Warner Bros Discovery lands in Washington as Paramount merger faces antitrust and regulatory hurdles

Warner Bros Discovery flew from Goose Creek, South Carolina, to Washington Dulles on June 9, touching down at 1:57 PM local time after a one-hour flight in its Falcon 900EX (N304K). The short hop from a Charleston-area airport to the capital came as the company navigates the most consequential regulatory gauntlet in its short history.

The same week, attorneys general from roughly ten states have begun drafting an antitrust complaint to block Warner Bros Discovery's pending merger with Paramount Skydance, according to a report from Insurance Journal on June 8. California is leading the effort, arguing the deal would concentrate too much media power. Separately, Senator Elizabeth Warren and three other Democratic lawmakers renewed calls for a CFIUS review of the transaction, citing concerns over 49.5% foreign ownership from Gulf state investment funds — a story Deadline covered on June 5. The EU has also set an initial merger deadline of July 7.

The flight to Washington fits a pattern of high-level lobbying and legal strategy. Recent flights show Warner Bros Discovery's jet moving frequently between the Carolinas and the D.C. area, as well as to New York and Atlanta — its corporate hubs. With a state lawsuit imminent and federal scrutiny intensifying, the destination suggests meetings with regulators, lawmakers, or outside counsel. For a company carrying $33.4 billion in debt and relying on a $13.75 billion loan to replace bridge financing, the outcome of these battles will determine whether the merger closes as expected in the third quarter.