FilAm AG Rob Bonta leads lawsuit against giant media merger

AG OFFICE

Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks in front of the iconic Hollywood sign in Los Angeles.

Filipino American California Attorney General Rob Bonta is refusing to let a rigged market dictate the future of Hollywood. Standing in front of the landmark Hollywood sign, Bonta announced that he is leading a multi-state coalition of 12 attorneys general to block the massive $111 billion mega-merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery. 

The antitrust lawsuit, filed July 13 in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, directly challenges the transaction.

“Today, I am leading a coalition of states in challenging the proposed merger of Warner Bros. and Paramount and asking the court to block the deal," Bonta said in a statement Monday. 

"The unlawful merger of these two entertainment behemoths would lead to higher prices, lower quality, and less content for film and television, harming movie theaters, basic cable distributors, and ultimately, audiences on every sofa and movie theater seat in the US," said Bonta while standing in front of the famous Hollywood sign.

"California's film and entertainment industry touches the lives of Americans daily — it comes into the living rooms of families, has a starring role in many young people's first dates, and is a point of immense pride and employment for Californians up and down our state. 

"Consolidation here not only leads to higher prices — it also leads to fewer opportunities for important stories to come to life, and fewer ways for audiences to encounter stories, ideas, and perspectives beyond their own experiences. In this country, no one is above the law. With this lawsuit, California and our sister states are fighting for free and fair markets, not rigged markets. America has no kings in government or our economy."

Trump regime paves the way

The Trump Department of Justice cleared the massive entertainment merger, ignoring the severe antitrust implications. Critics highlight the deep political ties linking the deal directly to the Trump administration:

Lawmakers like Senator Elizabeth Warren have criticized the federal approval as "reeking of corruption."

This prooposed merger could be a massive victory for Trump and his supporters. By approving the deal, the administration effectively hands oversight of CNN and CBS News—two networks that have long been the targets of Trump’s media attacks — to Paramount Skydance’s David and Larry Ellison, who have close ties to Trump.

        RELATED: The future of news media

Paramount’s chief legal officer is Makan Delrahim, who previously served as the head of the DOJ's antitrust division under Trump.

Bonta argues that bypassing competition benefits a tiny group of handpicked winners while squeezing working class audiences and creative talent. The coalition points out that the combined entertainment giant would control nearly one-third of all wide-release theatrical film distribution and one-third of basic cable programming. Bonta stated, "America has no kings, not in government or the economy."

The consolidation of major news networks like CNN and CBS under a single corporate umbrella has raised significant public concern about media independence and political influence. Critics argue that this level of ownership concentration limits diverse perspectives and can lead to a softening of critical news coverage to avoid upsetting regulatory authorities or corporate interests.

The close ties between the Trump administration and the acquiring executives have fueled fears among media watchdogs that news coverage could be shifted to favor the administration's political agenda.

The big worry for everyday people

If this corporate marriage goes through, Hollywood's major film studios shrink from five to four. For consumers, Bonta's lawsuit alleges that means less competition, higher subscription prices, and lower content quality. For creative professionals, it means fewer places to sell their work, leading to severe job losses and a hit to creative diversity.

Beyond the economic argument against the merger, critics argue this gives the administration unprecedented leverage to reshape the news by putting CNN and CBS under a single, friendly corporate umbrella could soften critical news coverage.

It would give Trump and his ultra-rich allies a strong voice in the movie buisness. Hollywood and most of its celebrities are generally perceived by Trump as one of his enemies, routinely accusing them of having "Trump Derangement Syndrome" and pushing biased political agendas.

For Trump's base, seeing these major mainstream media outlets taken over by friendly leadership feels like the ultimate win against what they have long criticized as hostile newsrooms.

The argument that corporate-owned media inherently shapes narratives to serve corporate and political allies is a central focus of media criticism. Those who share this view point out that when a small number of massive conglomerates control the vast majority of news outlets, public access to independent, investigative journalism can suffer.

