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  • Oregon AG Drops Demand For Records & Motion To Delay Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger

    Oregon AG Drops Demand For Records & Motion To Delay Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger

    UPDATED, with comment from AG: Oregon‘s attorney general has dropped a civil investigative demand for Paramount to turn over records related to its efforts to secure federal approval for its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.

    Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield also had asked a state circuit court judge to order Paramount to turn over the materials and to delay Paramount’s closing of its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by 60 days so the documents could be reviewed. A hearing has been scheduled for Monday in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

    A Paramount spokesperson said, “We are pleased that the Oregon Attorney General has withdrawn its motion to delay this transaction. It was the right decision and avoids an unwarranted effort to delay a lawful, pro-competitive merger.

    “Antitrust authorities around the world have carefully reviewed this transaction, clearing it or concluding that it does not violate any competition laws. That regulatory record underscores what the facts, the law and the economics make clear: this transaction will create a stronger challenger to dominant global streaming and technology platforms, expand consumer choice, increase investment in premium content and theatrical distribution, and create more opportunities for creators and workers. We look forward to completing the transaction and delivering those benefits.”

    Jenny Hansson, communications director for Rayfield, said in a statement, “Paramount made it clear that they weren’t going to comply with the investigative demand, and that they think they’re above the law. We’re not going to let them waste Oregonians’ resources on these games. We’ve withdrawn the motion to consider our next steps.”

    California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other state attorneys general are said to be considering a legal challenge to the transaction.

    Rayfield sought Paramount records of lobbying of federal officials, as well as its role in a statement that the DOJ released in support of the transaction. The attorney general also sought documents “related to the formulation and execution of lobbying strategies aimed at obtaining regulatory approval of the proposed merger, which Respond as internally named ‘Project Warrior.’”

    In a court filing, Paramount has objected to the document requests, arguing, among other things, that they impose “burdens and demands which are disproportionate” to the Oregon investigation and are “of such marginal relevance that the value of any materials sought is outweighed by the burden imposed on Paramount in having to provide such information.”

    “Lobbying activities and related communications are wholly irrelevant to whether the proposed acquisition ‘violates Oregon’s antitrust laws,’” the company’s legal team wrote.

  • DOJ Subpoenas New York Times Journalists After Report On Trump’s New Air Force One

    DOJ Subpoenas New York Times Journalists After Report On Trump’s New Air Force One

    The New York Times said that a group of its journalists received subpoenas from the Justice Department after their report on the lack of certain security features on Donald Trump‘s new Air Force One.

    The Times said that those who received subpoenas included Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt, who reported this week that there were security concerns about the new Air Force One, as Trump left the NATO summit in Turkey in the old aircraft. That included the lack of antimissile capabilities in the new aircraft, a Boeing 747-8 that was donated by the government of Qatar.

    The subpoenas, according to the Times, asked the reporters to testify before a grand jury on Wednesday but do not contain many details, other than that they were being sought “in regard to an alleged violation of federal criminal law.” The subpoenas were issued by Jay Clayton, who is the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, the Times reported.

    David McCraw, senior vice president and deputy general counsel at the Times, said in a statement that the “appearance of Federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects.”

    McCraw added, “Our journalists report the facts and advance the American public’s right to know how their government is operating and their taxpayer dollars are being used. This brazen act should be seen as nothing more than an attempt to prevent the public from knowing what is happening in their country by intimidating journalists from doing their jobs.”

    Per the Times, an FBI official asked that the story be held, characterizing it as an issue of national security.

    A Justice Department spokesperson did not immediate return a request for comment.

    Few days go by when Trump doesn’t lash out at the media, but in his second term, his administration has been more aggressive in using enforcement and regulatory powers against media outlets.

    In January, federal agents conducted a search of the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson, seizing such things as her phones and laptops. The search was part of an investigation of a government contractor, but Natanson had reported extensively on Trump’s war on the civil service and the impact on the federal workforce.

    The Times on Friday filed a countersuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, claiming that a reverse discrimination claim was in fact a retaliatory action because of its news reporting. The Times also has challenged new press restrictions at the Pentagon, and a federal judge has so far found that they violate the First Amendment.

  • Paramount Reportedly Considering Leaving California as State Readies Lawsuit Over Warner Bros. Discovery Merger

    Paramount Reportedly Considering Leaving California as State Readies Lawsuit Over Warner Bros. Discovery Merger


    Paramount is reportedly considering leaving California as the Golden State and others are said to be preparing a lawsuit over its planned $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery.

