Video: Trump Addresses the Human Toll of the Ukraine War

To view online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fKjpg5__RU 

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Tim Walz Should Resign In Disgrace After Saying He Would Use National Guard For ‘War With The Federal Government’

Jan. 8, 2026, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government Executive Director Robert Romano today issued the following statement urging Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to resign in disgrace:

“The nation once again reaches a boiling point, with the lame duck Minnesota Governor Tim Walz talking about being at war with the federal government, prohibited by 18 U.S. Code Sec. 253, as he attempts to officially obstruct federal authority, as if enforcing federal immigration and other laws was waging ‘war’ on the states. When asked how he planned to use the National Guard, which he now has on stand-by, Walz said, ‘We’ve never been at war with our federal government.’ What an irresponsible thing for a governor to say. Walz is saying he wants to use the National Guard against the federal government. Why?

“In the course of detaining a suspect who was obstructing federal law enforcement activity, prohibited by 18 U.S. Code Sec. 111, in Minneapolis with her SUV, an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officer used deadly force as the woman was using her SUV to speed into the officer who was standing directly in front of the vehicle while she was being detained. The event was captured on video and shows the woman initiating her vehicle’s accelerator while officers were surrounding the car, including the officer who was positioned right in front of the SUV. It was reasonable for the officer to believe this was attempted murder of a federal agent, prohibited by 18 U.S. Code Sec. 1113.

“Federal officers cannot tackle an SUV. A car is a potentially deadly weapon. She was not engaged in self-defense, the officer was. If you are being surrounded by law enforcement and they’re drawing their weapons, the only thing to do is put your hands up and surrender, not hit the gas pedal. If you’re standing directly in front of a vehicle and the person driving jams on their accelerator, your life is in danger no question.

“In this case, the officer appears to have used appropriate force pursuant to Department of Homeland Security policies, including 2023’s Update to the Department Policy on the Use of Force that states, ‘DHS [Law Enforcement Officers] LEOs may use deadly force only when necessary, that is when the LEO has a reasonable belief that the subject of such force poses an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the LEO or to another person.’

“Many commentators have suggested the woman was attempting to flee. But deadly force also applies even if the suspect is attempting to escape, as explicitly noted by the policy, ‘deadly force is authorized to prevent the escape of a fleeing suspect where the LEO has a reasonable belief that the subject poses a significant threat of death or serious physical harm to the LEO or others and such force is necessary to prevent escape…’ This absolutely comes into play because the officer was standing directly in front of her vehicle, and who followed his training to protect his own life and anyone else who might have been struck by the vehicle.

“This was a preventable tragedy. It was preventable because nobody should be obstructing federal law enforcement activities. The states could help, but they aren’t. And these kinds of tragedies, and much worse, are what have happened when the states refuse to cooperate with the federal government.

“Walz could have said he was going to assist federal law enforcement to get illegal aliens and others who are defrauding the federal government and taxpayers of billions of dollars, maintain order as officers execute their duties and to above all keep radical agitators away from federal law enforcement. Instead, he joined the ICE obstructors and said he would use the Guard to wage war against the federal government. Is he nuts?

“It’s also untrue. ‘We’ve never been at war with our federal government?’ States definitely were at war with the federal government in the Civil War. It’s happened before and hundreds of thousands of Americans died because states would not submit to federal authority. You think Ukraine looks bad? Well, that’s what civil wars look like. It could happen again, with the most likely cause and historically the only cause ever for a civil war here was states rebelling against the federal government. It’s fair to say Democrats hate Donald Trump just as much as they hated Abraham Lincoln. To prevent a war, the President should first communicate with the Governor directly in a meaningful way. Have a meeting, call or something. Let’s talk this out. And then immediately take action to federalize the National Guard in Minnesota as Walz’ actions appear to be to deliberately provoke war. Walz doesn’t want to enforce the law, leaving the President with little choice. But it’s also worth considering the Governor appears to want Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act and federalize the Guard for political reasons apparently because it polls well for Democrats and energizes their voters. In 2020, the President failed to use the Guard to stop the riots. The Civil War started for political reasons, too. Walz has lost his mind, and he should resign but he can just sit in the Governor’s mansion and watch while the President does his job for him and enforces the laws. Put the fuse out before it gets lit, Mr. President.”

To view online: https://getliberty.org/2026/01/tim-walz-should-resign-in-disgrace-after-saying-he-would-use-national-guard-for-war-with-the-federal-government/