In this case, opponents worry that the merger serves as a tool to neutralize adversarial reporting from networks that have traditionally been highly critical of the administration.

Conversely, proponents of the merger and corporate media ownership argue that large-scale consolidation is a financial necessity in the modern digital age. They contend that traditional media companies must scale up to pool resources, remain financially viable, and effectively compete against major tech and streaming platforms like Netflix, Apple, and Amazon. 

From this perspective, a financially stronger media entity is better equipped to fund robust journalism, and editorial independence can still be maintained through professional journalistic standards, regardless of corporate ownership or the political leanings of executives.

Trump has openly called the Ellisons his "friends and allies."

The Ellisons

Despite the high-sounding rhetoric from supporters, the Ellison's have made no secret about their allegiance to Trump. When they took over CBS they essentially neutrereditsnews division, including the prestigious 60 Minutes, who Trump has accused in the past to being biased against him.

David Ellison, left, and his tech billionaire Larry Ellison want to be media moguls.

The Ellison family’s cozy alignment with Donald Trump is sending shockwaves through both Silicon Valley and Hollywood. Tech billionaire Larry Ellison and his son, media mogul David Ellison, have firmly established themselves as key financial backers and strategic allies of the (Trump regime).

For a community and country constantly navigating the intersection of corporate power and media influence, the evidence of this alliance raises serious questions about who controls the narrative in America.

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who recently moved his primary residence to Florida just minutes away from Mar-a-Lago, has deep ties to Trump. The elder Ellison dropped a massive $45 million donation to a pro-Trump political nonprofit during the campaign, securing his spot in Trump's inner circle.

In the chaotic days following the 2020 election, Ellison was reportedly on strategy calls with Trump aides trying to find ways to invalidate election results in Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Under the current administration, Oracle was handed the architectural reins for the federal government's massive $500 billion artificial intelligence infrastructure initiative.

The son also rises

While father Larry dominates tech, son David Ellison—the head of Paramount Skydance — is leveraging Washington connections to reshape American media despite not having any media experience or even if they are aware of traditional journalistic principles. The implications for diversity, news integrity, and representation are staggering.

The Trump regime’s Justice Department swiftly cleared Skydance’s massive purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery without demanding any major antitrust concessions. Trump has openly called the Ellisons his "friends and allies."

Reports from the Wall Street Journal indicate the Ellisons assured the administration they would aggressively overhaul CNN's editorial direction if the merger went through.

The lawsuit of Bonta and the other 12 attorneys generals is not happening in isolation. A day after Bonta's complaint, a Paramount Skydance shareholder  filed a major lawsuit in Delaware's Chancery Court to block the proposed merger, explicitly alleging that the Ellisons cut a corrupt deal with Trump — offering private media benefits in exchange for regulatory favors.

The Ellisons have strongly denied any deal with Trump and their stated goal of delivering honest, fact-based journalism.

Views from the edge

The proposed merger gives the administration unprecedented media leverage to:

• Reshape the news: Putting CNN and CBS under a single, friendly corporate umbrella could soften critical news coverage.

• Add Tik Tok to the media emprire: The Ellisons also are the primary owners of Tik Tok, US, which operates as a major disseminator of news, functioning as a primary information source for a significant portion of the global population, particularly younger demographics

• Control the narrative: Executives aligned with the administration will have the power to steer political reporting and drop corporate diversity programs.

• Neutralize critics: For Trump's base, seeing these major mainstream media outlets taken over by friendly leadership feels like the ultimate win against what they have long criticized as hostile newsrooms.

Besides the Ellisons, Trump's allies  and enablers already control major media outlets like Fox, the New York Post, Wall Street Journal, Washington Times and the Sinclair Broadcast Group and the Nextstar Media controup between them own over 400 television stations.

Now, with billions in tech infrastructure contracts and the keys to a global media empire on the line, the Ellisons have shown exactly where their loyalties lie. As independent media observers, we have to ask: when billionaires buy up the airwaves to please the White House, who is looking out for the rest of us?

