Tag: Deadline News

A group of a dozen state attorneys general filed suit to block Paramount‘s $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, long-anticipated litigation to stave off a merger despite receiving clearance from the Trump administration Justice Department.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Sacramento on Monday, challenges the transaction as stifling competition for wide release theatrical film distribution, big budget motion picture distribution and licensing of basic cable television channels.

Read the Paramount-Warner Bros. lawsuit filed by state attorneys general.

The focus on those aspects of competition come amid concerns that the merger would lead to widespread layoffs as the combined company grapples with its debt burden. Broader concerns have been on the impact on the creative community and the information environment, with Paramount set to own two legacy news brands, CBS News and CNN, although that was not the subject of the lawsuit’s claims.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who led the lawsuit, said in a statement, “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 U.S.”

Also joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington.

“After this merger, for every dollar generated by wide-release theatrical films and basic cable channels in this country, the combined company will pocket more than a quarter. This merger, in short, would create a media behemoth,” the lawsuit stated.

The AGs claim that the merger will lead to “higher prices and degraded quality,” as a combined Paramount and Warner Bros. will be able to extract a greater portion of box office revenue from exhibitors. Paramount-WB represent about 27% of the box office, per Bonta’s office. The combined company will control more than 30% of big-budget theatricals for wide release, the lawsuit claimed, noting that the tentpole releases made up 88% of box office revenue over the last three years.

While theatrical distribution has gotten substantial attention as Paramount has sought regulatory approval for the WBD acquisition, much less focus has been paid to cable distribution, a sector of the industry that has been in decline.

The lawsuit noted that the combined company would control more than a quarter of all basic cable channels by revenue. The result, the lawsuit claimed, would be increased bargaining leverage with distributors. The company would roll up channels like MTV and TNT that were once Viacom and Turner powerhouses.

The lawsuit stated, “A distributor who rejects the combined company’s fee demands would risk losing, for example, CNN for news viewers, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network for family households, HGTV and Food Network for lifestyle audiences, and TNT and TBS for sports and entertainment viewers. Faced with this threat, distributors would likely be forced to accept higher fees to distribute basic cable channels than they would absent the proposed merger. Those higher fees will likely be passed on to their subscribers in the form of higher monthly bills.”

Paramount has been steeling for a courtroom battle, hiring noted antitrust litigator Jeffrey Kessler, who most recently fought on behalf of the states as they challenged Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s market dominance.

The company’s most immediate concern is timing: Its deal for WBD includes a $7 million a day “ticking fee” if the transaction does not close by Sept. 30.

That’s why the most important part of the litigation may be in its initial stages, including whether a judge grants a temporary injunction that would put the transaction on hold. That’s what happened in the case of Nexstar with its proposed acquisition of Tegna, creating a broadcast station giant. Despite receiving federal approvals, a federal judge put the Nexstar-Tegna merger on hold, siding with state attorneys general and DirecTV in their claims that the merger would be anticompetitive. Nexstar is appealing, but that process looks to drag out the transaction for months or into next year.

A Paramount spokesperson said in response to the lawsuit, “The lawsuit filed by the state attorneys general, in the most generous light, reflects a fundamentally flawed application of the antitrust laws and is wrong on both the facts and the law. We will vigorously defend the transaction and demonstrate that this challenge is inconsistent with sound competition policy and the competitive realities of the media marketplace. Delaying this transaction will only harm entertainment workers who have already suffered over recent years as technology has disrupted their livelihood and cost California tens of thousands of entertainment jobs.”

Paramount has argued that the merger will boost competition, with a WBD combination better able to compete with streaming giants Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+. The company also has pledged to release at least 30 theatrical films per year, at a time when much of the industry is worried about the future of exhibition in general.

In their lawsuit, the state AGs argued that the commitment was “not legally enforceable,” and that it would “still permit Defendants to harm competition by reducing investment and innovation, degrading quality, and raising the price of those 30 films they produce.” The AGs did cite potential job loss, but did so in claiming that the efficiencies from the proposed merger do not outweigh the harms done. “Creative content that goes unproduced as a result of these disruptions is permanently lost,” the lawsuit stated.

