SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — A federal judge threw cold water on the pending Paramount-Warner mega-media merger — at least for the time being. Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin granted a 14-day restraining order after hearing the case against the merger from a coalition of states. Minnesota’s attorney general, Keith Ellison, was in the 12-state coalition. Judge Martinez-Olguin could extend the delay to six weeks if she needs more time to consider the pros and cons. The restraining order is the latest victory for Ellison, who has participated in a series of multistate coalitions opposing President Trump policy preferences. Trump favored the merger, which was engineered by Paramount’s Larry Ellison, a major political campaign donor. The state coalition claims the merger would violate federal antitrust law and lead to higher prices for access to media content and also less choices.
Earlier: Minnesota objects to scheme to tame CNN
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