business
FCC officials took pricey gifts from Paramount as company needed approval for billion-dollar deals
By Corey G. Johnson | ProPublica at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
· July 15, 2026
· 14 min read
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the 2025 Kennedy Center honors gala. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP/Getty Images)The black-tie event, hosted by President Donald Trump, prioritized tickets to people who donated more than $75,000 to the center. This year, it feted Hollywoo...
Key takeaway (Brendan Smialowski / AFP/Getty Images)The black-tie event, hosted by President Donald Trump, prioritized tickets to people who donated more than $75,000 to the center.
Why this matters in The Los Angeles
The fact that two FCC commissioners accepted pricey gifts from Paramount while the company needed approval for billion-dollar deals raises concerns about the regulatory body's impartiality in Los Angeles , a city where the entertainment industry is a significant economic driver. The FCC's decisions on mergers and acquisitions, such as Paramount's $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, have a direct impact on the local economy and job market. With Paramount and other major media companies having a substantial presence in Los Angeles, the city's residents and businesses are likely to feel the effects of any potential conflicts of interest within the FCC. As the commission considers Paramount's upcoming merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, Los Angeles will be watching closely to see if the FCC can maintain its independence and make decisions that benefit the local community, rather than just the interests of large corporations.
About this story
Original reporting by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: business ·
Published: July 15, 2026 ·
Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) ·
Reading time: 14 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the 2025 Kennedy Center honors gala. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP/Getty Images)The black-tie event, hosted by President Donald Trump, prioritized tickets to people who donated more than $75,000 to the center. This year, it feted Hollywoo...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 15, 2026 by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Corey G. Johnson | ProPublica at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more business coverage from The Los Angeles, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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