While Democrats on Capitol Hill have warned about the merger, undoubtedly putting pressure on Bonta to act, Paramount’s lobbying efforts to win Trump administration approval has also helped put it in the partisan crosshairs, even though CEO David Ellison once said that he did not want the company to be politicized.

Ellison attended Trump’s State of the Union address earlier this year, appearing with one of the president’s allies, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in a photo in which they each gave the president’s signature thumps up sign. In April, Ellison hosted a dinner for the Trump White House and CBS News correspondents in advance of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, an uneasy mix of the business interests of the company with the journalism side. And in June, Ellison mingled with Trump as he attended the UFC championship on the White House lawn, an event that was streamed on Paramount+.

In recent months, critics of the merger have held unofficial hearings in Southern California and on Capitol Hill, while groups include the Democracy Defenders Fund and the Writers Guild of America helped gather more than 5,000 signatures from talent and creatives opposing the transaction.

In their statement last month giving clearance to the merger, the Justice Department said that the “extensive investigatory record reviewed by the Division suggests that the impact of the transaction will be to increase competition across the media and entertainment ecosystem, with benefits for American consumers and workers.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

UPDATED: The New York Times filed a counterclaim to a lawsuit brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that the Commission’s litigation was a retaliatory effort because of the newspaper’s reporting on the Trump administration.

In a filing in federal court in Manhattan, the Times’ legal team wrote, “The Commission filed this action only eight days after The Times published an article reporting that the EEOC is under pressure to use its scarce resources to pursue flimsy (at best) claims of alleged discrimination that ‘fit the Trump administration’s priorities,’ and a mere two days after The Times reported that it was being investigated by the EEOC.”

Read The New York Times’ counterclaim to a Trump administration lawsuit.

In May, the EEOC filed a reverse discrimination lawsuit against the Times, alleging that it violated federal law when it passed up a white male employee for a promotion because of his race or sex.

But in its filing, the Times’ legal team wrote that the person chosen for the role as deputy real estate editor was more qualified than the person who was passed up for the job, Bryant Roussau. The Times’ team wrote that she had extensive experience with service journalism and “articulated a compelling vision for the future of The Times’s real estate coverage that aligned with the Real Estate desk’s goals to focus on service and visually-driven journalism.” The Times also noted that other candidates of color of both sexes had more real estate experience than Rousseau yet were not advanced in the hiring process.

“Despite conducting an eight-month investigation, collecting more than a thousand pages of documents, and interviewing no fewer than nine witnesses, the Commission was unable to identify any evidence that The Times considered the selected candidate’s race or sex in filling the position,” the Times stated in its filing.

The Trump administration has gone after private companies — including Disney — over its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, claiming that they are themselves discriminatory. But in its lawsuit, the Times not only defends its policies but notes that it was grounded in initiatives of the EEOC until Trump came back to office.

The Times contended that the EEOC rested its claim “almost entirely” on a 2021 Call to Action report and subsequent diversity and inclusion reports. The leadership goals laid out in the report, the Times’ legal team stated, “were aspirational in nature and were not established targets or quotas; they were a projection of the expected impact of various legitimate, nondiscriminatory efforts to improve The Times’s culture and strengthen its people practices and were consistent with longstanding EEOC guidance in place at the time.” The real estate deputy editor position was not impacted as it was not a “leadership” position, the Times filing stated.

The counterclaim also identifies numerous instances in which Trump has attacked the Times, noting that he has, among other things, called it “treasonous.”

“The Commission’s retaliatory, bad faith use of its authority to target The Times violates the First and Fifth Amendments and the Administrative Procedure Act (‘APA’) and poses a uniquely insidious threat to a free and independent press, and to our democracy,” according to the filing.

The counterclaim alleges violation of the First Amendment, due process and the Administrative Procedure Act. It seeks dismissal of the EEOC claim and a declaration that the lawsuit was a violation of the First and Fifth Amendment, as well as the APA. It also seeks costs and attorney’s fees.

An EEOC spokesperson said, “The agency does not comment on ongoing litigation.”

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.

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.