Feckless Dems Fold, Back Off Effort To Kill Paramount Merger

Democrats just ensured that billionaire Trump ally Larry Ellison (a right wing oligarch who doesn't really believe in democracy) will be allowed to own the lion's share of whatever's left of U.S. corporate media.After months of growing lobbying, media, and political pressure, 12 state attorneys general have agreed to settle their antitrust lawsuit against Paramount/CBS with what sounds like flimsy conditions, allowing the company's unpopular $111 billion merger with Warner Brothers (CNN, HBO) to proceed.It's a slap in the face to creatives and workers who vehemently opposed more media consolidation, and it's going to result in a lot of avoidable layoffs, price hikes, propaganda, and chaos in the years to come. From The American Prospect:The thousands of film and television professionals who put themselves on the line to oppose the merger of two major studios in their industry demanded that [California AG Rob] Bonta work in their interest, to no avail. Paramount was desperate to settle…