Lawyers for the 12-state coalition trying to block the Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery deal will be in court on Friday arguing that a temporary restraining order (TRO) is necessary to stop the companies from completing the merger.
Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín will also hear Paramount’s arguments against the TRO. As CNN reported earlier this week, the companies expect the judge to issue a TRO, effectively pausing the merger for a couple of weeks while the legal process plays out.
Ahead of Friday’s 1 p.m. ET hearing, I spoke with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is leading the coalition of Democratic attorneys general against Paramount. Bonta also said he is “hopeful” a TRO will be granted on Friday, “but it could take a few more days too.”
It was clear that Bonta wanted to address the widespread talk about CNN, the ticking fee, and the notion of Paramount moving out of California. He said some of his opponents are “trying to take things out of context and create confusion.”
But “our complaint couldn’t be clearer,” he said. Here are lightly edited excerpts from the conversation:
