CBS parent company Paramount recently reached an $8.4 billion merger agreement with Skydance Media, a deal the current administration only approved on condition that the network hire a so-called bias monitor, seemingly to ensure the networks reporting doesnt make the president angry.Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr confirmed on Newsmax after the agency approved the merger last week that the so-called bias monitor will be in place for two years and report to the Paramount president. Related Pete Buttigieg says public has reached volcanic boiling point of impatience with president He accused the president of appointing incompetent people over very important things in our lives. The FCC cited precedent for the move, but Ars Technica pointed out that the case it used involved an ombudsmen to protect NBCs editorial independence after Comcast purchased NBCUniversal in 2011. Attorney and media policy expert Andrew Jay Schwartzman told Ars Technica that the 2011 case is very different from the viewpoint-based nature of the CBS condition. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez agreed and said the agencys latest move is imposing never-before-seen controls over newsroom decisions and editorial judgment, in direct violation of the First Amendment and the law.The implementation of the bias monitor is especially suspect, given that the merger was only approved by the FCC after CBS settled for $16 million following a lawsuit by the president, who claimed the network had deceptively edited an interview with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris before the election. Many have since accused CBS of bribing the administration to approve its merger. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called out the company for folding right when it needed the administrations approval for the merger and demanded an investigation. This could be bribery in plain sight, she said. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) called it disgusting to watch Skydance and Paramount bow to the administrations endless and illegal demands. He called it a dark day for anyone who believes in the rule of law and the First Amendment and promised to launch an investigation into the merger approval.While the FCC claimed the settlement had nothing to do with the merger, Carr has since praised the administration for refusing to allow national broadcasters [to] dictate how people think about topics. Carr also celebrated that CBS is committing to restoring fact-based journalism, which appears to be a dog whistle for reporting that makes the administration look good, considering its continued vilification of the mainstream media (regularly accusing journalists of anti-conservative bias) and its proven willingness to lie at every turn. Carr has also been quite overtly communicating the agencys plans to meddle with the mainstream media. On CNBC last week, he said the president is fundamentally reshaping the media landscape and that the industry needs a course correction.He also admitted Skydances agreement to monitor bias was what tipped the scales for the FCC to approve the deal. The new owners of CBS came in and said, Its time for a change. Were going to reorient it towards getting rid of bias,' Carr said. At the end of the day, thats what made the difference for us.In her statement against the merger, Commissioner Gomez warned that it is the American public who will ultimately pay the price for Paramounts cowardly capitulation. Despite this regrettable outcome, this administration is not done with its assault on the First Amendment, she continued.In fact, it may only be beginning. The Paramount payout and this reckless approval have emboldened those who believe the government canand shouldabuse its power to extract financial and ideological concessions, demand favored treatment, and secure positive media coverage.It is a dark chapter in a long and growing record of abuse that threatens press freedom in this country. But such violations endure only when institutions choose capitulation over courage. It is time for companies, journalists, and citizens alike to stand up and speak out, because unchecked and unquestioned power has no rightful place in America. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.