Washington
Ted Sarandos Goes to Washington: What Matters as Netflix’s Chief Spars With Skeptical Lawmakers
Inside the Capitol Building on Tuesday during Ted Sarandos’ appearance before the U.S. Senate’s antitrust subcommittee sat the Monopoly man, complete with a white mustache, top hat and red bowtie. The message, shared by some consumers and large swaths of Hollywood, to lawmakers was unmistakable: Netflix is poised to become an entertainment behemoth if it’s allowed to complete a $82.7 billion deal for Warner Bros. and HBO.
Just ahead of him was a cadre of Warner Bros. Discovery executives and lawyers in attendance to observe Sarandos’ testimony on the impact of the merger. The battle for the company will almost surely be fought in court, but the hearing turned into something of a legal session, with both Democratic and Republican senators pressing the executive on finer points of the acquisition as they relate to antitrust laws. Of specific interest was the market Netflix operates in, who it competes against and concerns that another media megamerger could undercut labor — key issues that may decide the fate of the deal if the Justice Department sues.
Sarandos appeared confident but friendly and answered questions directly, though he hedged when asked whether he would commit to restoring “full residuals.”
“It’s a very complicated answer,” Sarandos replied. His performance saw Netflix stock remain relatively flat as it continues to decline since the announcement of the deal.
He pushed a narrative that Netflix buying Warner Bros. will help save a storied Hollywood studio from the “deep-pocked tech companies trying to run away with the TV business.” Those tech firms, he said, are Netflix’s true competitors, name-checking YouTube at several points during his testimony. “YouTube is not just cat videos anymore,” he explained. “YouTube is TV.”
That message was echoed by Warner Bros. Discovery chief revenue officer Bruce Campbell, who went a step further in arguing that Netflix can’t be pigeonholed to film and TV. “Consumers are experiencing a flood of options, including expanded social media platforms, digital and interactive games, and dozens of other entertainment options that compete for consumers’ interest and attention,” he said in his opening remarks.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), chairman of the subcommittee, immediately zeroed in on the issue, saying that YouTube doesn’t produce original content and that the Google-owned company is “not in the same business.”
“They are a subscription service that has ad free and subscriptions options. It’s the exact same content,” Sarandos replied. “When we talk about competition, we’re competing for the same viewers, the same ad dollars and, sometimes, it’s the exact same programming.” The executive referenced the box office success of indie pic Iron Lung from Mark Fischbach (aka Markiplier) of YouTube gaming fame. The movie made nearly $17.9 million domestically and $21 million globally over the Jan. 30-Feb. 1 weekend.
“I’m struggling to grasp how it’s the same exact content,” Lee replied.
Sarandos didn’t back down, responding that half of all YouTube engagement happens in the living room on the TV. “It’s a zero sum game,” he said. “If you’re watching YouTube, you’re not watching HBO. You’re not watching Netflix.”
If it does get to court, the biggest battleground will be defining the market in which Netflix is a competitor. The company will look to define it as broadly as possible, likely arguing that it competes against the YouTubes and TikToks of the world. By Netflix’s thinking, it’s a competition for time and attention rather than for viewers solely looking to watch movies and TV shows.
The Justice Department, meanwhile, will look to keep the confines of the fight to streaming. A Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery rollup would give the combined company more than 30 percent of the streaming market according to some measures, a key threshold typically viewed as problematic under antitrust law. Still, it’s a far cry from the 50 percent marketshare benchmark that triggers a presumption of monopoly power by the courts.
At several points in the hearing, Sarandos stressed that Netflix has roughly 9 percent of total TV viewing, behind YouTube and Disney. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) challenged the assertion. “That’s defining the market how you want,” he said. “In the streaming market, what percent do you have of the market.”
Sarandos shot back, “For us, that would be a fantasy construct.”
When only including streaming services, Netflix accounts for roughly 19 percent of viewing. That figure would increase to around 21 percent if it’s allowed to purchase Warner Bros.
Another avenue the government could pursue to block the deal is a monopsony theory, or whether the combined company would have too much power over creators and talent. Sarandos and Campbell were the only streaming executives who testified, but they were treated as stand-ins for the entire media and entertainment industries, which have seen significant consolidation over the last two decades, slowly whittling away at labor’s leverage.
In a sharp exchange, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) asked Sarandos to commit to restoring “full residuals.” Sarandos, appearing slightly flustered, said it’s “very complicated” and that “we prepay,” to which Hawley interjected to say “that’s usually a way of saying no.”
Netflix said in a statement it already pays residuals. “According to the WGA, residuals have reached an all time high of $493.9M (up 5% from ‘20 to ‘23) — streaming accounts for ~45%, of which the lions’ share comes from Netflix,” it said.
Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) pressed Sarandos, who committed to a 45-day theatrical window, on the fewer paths creators will have for the acquisition of their content with one less company in play.
Sarandos said Netflix has multiple purchasing arms within the company, including for family, comedy and drama content. “You can pitch to all three teams,” he explained. “One may pass and one may take it.” If the deal is greenlit, the executive said buying entities within Warner Bros. and Netflix will remain independent.
Some of the most aggressive questions came from Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO), who pressed Sarandos and Campbell on the companies “promoting DEI and wokeness” while pointing to content that portray vikings and Cleopatra as Black — content that some conservatives have used as examples of Hollywood pushing a political agenda. “Why in the world would we give the seal of approval to make you the largest behemoth in the planet related to content,” he said. “It seems as though you’ve engaged in not only creating content but the wokest content in the history of the world.”
Sarandos asserted that Netflix caters to all viewers, who are an even 40% split of conservatives and liberals.
One notable person absent from the hearing: Paramount CEO David Ellison, who met with lawmakers privately but declined to make an appearance as he pursues a hostile bid for all of Warner Bros. Discovery, according to Booker. The lawmaker said he has “serious concerns” with Paramount’s involvement in the deal due to allegations of “political favoritism” by President Donald Trump.
“Does that strike you as improper,” Booker asked Campbell, referencing Ellison’s meeting with Trump, after which a deal was reached to resolve a lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview with former vice president Kamala Harris.
“It was unusual, yes,” Campbell said.
Washington
Hulking four-star Arizona OL commits to Cal over Washington football
The Washington Huskies saw one of their most hotly contested offensive line targets in the 2027 class go elsewhere on Saturday afternoon when four-star offensive lineman DaJohn Yarborough announced his pledge to the California Golden Bears
The 6-foot-5, 340-pound product of Basha High School in Arizona, who is ranked as the nation’s No. 426 overall prospect and No. 25 interior offensive lineman by the 247Sports Composite, picked coach Tosh Lupoi and the Golden Bears out of a final four that also included Florida State, Mississippi State, and UW.
Although his junior year was cut short due to a fractured ankle, Fisch and offensive line coach Michael Switzer kept up a strong relationship with the hulking prospect, who has the size, physicality, and skill set the pair looks for from early contributors up front. However,
“The big man slides smoothly in pass protection and balances his weight well, always finding himself on the winning end of collisions with defenders,” Huskies Wire’s Alex Katson wrote in an evaluation of his film. “With such prototypical size and technique, Yarborough profiles as a player who could find himself in the NFL rather quickly with the right coaching staff during his time in college.”
As Washington continues to build up its offensive line for the rigors of the Big Ten, Yarborough would have been viewed as a promising building block alongside Freshman All-American John Mills, former five-star Kodi Greene, and former four-star Champ Taulealea, who should make up the core of Switzer’s unit in 2027.
While the Huskies had consistently been viewed among the top suitors for Yarborough’s services, but Lupoi’s staff has shown early that it can make a big impact quickly on recruits all over the West. Without Yarborough, Washington’s 2027 class consists of three offensive linemen: four-star interior prospect Gecova Doyal, four-star center Reis Russell, and three-star offensive tackle Tye Kennedy.
Washington
Chisholm’s homer keys 3-run 9th as the Yankees rally past Washington 5-3 – WTOP News
Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to lift the New York Yankees over the Washington Nationals 5-3 on Friday night.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to lift the New York Yankees over the Washington Nationals 5-3 on Friday night.
The Yankees and Nationals rank 1-2 in the major leagues in home runs, and all but one run in this game came via the long ball. Ben Rice hit his 29th of the season for the Yankees, and Jasson Domínguez and Austin Wells also went deep for New York.
Keibert Ruiz and James Wood homered on consecutive pitches in the seventh to give Washington a 3-2 lead, but in the ninth, the Nationals brought in left-hander Matt Krook — who had allowed 22 earned runs in 12 2/3 big league innings dating to 2023. Krook (0-1) yielded a one-out single by Domínguez, and Chisholm followed with his 13th homer.
Wells added a solo shot off Justin Lawrence to make it 5-3.
David Bednar (3-3) won in relief, working the final two innings. The Yankees remained four games behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East.
Rice homered in the first off Carson Palmquist, but the New York designated hitter fouled a pitch off his right leg in the fifth and was shaken up. He was able to stay in the game.
By that time, Domínguez had given the Yankees a 2-1 lead with a homer off Zack Littell (8-6) in the fourth.
The game was delayed two hours at the start, and a wet field might have prevented Washington from tying it in the sixth. New York starter Ryan Weathers allowed a one-out double to CJ Abrams. Then Jacob Young followed with a single. Abrams looked likely to score, but he slipped rounding third and had to stay there.