    On Sunday, Semafor reported that “friends and advisers” to Paramount chief David Ellison have been urging him to consider relocating his corporate headquarters out of the state. The news comes as California and other states are “preparing to file” a lawsuit to block the merger, according to The New York Times.

    Citing “people familiar with the discussions,” Semafor reported that Ellison is being “pushed” to consider relocating out of state, which would also move $30 million in planned spending out of California, if Attorney General Rob Bonta sues to block the deal.

    However, the news outlet noted that no decision has been made regarding a move. It’s worth noting that Paramount did buy space in New Jersey last year. The studio signed a 10-year lease to occupy more than 285,000 square feet of 1888 Studios’ production campus in Bayonne, which potentially makes Paramount eligible to receive a tax credit of up to 40 percent for movies and TV shows filmed in the state.

    Meanwhile, California has reportedly “taken the lead” on a potential lawsuit to block the merger, with states including New York, Washington and Connecticut saying they will join in, according to NYT. According to a draft of the lawsuit, it reportedly claims that the merger would hamper competition for tentpole movies, among other concerns.

    For its part, Paramount has argued that the deal will boost competition in Hollywood, saying it’s necessary to compete against tech giants including Netflix, Amazon and Apple.

    Reuters reported July 8 that a lawsuit could be filed as early as this week. Paramount is aiming to close the deal in third-quarter 2026.

    “We are confident the facts and the law support this transaction, and we will continue to defend it vigorously,” Paramount told NYT.

    The studio echoed that sentiment to Semafor: “We continue to engage constructively with the remaining few regulators around the world still considering the merger, including State Attorneys General, and are prepared to address any legitimate antitrust issues. We are confident this transaction raises no such concerns, as demonstrated by the dozens of antitrust authorities around the world that have carefully reviewed the transaction.”

    Last month, news surfaced that the European Commission is expected to approve the merger ahead of an upcoming deadline to open an in-depth probe. In addition, competition cops in China and South Africa have cleared the merger, along with antitrust enforcers in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Serbia and North Macedonia. Regulators probing foreign investments from Gulf sovereign wealth funds in Germany, Italy, France, Romani, Slovenia, Belgium, Czechia, New Zealand and have also approved the merger.

    “We have been engaged with all regulatory and law enforcement bodies in a constructive and transparent manner and will continue to do so,” a Paramount spokesperson told THR last month.

  • Sacha Baron Cohen’s Ali G Makes Surprise Appearance at Wimbledon

    Sacha Baron Cohen’s Ali G Makes Surprise Appearance at Wimbledon

    Sacha Baron Cohen‘s alter ego Ali G is back, and this time he’s at the 2026 Wimbledon finals.

    On Sunday, Ali G posted a video on a newly created Instagram account. “Iz here at the men’s singles in Wimbledon, which actually, despite its name, ain’t a party for Gaylords. It’s like the World Cup of something called tennis, which is like a crap version of ping pong. Them say that tennis is better played on grass, which is why I intend to sell as much of it while iz here. So if you want some herbal remedies, me got anything you want,” Cohen’s satirical character says in the clip, trying to sell marijuana.

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    He added in the post’s caption, “I iz BACK! And if u iz at dis borin wimbledore final lookin 2 get grand slammed, I iz here wif de hookup.”

    Ali G’s return comes after it was recently announced that a new movie starring the iconic character reportedly secretly wrapped production. The surprise sequel, which doesn’t have a release date yet, comes more than two decades after Ali G was last seen on the big screen in 2002’s Ali G Indahouse.

    The three-time Oscar nominee’s alter ego first debuted in 1998 during a segment on the British TV program The 11 O’Clock Show. Known for his signature hip-hop slang and bright yellow tracksuits, Ali G became a cultural phenomenon with his absurd interviews with unsuspecting high-profile figures, from Donald Trump to David and Victoria Beckham, among others.

    The Borat star’s beloved character also has a TV series, Da Ali G Show, which ran for three seasons from 2000 to 2004.

  • Jackson Browne, Beck Honor Wes Anderson Needle Drops at Hollywood Bowl Concert

    Jackson Browne, Beck Honor Wes Anderson Needle Drops at Hollywood Bowl Concert

    The songs and scores behind 30 years of Wes Anderson films took the spotlight during the second of three scheduled shows at the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday night, where a wide mix of recording artists from Beck to Rufus Wainwright, Jenny Lewis to Jackson Browne and many more joined the L.A. Phil in performances of fan favorites from across Anderson’s beloved filmography.

    “We’re going to have music that makes you laugh, that makes you think, that makes you feel,” concert emcee Bill Murray, wearing a Steve Zissou-style red beanie, told the crowd at the beginning of the evening, before introducing longtime Anderson composer Mark Mothersbaugh and the rest of rock band Devo.

    Before Devo played “Gut Feeling” (A Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou needle drop), Mothersbaugh opened up with a few words about Anderson, telling the crowd that “working with Wes was kind of the closest thing to working with this band here, where it was about ideas and concepts and making them come to life.”

    The concert — music directed by Justin Meldal-Johnsen — was a healthy mix of needle drop covers along with orchestral numbers written by Mothersbaugh and fellow Anderson collaborator Alexandre Desplat, the whole night reflecting the vast draw of influences Anderson pulls from for his signature brand of quirky, whimsical films. On the instrumental side, Kaoru Wantanabe came out on taiko drums to play the percussive soundtrack of Isle of Dogs, while Ami Dang and Aakash Pujara played flute and sitar for the Darjeeling Limited tracks “Charu’s Theme” and “Arrival in Benares.”

    My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James played a faithful cover of the Kinks’ “Strangers,” which was featured in The Darjeeling Limited, as well as Cat Stevens’ “The Wind,” one of the most moving musical moments in Rushmore. Karen Elson sang Françoise Hardy’s “Les Temps De L’amour” from Moonrise Kingdom and Jeff Goldblum showed off his prowess behind the keys alongside his jazz band as they played “Blinuet,” a Rushmore feature. Spoon frontman Britt Daniel also dipped into the Rushmore soundtrack with a performance of the raucous “Making Time.”

    Lewis, Murray and Beck joined Roge for a high-energy performance of “Zorro Is Back” from the Bottle Rocket soundtrack.

    Beck took one of the most iconic musical moments from the Anderson canon, playing Elliot Smith’s “Needle in the Hay,” along with Love’s “Alone Again Or.”

    Jason Schwartzman, who took the stage several times throughout the night, recalled a story he’d similarly told The Hollywood Reporter earlier this week about going through the Rushmore soundtrack with Anderson after he was cast in the film, listening to the songs on a cassette as Anderson walked him through scenes. Schwartzman then pulled out what he claimed was that very same decades-old cassette and threw it into the crowd, though given that he pulled the same move during Friday’s show, it’s likely just a prop.

    The overwhelming highlight of the night, though, was from Jackson Browne, who performed “The Fairest of the Seasons” and “These Days.” Browne had written that latter song as a 16-year-old, and the version recorded by German singer Nico inspired Anderson to make The Royal Tenenbaums in the first place, getting a prominent feature in the film in what remains arguably Anderson’s most iconic musical moment. Earlier this week, Anderson told THR it was “overwhelming” for Jackson to perform at the concert.

    Anderson introduced Browne to the stage himself on Saturday, saying “These Days” “so directly reached out to me” as an artist, further noting that the track “was written impossibly by a 16-year-old boy.”

    “Maybe it was a moment when I particularly needed some special artist, some voice, to reassure me of at least the illusion of a benevolent order in the universe,” Anderson said, thanking Browne before he performed. “I felt compelled for whatever reason, to make up a story that tried to expand the words and spirit of this song I loved into a movie that was more or less about regret. We called it The Royal Tenenbaums.”

    Before he played, Browne told the crowd the story of how he’d forgotten he agreed for “These Days” to be in Royal Tenenbaums, discovering the song’s usage while he was in the theater watching for the first time.

    “I’m indebted to Wes for having discovered this song and giving it this life,” Browne said.

    The night finished with an ensemble performance of the Faces’ “Ooh La La,” the same track that concluded Rushmore.

    The series is set to conclude with one more show at the Bowl on Sunday evening.

  • Tired of Low Quality Amazon Goods? Try This Extension

    Tired of Low Quality Amazon Goods? Try This Extension

    If you’re a regular Amazon user, you’ve probably had issues sifting the real, quality goods from low-quality imports or scams on the platform. The epidemic of fake online product reviews doesn’t exactly help the matter, Amazon said in 2024 that it takes down over 275 million suspected fake reviews annually.

    A recently launched extension, dubbed Knockoff, offers a potential solution to these issues and has recently gone viral on social media.

    The app gives users the choice between having these potentially dubious goods dimmed in grayscale, marked, or having them hidden altogether from search results. The app draws from a database of 5,000 brands which it considers to be reliable, approving them automatically.

    Knockoff then uses what it terms the “linguistic signature” of low quality brands including ALL-CAPS text, vanishing vowels, unpronounceable consonant runs to identify potentially bad listings. In addition, it also uses a community reporting model for brands.

