Group 1: Federal Reserve Chair Selection - President Trump is looking for a Federal Reserve chair candidate who will be honest about interest rates, indicating a preference for lower rates [2][3] - He has a clear idea of the qualities he seeks in a candidate, although he will not ask them to commit to lowering interest rates [2][3] Group 2: Warner Brothers and CNN Sale - President Trump expressed that CNN should be sold, either to the new buyer of Warner Brothers, which could be Paramount or Netflix, or to a new ownership [3][4] - He criticized CNN for its perceived political bias and content, indicating a desire for change in ownership and direction [4]

Morgan, that's right. President Trump, as you take a live look, still speaking to reporters uh in the Roosevelt room at the White House. He was having a meeting with CEOs.That event ongoing. President's just been talking about the Fed as you guys have been discussing the Fed. He confirmed that he has a meeting with Kevin Walsh.Uh that's been sort of widely speculated about or reported. But the president also said, "I sort of have a very good idea of what I'm looking for in terms of a Fed chair candidate." H ...

Group 1 - The president is advocating for changes in the leadership of the cable-television network [1]

I think any deal should it should be guaranteed and certain that CNN is part of it or sold separately. But I don't think the people that are running that company right now and running CNN, which is a very dishonest group of people, I don't think that should be allowed to continue. ...

Core Viewpoint - Paramount Skydance's hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery has created significant management uncertainty for CNN and its associated cable networks, potentially leading to a prolonged period of instability [1][2][11]. Group 1: Management and Ownership Changes - CNN experienced a brief sense of relief when Netflix announced it would acquire Warner's studio and streaming businesses, as CNN would not be included in that deal [2]. - The announcement of Paramount's bid has reintroduced uncertainty, with the potential for a merger between CNN and CBS News if the bid is successful [2][9]. - CNN's management has acknowledged the ongoing uncertainty, with CEO Mark Thompson indicating that the transformation of CNN remains a priority despite the challenges [7]. Group 2: Market Position and Performance - CNN's television ratings have significantly declined, positioning it as the third-rated cable news network behind Fox News Channel and MSNBC [6]. - The growth of streaming services has rendered traditional cable networks less attractive, prompting Warner Bros. Discovery to consider spinning off its cable television networks, including CNN [5]. Group 3: Regulatory and Future Outlook - The regulatory landscape is expected to delay any resolution regarding CNN's ownership, with experts predicting that the Netflix deal could face over a year of regulatory hurdles [11]. - Regardless of which bidder ultimately acquires CNN, the network is anticipated to remain in a state of limbo for the foreseeable future [12].

Core Viewpoint - A federal judge has granted Kalshi a temporary reprieve from enforcement actions by Connecticut regulators, who accused the company of operating unlicensed online gambling, as the legal dispute over Kalshi's regulatory status continues into early 2026 [1][3][9] Regulatory Challenges - Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) issued cease-and-desist notices to Kalshi, Robinhood, and Crypto.com on December 2, alleging they were offering unlicensed sports wagering through "online sports event contracts" [3] - Kalshi has filed a lawsuit against the DCP, asserting that its event contracts are governed by federal derivatives law and fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) [3][6] - The court has ordered the DCP to halt actions against Kalshi while the case is reviewed, with a response due by January 9 and further arguments expected by January 30 [4] Company Operations and Legal Position - Kalshi, designated as a federally regulated contract market by the CFTC, began offering event-based contracts nationwide earlier this year, covering markets related to sports, weather, and political outcomes [5] - The company contends that its products are federally regulated financial instruments rather than wagers, claiming that state actions against it violate the Commodity Exchange Act [6] - Kalshi is currently engaged in multiple legal battles across various states, including lawsuits against the New York State Gaming Commission, Massachusetts' attorney general, and regulators in New Jersey, Nevada, Maryland, and Ohio [7][9] Recent Developments - Kalshi has recently partnered with CNN, becoming the network's official prediction markets partner, and successfully closed a $1 billion funding round, achieving an $11 billion valuation [8]

And the top story in politics is how affordability, high prices, and economic pain are shaping voters priorities, including powering that Democratic sweep in last month's elections. President Trump noticed he's responding tonight speaking in Pennsylvania on a tour that has been touted as his sort of response to voters concerns. And we have a view from Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania.Von Hillard will be reporting for us there shortly. You're looking at part of that tour. Trump's planned speech is also an implicit ...

Mergers and Acquisitions & Political Influence - The potential merger of Warner Brothers Discovery, Paramount, and Netflix is drawing unprecedented political involvement from Donald Trump, raising concerns about undue influence [1][2][3] - Trump's concerns about the Netflix deal and his son-in-law Jared Kushner's financial interest in Paramount blur ethical lines in the merger process [2] - The Ellison family's interest in acquiring Warner Brothers Discovery (including CNN) and their acknowledged discussions with Trump raise questions about potential programming changes to appease Trump [3][4] - There are concerns that business leaders are attempting to curry favor with Donald Trump to influence the outcome of the merger [4][5] Conflicts of Interest & Foreign Investment - Jared Kushner's private equity fund's involvement in Paramount's bid raises conflict of interest concerns, especially given Trump's past criticism of the network [6] - Billions of dollars for Paramount's bid are coming from Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, raising concerns about foreign influence over a major news organization [7] Regulatory & Media Coverage Concerns - The Ellison family's potential influence over CBS News coverage (softening it to be more Trump-friendly) and potential changes to CNN's coverage if they acquire it are causes for alarm [8][9] - Trump's primary concern regarding the deal is how the news networks might cover him, rather than the entertainment aspects [9]

Scott Jennings joins us. He's uh the author of A Revolution of Common Sense: How Donald Trump. It's not on me.No one saw me do that. Uh stormed Washington and fought for Western Civilization. Welcome.Took a book to get you on here, sir. >> We have an We have an excuse to have you on. >> Yeah, it's a great book. >> It It's a great book.Just in time for Christmas. >> I don't know how else we would have We would have necessarily had you on, but you join When did you join CNN as a as a contributor. Oh gosh.2017 ...

Mergers and Acquisitions - Paramount launched a hostile takeover bid for Warner Brothers Discovery, backed by Jared Kushner's private equity firm and Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds [1] - The deal involves $12 billion in financing from the Ellison family and $24 billion from Middle East sovereign wealth funds [11] - Regulatory hurdles are a wild card, with potential influence from Donald Trump [5] Key Players and Influence - Jared Kushner's involvement is significant, despite being "buried" in SEC filings [11] - Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar are providing substantial investment [1] - David Ellison has reportedly discussed CNN with Donald Trump [8] Regulatory Concerns and Political Influence - The potential acquisition raises concerns about media control and influence, reminiscent of authoritarian playbooks [18] - There are concerns that the Ellison family might influence CNN's editorial direction to be more favorable to Donald Trump [9] - The involvement of Trump's son-in-law and the personalized diplomacy with Trump raise ethical questions [15][16] Strategic Motivations - Middle Eastern investors may seek soft power and aim to attract US dollars through tourism and positive media coverage [21][23] - The acquisition could lead to increased control over major news organizations, raising concerns about media bias [20]