Netflix Is Buying Warner Bros: What It Could Mean For You

Written By Guest User

Plus: RFK Jr.-Appointed Vaccine Panel Says Not All Babies Need Hepatitis B Vaccine At Birth

Good afternoon,

Before we get to today’s headlines, here’s a glimpse of what’s ahead for all of us this weekend in our weekly ‘Cheers to the Freakin’ Weekend’ section.

What We’re Watching:

  • Mosh: Continuing to watch Pluribus ~Apple TV

  • Jill: The Sound Of Music

  • Laura: Monet and Venice exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum

  • Sam: Hamnet with Paul Mescal

What We’re Reading:

What We’re Eating:

And now, onto the news.

🚨 ONE THING WE’RE WATCHING (PUN INTENDED)

Netflix To Buy Warner Bros. (including HBO Max) In Massive $82.7 Billion Deal

Netflix has agreed to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s film and television studio, along with HBO and the Max streaming service, in a deal valued at $82.7 billion. The takeover would be one of the largest entertainment mergers in history and could reshape the entire streaming landscape.

  • Under the agreement, Netflix would assume control of the Warner Bros. Pictures studio, HBO, and HBO Max. The acquisition would give Netflix the deepest well of premium franchises outside Disney and dramatically expand its original content pipeline.

But the deal is far from done — it has received bipartisan pushback and is expect to face tough antitrust scrutiny from government regulators who are skeptical the merger would give Netflix too much market power.

THE FATE OF YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS & MOVIES
Under the agreement, Netflix would take over Warner Bros. Pictures and one of Hollywood’s richest libraries that includes “Harry Potter,” the DC universe, “The Wizard of Oz,” “Casablanca,” “Citizen Kane,” “The Big Bang Theory,” and “Friends.”

  • It would also acquire HBO classics like “The Sopranos,” “Game of Thrones,” “Veep,” and “Sex and the City.” The HBO Max bundle also includes “White Lotus” and “Succession.”

One Bank of America report summed up what’s at stake: “If Netflix acquires Warner Bros., the streaming wars are effectively over.”

POTENTIAL HEADWINDS
There has been major pushback on the merger, including from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle — and even the grandson of the Warner Bros. founder, who notes the studio’s long history of creating stories that speak truth to power.

The merger now heads to U.S. government regulators, who will examine whether the deal would create a streaming monopoly in Netflix, potentially limiting competition and driving up prices. CNBC is reporting that the White House is looking at the deal with “heavy skepticism.”

  • Movie theater owners are also concerned that the acquisition will lead to an end to their business — already struggling — as Netflix prioritizes bringing films straight to streaming or will severely limit the time movies are in theaters.

    • A collective of movie and TV industry leaders sent an anonymous letter to Congress detailing their economic and institutional concerns about the deal.

  • Netflix responds: The company insists it plans to maintain Warner Bros.’ current operations, including theatrical releases, and argues that the merger would expand opportunities for creators rather than shrink them.

But first: Before any sale can close, Warner Bros. Discovery will split into two companies — Warner Bros. (the studio Netflix plans to buy) and Discovery Global, which will house its cable networks like CNN and TNT— in 2026. Meanwhile, Paramount and Comcast may still try and swoop in with counter-offers after months of vying for their own deals.

Interested in a deeper dive? We discuss the merger and all its implications on this weekend’s episode of the #AMA (Ask Mo Anything) podcast — where we break down all your questions on the recent headlines, available exclusively for Premium members. Join Premium today to listen!

.🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING

RFK Jr.-Appointed Vaccine Panel Says Not All Babies Need Hepatitis B Vaccine At Birth

A panel of federal vaccine advisors, handpicked by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., voted Friday to end the decades-long recommendation that all newborn babies be immunized at birth against hepatitis B.

  • In an 8-3 vote, the panel decided to recommend a dose at birth only for infants whose mothers test positive at birth.

  • The hepatitis B vaccine is known to be a safe and effective protection against the incurable virus, which can lead to liver disease, cancer, and early death.