    Users can choose between three filtering levels. Relaxed catches only the notorious offenders, while Standard adds suspect names and unbranded listings. Strict allows only recognized brands. The extension is available for Firefox, Chrome and Chromium-based web browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Opera and Brave.

    You don’t need to create an account to use the app, and the Knockoff says it doesn’t collect any data for analytics.

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    Issues surrounding fake reviews aren’t likely to go away anytime soon. The rise of AI bots means it’s harder to tell real people from manipulated campaigns than ever before. Meanwhile, Mozilla shut down Fakespot in July 2025, the largest database of fake reviews on the internet.

    If you’re not interested in adding another browser extension, but want to ensure you’re only buying high quality products, there are plenty of manual ways of ensuring you can spot fake reviews. These include being on the look out for very brief five-star and one-star reviews, ones which lack natural-sounding language, or listings that have similar-seeming reviews all posted on the same day.

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  • Wai Ching Ho, ‘Daredevil’ and ‘Iron Fist’ Actress, Dies at 82

    Wai Ching Ho, ‘Daredevil’ and ‘Iron Fist’ Actress, Dies at 82

    Wai Ching Ho, best known for her role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing crime boss Madame Gao in Daredevil, Iron Fist and The Defenders, has died. She was 82.

    Ho’s death was confirmed by two of her former co-stars, Peter Shinkoda and Judy Lei. Her cause of death wasn’t immediately available.

    Shinkoda, who played Nobu in Daredevil, took to his Instagram to pay tribute. “I won’t ever forget you. I learned every minute from you when we were together on and off set. I know wisdom – I’d hang on your every word. We will meet again, my friend. You were beautiful,” he wrote.

    The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to her rep for more details on her death.

    Born on Nov. 16, 1943, in Hong Kong, Ho found herself working across film, television and the stage. Her first onscreen credit was in the series One Life to Live in 1983.

    She later landed the role of Madame Gao in the Marvel series Daredevil in 2015, before reprising the character in the spin-offs Iron Fist and The Defenders in 2017.

    Ho has also had appearances in Swans Crossing, Wonderland, Deadline, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Children of Invention, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Blue Bloods, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Tracers, Orange Is the New Black, Fresh Off the Boat, New Amsterdam, Hustlers, The World’s Greatest, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, Law & Order and Only Murders in the Building, among others.

    Her voice could also be recognized for voicing Grandma Wu in the Pixar animated film Turning Red.

    As for the stage, Ho starred in the Off-Broadway play Laowang: A Chinatown King Lear last year, as well as Snow in Midsummer in 2022 and Celine Song’s play Endlings in 2020.

    Lei, who starred alongside Ho in 2022’s The World’s Greatest, which she also wrote and directed, wrote on Instagram that she’s “so sad to hear of her passing,” adding, “Wai Ching was super kind and generous when she played the Chinese School teacher in my first film back in 2019. We had lost our filming location close to midnight the night before and I broke the news to her in the morning. She came to the new location, all prepped and ready to play—she even brought her own outfit. I forgot to have her sign some paperwork and went to her home a few days later to have her sign it. She never displayed an ounce of disappointment in my lack of experience. That type of grace is something I’ll never forget.”

  • ‘Love Island USA’ Season 8 Finale: When and Where to Watch Online

    ‘Love Island USA’ Season 8 Finale: When and Where to Watch Online

    If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission.

    Aniya and Carl, Trinity and Bryce, Melanie and Sincere and Kayda and Zach are the four remaining couples heading into Love Island USA‘s season eight finale. The July 12 conclusion — determining who will take home the $100,000 prize — airs at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET exclusively on Peacock, and while the service doesn’t offer a free trial directly, fans can enjoy free Peacock access through partner subscriptions, including DirecTV and Instacart+. More on each option below.

    At a Glance: How to Watch Love Island USA Season Eight Finale

    Where to Watch Love Island USA Season 8 Finale

    The eighth season of Love Island USA concludes on Sunday, July 12, at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET, with a supersized two-hour finale on Peacock.

    Will Love Island Aftersun Air on Finale Night?

    No, Love Island Aftersun with Ciara Miller and Tefi Pessoa (Love Island‘s weekly after show) concluded on Saturday, July 11. The companion show’s episodes are currently available to stream on-demand on Peacock.

    Where to Watch Love Island USA Season 8 Finale With Peacock Free Trial

    While Peacock doesn’t offer a free trial directly through its site, there is a little-known workaround through partner subscription DirecTV. Customers who sign up for one of DirecTV’s signature packages — Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate or Premier — can get two months of the Movies Extra Pack + Peacock at no cost (a $19.98 value).