Fernando Cruz then replaced Weathers and struck out the next two hitters to strand both runners.
New York’s Paul Goldschmidt singled in the first to snap an 0-for-34 drought, and he also reached on an infield hit in the sixth.
Amed Rosario of the Yankees struck out in all three of his plate appearances and made two errors at third base before being lifted for a pinch-hitter.
Up next
Cam Schlittler (9-5) was scheduled to start for New York on Saturday against Miles Mikolas (3-7) of the Nationals.
___
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Washington
Washington State Democratic Party draws criticism over reparations, antisemitism language
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Party platforms are typically lengthy documents intended to define political values, not enact law.
But language adopted by the Washington State Democratic Party is drawing scrutiny from Republicans, some Jewish community leaders, and even some Democrats who say they were left out of the conversation.
The debate centers on two planks in the party’s newly approved platform: one supporting continued work on a state reparations study and another linking a recent rise in antisemitism, in part, to actions by the Israeli government.
Stephen Reed, a spokesperson for the Washington State Democratic Party, said the platform is developed every two years by delegates selected from communities across the state.
“They develop the platform. They write all the planks. They debate the planks,” Reed said.
Last month, the Washington State Democratic Party announced that more than 1,000 delegates at its 2026 convention in Spokane unanimously adopted language supporting reparations for descendants of victims of U.S. chattel slavery. The party described the move as the first such addition to a state Democratic Party platform.
The approved language says Democrats support “the study and implementation of reparative action, remedies and reconciliation” for descendants. The party also said Democrats had previously passed a 2024 resolution urging Washington leaders to create and fund a statewide study on reparations, which is currently underway and being managed by the Department of Commerce. A final report with recommendations is due in June 2027.
Reed said the party’s platform does not settle the question of whether Washington should provide direct payments as reparations, noting that other proposals include offering free college tuition to descendants.
But it is the platform’s language on antisemitism that has prompted criticism from both inside and outside the party. The approved platform states: “There has been a dramatic resurgence in antisemitism in recent years on all sides of the political spectrum, due in part to actions taken by the Israeli government. History shows us the dangerous repercussions suffered when collective action to combat antisemitism and promote understanding is not taken. We must ensure that the Jewish community is protected from misinformation, harassment, and violence.”
It is unclear whether the Washington State Jewish Democratic Caucus was consulted before the language was adopted. The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle criticized the provision.
“By ascribing the rise of antisemitism in the United States, even partially, to the actions of the Israeli government, the Washington State Democratic Party has rationalized, and given cover to, the actions of antisemites rather than full-throatedly condemning them. At a time where the Jewish community, which makes up only 2% of the U.S. population, is the target of nearly 70% of religion-based hate crimes, we urge the Washington State Democratic Party to do everything in its power to reduce antisemitism rather than justify it,” Solly Kane, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, said in a statement to KOMO News.
The State GOP, which is no stranger to incorporating national public policy into its regional platform either, criticized the Democrats.
“I read the Washington State Democratic Party platform, and it’s a banquet of trust-fund leftist nonsense,” Washington GOP Chair Jim Walsh said. “A lot of it is just not grounded in any real policy issue facing Washington families.”
Walsh said the platform contains “very little coherent stuff about tax reform or safe communities or improving K-12 schools,” while highlighting what he called “a very bizarre commitment to reparations for slavery.”
Asked why the Washington Republican Party’s 2024 platform includes language calling for limiting federal funding for programs that support critical race theory or The 1619 Project and for ending birthright citizenship, Walsh said, “We’re talking about not spending public resources. That means forcing taxpayers to pay for programs of various controversial sorts.”
“There is really no moral equivalence here,” he added.
Reed said he personally interprets the Democratic platform’s language as criticism of the Israeli government, not of Jewish people.
“I take this language personally to mean that the government of Israel is engaging in actions that are making Israel less safe, that are causing untold harm in the Palestinian community, especially among civilians,” Reed said. “That simply isn’t the right behavior for an ally of the United States.”
Reed acknowledged that the language has prompted concern and debate. He said the party has a Jewish caucus and that party officials tried to provide proposed platform language to caucuses before the convention, but he conceded the process may have fallen short.
“We did our best, and we hear that we may have come up short in those outreach efforts to give them enough time to digest everything,” Reed said. “If we fell short, we apologize to those communities.”
Reed said party platforms are designed to show voters where the party’s grassroots stand, even when the issues are complicated, controversial, or beyond the scope of state government.
“It’s a statement of values,” Reed said. “This lets Washingtonians know where the Democratic Party’s grassroots are, how they’re thinking, and the values they’re going to bring.”
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