As reported by Bloomberg Law , lobbyists for Netflix Inc. and Paramount Skydance Corp. are quietly working to ease opposition from the Trump administration and bipartisan lawmakers as the companies pursue competing takeover bids for Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. The proposals—among the largest media merger attempts in recent years—would reshape control of film, television, and streaming assets across the industry.

Antitrust partner Abiel Garcia of Kesselman, Brantly & Stockinger LLP told Bloomberg Law that strategic outreach to the White House and executive branch will be critical as Netflix and Paramount attempt to advance their respective offers. Both companies already maintain deep lobbying benches, including Ballard Partners—which represents both—and firms such as Mehlman Consulting, Monument Advocacy, and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.

Lobbying and communications professionals expect the campaigns to intensify. Chase Kroll of TSG Advocates said firms pursuing deals of this scale must engage directly with DOJ and FTC officials while building congressional support to address potential legislative and investigative hurdles.

The political dimension is growing just as rapidly. Lobbyist Sam Geduldig of CGCN Group noted that consolidation affecting “culture and Hollywood and news outlets” is likely to draw sustained attention from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Senior members of Congress are already signaling skepticism.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said DOJ should take a “hard look” at any Paramount–Warner Bros. combination, citing “pretty heavy” antitrust concerns. Sen. Mike Lee, chair of the Judiciary Committee’s antitrust subcommittee, warned on X that the Netflix bid raises significant antitrust issues.

The reaction extends beyond Congress. President Donald Trump criticized the $83 billion Netflix proposal, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren labeled both the Netflix and Paramount bids a “nightmare,” arguing that each raises similar antitrust deficiencies.

Legal challenges have begun as well. A consumer lawsuit filed Monday seeks to block the acquisition, alleging that consolidation would reduce competition in the subscription video-on-demand market. Garcia noted that state attorneys general—including California AG Rob Bonta—could bring actions under Section 7 of the Clayton Act, which prohibits mergers that may lessen competition.

At the market level, regulators will center on substitutability. Garcia said HBO Max, Disney+, and Peacock serve as key alternatives to Netflix. A Netflix–Warner Bros. combination could give the company control of more than 30% of the paid streaming market—a threshold that historically triggers heightened Section 7 scrutiny.

Public interest organizations are also weighing in. Public Citizen criticized reports that Jared Kushner participated in Paramount’s hostile takeover bid, calling the unfolding situation emblematic of “crony capitalism.”

With aggressive lobbying underway, mounting political resistance, and early litigation, the Netflix–Paramount–Warner Bros. contest is poised to become a defining test of merger enforcement, media consolidation policy, and the interplay between corporate influence and Washington decision-making.