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

California argues against Trump's use of troops against L.A. demonstrators

California's Attorney General Rob Bonta.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta expressed confidence that the state's legal team presented the best argument that Donald Trump's use of the US Marines and the California National Guard in Los Angeles was illegal.

“Before the trial began, I issued a statement  August 13 expressing confidence that the evidence would show that the Trump Administration violated the Posse Comitatus Act. Now that the trial has ended, I remain confident. Our legal team did a great job,” said the Filipino American attorney general in a press statement.

“We asked the court to grant a permanent injunction to stop the Administration from using the military for domestic law enforcement and maintaining a standing army in Southern California. We made a compelling case — backed by facts and specifics — and we look forward to getting a decision in the near future.”

RELATED: Respond and network when agents against agents

The Posse Comitatus Act generally prohibits members of the military from engaging in civilian law enforcement activities. During the three-day trial, California showed that, in its orders to the federalized California National Guard and Marines, the Trump Administration violated the three applicable tests under the Act: 

• The Trump Administration is making direct, active use of military personnel to execute the law, including through the provision of armed perimeter support and blockades, apprehension and detention of civilians, and — in the weeks following the June mobilization orders — participating in an estimated three out of every four immigration raids in Los Angeles and surrounding areas.

• The Trump Administration’s use of military personnel clearly pervades the activities of civilian law enforcement.

• Under the Trump Administration’s command, federalized National Guard members have subjected civilians to the exercise of proscriptive military power

Last Spring, up to 4,000 federal troops and National Guard members were sent to Los Angeles, ostensibly to quell the so-called "riots." Around 300 National Guard members remain.

In his first term (2017-2021), California filed 123 lawsuits against the Trump administration.In the first six months of his second term, which began in January 2025, Bonta representing California has filed 37 lawsuits against the Trump administration and filed more than 40 amicus briefs in support of other litigation, including defending birthright citizenship, banning diversity initiatives in government agencies, implementation of tariffs, cuts in federal funding to schools and mass firings at federal agencies 

California has had a high success rate in these early cases, succeeding in 17 of the 19 cases where the state sought and a district court ruled on early relief, with 13 orders blocking Trump's actions still in effect. California's litigation efforts have also led to the restoration of an estimated $168 billion in federal funding and the protection of an estimated $11.1 billion in federal grant funding.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge. Now on BlueSky.

California's Atty. General Rob Bonta wins election in a landslide

TWITTER

Rob Bonta made history Nov. 8 when he was elected to a full term as Attorney General.

California's Attorney General Rob Bonta won his election decisively last Tuesday. Due to the state's counting procedures and the sheer number of ballots to be tallied, official results have not been announced, but the votes counted this far puts the Filipino American far ahead of his challenger.

"Only in California can the son of an immigrant mom and a hardworking dad earn an opportunity like this to serve and succeed. Grateful," tweeted Bonta Thursday.

As of presstime Saturday evening, Bonta held a comfortable lead over opponent Nathan Hochman, 58% vs. 42%. Several news outlets called the race in Bonta's favor with 60% of the vote counted.

Bonta, 50, is the first Filipino American to hold the job of the state's top law enforcement officer. He was appointed in 2020 to finish off the term of his predecessor, Xavier Becerra, who was named the state's US Senator after Kamala Harris became Vice President.

Because Bonta was appointed more than midway through his Padilla's four-year term, he’s eligible to run for two additional full terms, which could allow him to serve nearly 10 years in an office that already has given him a national stage on issues as diverse as abortion, climate change, gay rights and gun control.

California's attorney general post has launched the careers of many of those who have held it and may do the same for Bonta.

Bonta took over when Becerra left to become the Biden administration’s health secretary, and Becerra succeeded Harris, who went on to the US Senate and now is vice president. Edmund “Pat” Brown became governor, an accomplishment repeated by his son, Jerry Brown. Earl Warren went on to become the U.S. Supreme Court’s chief justice.

