Consolidation of Media Conglomerates: Conservative Tech Executives Tighten Their Grip on American Media

On March 13, 2026, during a press briefing, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth criticized the media company CNN for its reporting on the conduct of the military operation in Iran.

The Secretary of Defense criticized CNN journalists for questioning the White House’s ability to assess Iran’s readiness to restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and predict other consequences before the launch of Operation “Epic Fury.” At the same time, he supported the company’s transition under media magnate David Ellison.

Two weeks before Pete Hegseth’s comments on CNN’s information policy, the media conglomerate Paramount Skydance Corporation—owned by David, son of Oracle founder and Republican mega-donor Larry Ellison—announced the conclusion of a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).