The vote marks a major break from decades of public-health practice. Supporters fear infants could be left unprotected, while the panel argues the birth dose isn’t needed — raising questions about how the change will play out.

THE DETAILS
The group, called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that parents use individual decision-making in consultation with a health-care provider to determine when or if to give the first hepatitis B vaccine dose to a child whose mother tested negative for the virus. Parents can still choose to vaccinate their child at birth.

  • According to the CDC, the primary source of chronic hepatitis B virus infections worldwide is the spread of the virus from mother to child at birth.

  • For babies who don’t receive the birth dose, the committee recommended that they wait to receive a first vaccine until they are at least 2 months old. The vaccine includes two or three additional doses to complete the primary series.

Since 1991, the CDC has recommended that all newborn babies in the U.S. whose mothers have tested positive for hepatitis B be given the first shot within 12 hours after birth, while all other babies receive the shot within 24 hours. Since the recommendation was introduced, and vaccine mandates for healthcare workers, the U.S. saw a 98% decline in cases from 1990 to 2006 in children under 15.

THE CONTROVERSY
RFK Jr. fired all 17 previous members of the ACIP this summer, and replaced them with individuals more aligned with his agenda. Kennedy has falsely claimed the hepatitis B birth dose is a “likely culprit” of autism.

  • The American Academy of Pediatrics advocates for a birth dose, saying a delay will leave young children at risk of an infection that can cause lifelong illness. Vaccine supporters also worry this could disincentivize parents from getting the vaccine — which is still recommended by the CDC — in the months after their baby is born.

WHAT NOW?
The CDC still needs to approve the panel’s recommendation before it adopts the new language. The final recommendations will ultimately be left to individual states, which tend to follow CDC guidelines. Most states currently require children to be vaccinated from hepatitis B to attend daycare or school.

  • Insurance coverage concerns: A policy analyst with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said the vaccine would still be covered by all insurance companies, including Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Though it is not clear if that will continue longterm if the CDC adopts the panel’s recommendation.

⏳ THE SPEED READ

🚨NATION

  • Supreme Court agrees to decide constitutionality of Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship (CBS)

  • Accused DC pipe bomber told FBI he believed the 2020 election was stolen, sources say (CNN)

  • President Trump wins inaugural FIFA Peace Prize (BBC)

  • Indiana House passes new Republican-drawn congressional map, faces uncertainty in state senate (NBC)

  • Trump can fire labor, employment board members without cause, appeals court rules (CNBC)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

  • Trump’s security strategy slams European allies and asserts U.S. power in the Americas (NPR)

  • Putin vows oil shipments to India will be ‘uninterrupted’ in defiance of US (THE GUARDIAN)

  • German military service reform triggers major youth protests (POLITICO EU)

  • Diamond-encrusted Faberge egg recovered by NZ police 6 days after man allegedly swallowed it (CBS)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

  • Trump allies back Elon Musk’s X after Europe hits it with $140M fine (AXIOS)

  • The New York Times sues Perplexity, alleging copyright infringement (CNBC)

  • Meta strikes AI licensing deals with CNN, Fox News, and USA Today (THE VERGE)

  • Senators propose bill locking in current AI chip export controls (THE HILL)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

  • Frank Gehry, the most celebrated architect of his time, dies at 96 (AP)

  • USA gets favorable World Cup 2026 draw: Paraguay, Australia and European playoff winner (NY POST)

  • LeBron James’ 10-point game streak ends after nearly 19 years (USA TODAY)

  • Versace creative director leaves shortly after fashion house’s $1.4bn sale to Prada (THE GUARDIAN)

  • Emily in Paris actor and playwright Jeremy O. Harris arrested in Japan for alleged drug smuggling (PEOPLE)

ICYMI FROM THE 📲

In case you missed it… Robot dogs with the faces of Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and other billionaires and famous artists are stealing the show at this year’s Art Basel in Miami.

  • The piece, titled “Regular Animals,” is the latest project from Beeple, whose real name is Mike Winkelmann and is best known for selling the first ever NFT artwork at auction for $69.3 million.

Not sure who asked for this one…

Guest User
Next

Should Billionaires Be Given An Extra Tax?