Prior to his appointment as Attorney General, he represented parts of Alameda, Oakland and San Leandro in the State Assembly. As a legislator, he became a national leader on criminal justice issues and passed laws to strengthen consumer and worker protections. He introduced the resolution to create Larry Itliong Day honoring the late labor leader and bills to require students learn about the stories of immigrants and heroes of color like Itliong.

As the son of leaders in the farmworkers’ movement, Rob saw firsthand how those without access to power and wealth are too often cheated and taken advantage of by those with both. Rob’s parents taught him that harm done to any one person is a crime against all of us, and he decided to become a public attorney so he could win justice for the people like the farmworker families he knew as a kid.

Bonta's wife, Mia Bonta, also won her re-election representing the same district Rob Bonta represented in the State Assembly.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta overwelms opponents in California Primary

TWITTER / ROB BONTA

Attorney General Rob Bonta and his wife, Mia, thanked his supporters after the polls showed
 he was the frontrunner in the June 7 Primary.

ANALYSIS

California’s first Filipino American Attorney General Rob Bonta easily won the majority of the votes Tuesday to qualify for the November runoff.

Bonta, a Democrat, will face the Republican Party’s endorsed candidate Nathan Hochman in the November general election in a state where voters are overwhelmingly vote Democrat.

"Thank you, California! Humbled by this strong vote of confidence and the resounding message delivered by voters," tweeted Bonta. "Tonight, we celebrate — and tomorrow, we get back to work to fight back against the right wing attacks on our values and fundamental rights. Onward to November!"

With 50% of the vote counted, Bonta was leading the five-way primary field with 54.4% of the vote.

He will most likely face Republican Nathan Hochman, who was a distant second with 18.5% of the vote. Hochman is a former federal prosecutor and former assistant U.S. attorney general.

Under California''s system, the two top vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, will run against each other in November.

Bonta was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last year, to become the state's first Filipino American to become Attorney General. With the June 7 vote, he becomes the first Filipino American to be elected to a statewide political position.

The other Filipino American holding a state-level post is Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye, who was appointed California's 28th chief justice in 2011. The Chief Justice and other members of the California Supreme Court are appointed positions.

It was a double celebration for the Bonta family. The Attorney General's wife, Mia Bonta, who won a special election for State Assembly DIstrict 18, held last fall, Running as the incumbent, she was re-elected because she was unopposed.

Bonta's Primary victory makes him favored to win the office outright in November but he will have to overcome Californians' unease with the apparent crime rate and homelessness.

The high-profile office of Attorney General has long provided both a national stage and a launching pad  to higher office  Vice President Kamala Harris and current U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra were California's top cop before joining the Biden administration. Former Gov. Jerry Brown also used the office as a stepping stone to the Governor's mansion.

As an unapologetic progressive, Bonta has made fighting hate one of the top priorities of his office. He also has taken positions on national issues that pit him and California against the Trump-led radical right of the GOP, which plays favorably with the state's Democratic voters.

“No Department of Justice in the country is doing more to stand up to rightwing attacks against our constitutional and legal rights — from defending abortion protections and the right to privacy to strengthening our gun safety laws,” Bonta said in a statement.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Bonta makes history as California’s first Filipino American Attorney General

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Rob Bonta, right, is sworn in by Gov. Gavin Newsom with Bonta's wife and daughter witnessing. 

Governor Gavin Newsom swore in Assemblymember Rob Bonta as California’s 34th Attorney General. A national leader in the fight to reform our justice system and stand up to the forces of hate, Bonta is the first Filipino American in the state’s history to serve in the role.

“California and the nation need leaders like Rob Bonta to meet this pivotal moment in our history with the courage, energy and tenacity it will take to shape a society more reflective of our values,” said Newsom at the swearing-in ceremony Friday, April 3. 

“Carrying the lessons of his remarkable upbringing at the center of historic social justice movements, Rob has been at the forefront of courageous fights for racial, economic and environmental justice from day one, Newsom continued. 