    Plus, DirecTV offers a five-day free trial for any plan, meaning new members can stream Love Island USA (and everything else Peacock has to offer) at absolutely no cost during that period. Simply select your preferred signature package, then opt to add “Movies Extra Pack + Peacock Premium” where it instructs you to pick your add-ons.

    For another savvy streaming hack, the ad-supported Peacock Premium plan (reg. $10.99 per month or $109.99 annually) is included for free with an Instacart+ membership. Following this membership’s 14-day free trial period, a subscription costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year with annual billing.

    Who Is in Love Island USA Season 8 Finale?

    Aniya and Carl, Trinity and Bryce, Melanie and Sincere and Kayda and Zach are the final four couples. See the full season eight cast list here.

  • ‘Love Island USA’ Season 8 Cast Revealed

    ‘Love Island USA’ Season 8 Cast Revealed

    I’ve got a text!

    Prepare to recouple with Love Island USA for season eight — Peacock has revealed the initial group of Islanders who will be searching for love this summer as well as several bombshells.

    Peacock’s hit reality dating series, which has become a cultural phenomenon over the last two years, centers on a group of single Islanders in search of love in a stunning Fijian villa. Throughout their stay, they will couple up, while also facing challenges, temptations and plenty of twists and turns, including new “bombshell” Islanders.

    Last year, the show became the streamer’s most-watched original series, with season seven accounting for 18.4 billion minutes of watch time over its six-week run. At the end of the season, Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales were crowned the winners, in addition to Olandria Carthen and Nicolas Vansteenberghe, Huda Mustafa and Chris Seeley and Iris Kendall and Jose “Pepe” Garcia-Gonzalez also making it to the finale.

    Ahead of season eight, Peacock also issued a reminder to fans, asking them to “keep it kind, keep it positive” on social media throughout the upcoming season.

    Love Island USA season eight premiered June 2 at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m ET and saw Vanderpump Rules alum Ariana Madix return as host for the third time, as well as narrator Iain Stirling.

    New episodes will drop every day during premiere week and then Thursdays through Tuesdays thereafter, with Love Island Aftersun (hosted by Ciara Miller and content creator Tefi Pessoa) also returning every Saturday starting June 13.

    New episodes, hosted by Ariana Madix and narrated by Iain Stirling, drop Thursdays through Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, with Love Island Aftersun (hosted by Ciara Miller and Tefi Pessoa) airing every Saturday. Viewers will also again be able to vote for their favorite couples via the Love Island USA app.

    See season eight’s castmembers below, and check out all of the Casa Amor Islanders here. The Hollywood Reporter will continue to update this list as more Islanders and bombshells enter the villa each week, and check out all the season eight coverage and interviews here.

  • 2027 Will Be the ‘Worst Year in History’ for Memory Supply, Says SK Hynix CEO

    2027 Will Be the ‘Worst Year in History’ for Memory Supply, Says SK Hynix CEO

    If you’re concerned about spiraling prices for consumer electronics, from smartphones to consoles to PCs, one of the memory chip industry’s most important figures has some seriously bad news.

    SK Hynix Chief Executive Kwak Noh-jung told Reuters earlier this week that the global memory industry is heading for “the worst year in the industry’s history from the supply perspective.” Unfortunately, he doesn’t see an end to the problem in sight, predicting that customer demand will remain higher than supply capacity “even beyond 2030.”

    “Our customer demand continues to go up, while our capacity has limitations,” he said.

    SK Hynix is one of the “big three” suppliers of DRAM, alongside fellow Korean firm Samsung and US-based Micron. DRAM is a key ingredient in many consumer electronics and AI data centers, which are currently gobbling up most of the supply amid the AI boom.

    Noh-jung isn’t the only memory chip boss making gloomy predictions about the future. Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron, anticipates the memory shortage to last through 2027, though he predicts it will eventually ease in 2028.

    Many figures, including Nothing CEO Carl Pei, are advising people to stock up on consumer electronics now to avoid future price increases due to more expensive components, telling consumers that the best time to buy a smartphone was “yesterday.” That advice came shortly before Apple raised prices on its Macs, iPads, and more, citing the memory crunch.

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    Still, not everyone is quite as pessimistic about the DRAM problem. Earlier this month, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Shuli Ren argued that the global memory shortage likely peaked during the second quarter of 2026. She predicts conditions could ease in the second half of 2026 and 2027, and suggests the industry could even see an oversupply in 2028.

    Still, the damage has already been done to consumers’ wallets. In addition to Apple, other tech giants like HP, Dell, and Lenovo have already announced major price hikes.

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