"As Attorney General, Rob brings to bear the legal and moral authority to effectively engage a broad array of groups – community leaders, law enforcement, the Legislature and more – in a meaningful dialogue, so that California continues to build bridges and advance together in a direction that does justice to all our communities.”

Confirmed by the Legislature Thursday, Bonta was selected by the governor to fill the position vacated by Xavier Becerra, who was recently sworn in as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Governor announced the nomination last month at the historic International Hotel in San Francisco, a site where Asian and Pacific Islander Californians famously rallied in 1977 to save the homes of elderly residents and preserve their community.

“Thank you, Governor Newsom for the faith and trust you have placed in me. Serving as California’s Attorney General is the honor of a lifetime,” said Attorney General Bonta. “

:There are a lot of challenges we face across America today," said Bonta after being sworn in.

 "People see institutions that work well for those with wealth and power – at the expense of everyone else. We see hate on the rise. And too often, justice and accountability for those who harm others feel out of reach. As The People’s Attorney, I won’t back down when I see Californians hurt. Together, we will get justice for families cheated by multi-national corporations. We will defend communities ravaged by big polluters. We will work to repair our justice system, and we will attack the forces of hate and white supremacy. I’m excited to get to work!”

Labor, environmental and criminal justice reform advocates welcomed the appointment:

“We congratulate Governor Gavin Newsom on the appointment of Rob Bonta as Attorney General of California, the first Filipino American in the state’s history to serve in this role. At an early age, Bonta learned about the values of social justice from his parents who worked for Civil Rights in the South and joined Cesar Chavez and myself as full-time volunteer organizers for the United Farm Workers,” said labor leader Dolores Huerta, who with Chavez and Filipino American Larry Itliong gave birth to the United Farm Workers. 

“Rob Bonta has fought diligently throughout his career to correct the injustices affecting working families and Communities of Color. We are confident that Rob Bonta will work passionately to ensure our justice system protects all Californians. Si Se Puede!”

“CEJA celebrates the swearing-in of Attorney General Rob Bonta. We know he will be a strong ally for all environmental justice communities that have been harmed by pollution and often poverty,” said California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) Executive Director Gladys Limon. “We have worked closely with Mr. Bonta and consider him a leader and friend, and trust that he will fight tirelessly on behalf of all Californians and not be afraid to hold polluters accountable.”

“This is a historic day for California. I’m so proud to see Rob Bonta sworn-in as California’s new Attorney General,” said REFORM Alliance Board Member and award-winning journalist Van Jones. “Rob is a lifelong leader in the fight to restore justice in California. I’ve known Rob for decades and he’s demonstrated time and again the commitment and capacity to reform critical elements of our criminal justice system including providing key support for the REFORM Alliance’s major probation legislation. I have every confidence that Rob will make a phenomenal California Attorney General.”

The son of activists, Bonta grew up in a trailer in La Paz, where his parents served at the headquarters of the United Farm Workers movement. Inspired to pursue justice through the law, Bonta studied at Yale Law School and went on to work pro-bono protecting vulnerable Californians from exploitation and racial profiling. He served nine years as a Deputy City Attorney in the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office before running for local office in Alameda County. 

In 2012, Bonta became the first Filipino American in California history to win election to the Legislature, representing Assembly District 18 in the cities of Oakland, Alameda and San Leandro. 

Bonta has passed major reforms that reversed long-standing injustices:

• Outlawed For-Profit Prisons in California: Bonta authored legislation that made California the first in the nation to ban for-profit prisons and immigration detention centers.

• Led Major Sentencing Overhaul Effort: Following statewide marijuana legalization, Bonta authored the California law to automatically expunge and modify criminal records for people convicted of minor marijuana charges.

• Took on Big Polluters: Bonta authored major environmental justice legislation and has been a leader in the fight against climate change and to ensure every community equitably benefits from our green economy.

• Passed Nation’s Strongest Statewide Renter Protections: Bonta led the fight to pass statewide protections for renters, ultimately resulting in the nation’s strongest protections against wrongful evictions.

• Fought to Strengthen Hate Crime Laws & Protect Communities: Bonta has introduced a number of bills to improve hate crime statutes, support victims of hate violence, and build bridges between law enforcement and targeted communities.

• Protected Immigrant Families from Deceptive ICE Tactics: Bonta authored first-of-its-kind legislation requiring immigrants to be informed of their rights before speaking to ICE agents.

• Sought to End Predatory Bail Laws: Bonta co-wrote the law that sought to end the racist and predatory for-profit bail system.

• Required Independent Investigations of Unarmed Deaths: Bonta co-authored the law that required an independent investigation when there is a death of an unarmed civilian by law enforcement.

Bonta is not the only Filipino American serving as an AG in the United States.  Sean Reyes has been Utah's Attorney General since 2013. 

With Bonta's departure from the California Legislature, the state is without a Filipino American in it's Assembly or Senate. However, there are ten Asian American members of the Assembly and Senate in a state with 22 million AAPI, or 16% of the total population, the largest number of Asian Americans in the country.

"It is so important for the Filipino community, and for the whole country, to see Filipinos practice and serve on all levels of government," said Brendan Flores, national chairmant of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations. "We need more AAPI leaders at the forefront of decision making, especially with violence against Asian Americans on the rise."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Asian American leaders back Filipino American's appointment as California's attorney general

CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLYMEMBER ROB BONTA

Support for a Filipino American legislator to be appointed as California's next Attorney General is gaining momentum.

If the state's current Attorney General Xavier Becerra is confirmed as President-elect Joe Biden's Health and Human Services Secretary, that will leave a vacancy for California's top lawman. That's when Gov. Gavin Newsom could appoint Assemblymember Rob Bonta as his new AG.

As soon as Biden nominated Becerra, endorsements for Bonta began to pop up in letters to the governor and in the media.

Bonta, 48, has represented Assembly District 18 since 2012 when he was elected as California's first Filipino American state legislator.

A host of AAPI political leaders, including some of the best known statewide politicians, have thrown their support behind Bonta. Among AAPI leaders who declared their support for Bonta during a press conference Tuesday were former U.S. Rep. T.J. Cox, California State Treasurer Fiona Ma and State Controller Betty Yee.

If Bonta were to be appointed California's AG, he would be the first Asian American to hold that politically powerful and highly visible position.

Bonta earned his law degree from Yale Law School. He grew up in La Paz, California, the headquarters of the United Farm Workers. His parents were union organizers for the UFW.

In the state legislator, one of his first bills signed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown made UFW founder and labor legend Larry Itliong's birthday a day to be observed in the state.

He has also tackled a wide range of California's most urgent and difficult issues such as: Criminal Justice Reform, Environmental Policy, Tenant Rights (Just Cause Evictions), Pension Reform (CalSTRS), Protecting Consumers from Surprise Medical Bills, Banning Private Prisons, and Cannabis Policy. 

A letter sent to Newsom from Filipino American elected leaders and former office holders emphasized his nearly 15 years of experience as a practicing attorney with litigation experience in the public and private sectors. Bonta has legal experience in key areas, including civil rights, criminal law, governmental affairs, consumer protection, contract, and fraud. He also has significant experience as a practicing governmental attorney, serving as a Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco for nearly a decade.

Several criminal justice advocacy groups also announced their support for Bonta last week, citing his leadership in the Assembly fighting to outlaw private prisons, end cash bail and reform sentencing laws.

“He will be a partner in helping end mass incarceration and implementing evidence-based changes to our criminal justice system,” executive director of Re:Store Justice California Adnan Khan told the Sacramento Bee.

Becerra, who has filed numerous lawsuits against policies instigated by the Trump administration, still must undergo confirmation hearings in the U.S. Senate but with the Democrats taking charge in the Senate, his nominations should go through without difficulty.

EDITOR'S NOTE; A word of caution. This is an opinion piece. Readers should consult several sources of news to form their own opinion.