Governor Hochul Urges Caution Ahead of Severe Thunderstorms and Extreme Heat

Enhanced Risk for Severe Thunderstorms Across the North Country Beginning Tuesday Afternoon

Extreme Heat Forecast Across the State Tuesday and Wednesday

New Yorkers Can Sign Up for Weather and Emergency Alerts by Texting 333111

Governor Kathy Hochul today urged New Yorkers to prepare ahead of severe thunderstorms set to impact the North Country and statewide extreme heat beginning Tuesday. For parts of the North Country, there is an Enhanced Risk, meaning a greater likelihood, for severe thunderstorms beginning Tuesday afternoon, continuing into Tuesday night. Damaging winds, large hail and the possibility of tornadoes could occur with these storms. Additionally, Heat Advisories are currently in effect for areas across the state for Tuesday and Wednesday.

“We’re New Yorkers, and we’re no strangers to adverse weather, but it’s crucial to plan ahead to keep yourself and your loved ones safe,” Governor Hochul said. “This mix of heat and storms can bring about a variety of dangers, but keeping these safety tips in mind can help you be prepared when the weather comes. Stay hydrated in the heat and know where your local cooling centers are should you need them if your power goes out. Be mindful of your forecast and stay safe.”

Extreme heat is dangerous and is the leading cause of weather-related fatalities in the United States. The most common heat-related illnesses are heat stroke (sun stroke), heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat rash. Learn more about heat-related illness, including signs and symptoms and when to take action on the State Health Department’s extreme heat advice webpage.

New Yorkers should closely monitor their local forecasts and look for updates issued by the National Weather Service. For a complete listing of weather alerts, visit the National Weather Service website.

New Yorkers should also ensure that government emergency alerts are enabled on their mobile phones. They should also sign up for real-time weather and emergency alerts that will be texted to their phones by texting their county or borough name to 333111.

New York State agencies are taking the actions and making recommendations to respond to the forecasted heat. These include:

 To Report an Electric Outage, Call:

• Central Hudson: Electric: 800-527-2714 or Gas: 800-942-8274
• Con Ed: Electric: 800-752-6633 or Gas: 800-752-6633
• Corning Gas: 800-834-2134
• Liberty Utilities (St. Lawrence Gas) Corp.: 800-673-3301
• National Fuel Gas: 1-800-444-3130
• National Grid:
• Electric: 800-867-5222
• Long Island (gas): 1-800-490-0045
• Metro NYC (gas): 1-718-643-4050
• Upstate (gas): 1-800-892-2345
• NYSEG: Electric: 800-572-1131 or Gas: 800-572-1121
• O&R: Electric: 877-434-4100 or Gas: 800-533-5325
• PSEG-LI: 800-490-0075
• RG&E: Electric: 800-743-1701 or Gas: 800-743-1702

Mayor Mamdani Activates Heat Emergency Plan as City Prepares for Midweek Heat

 

Hundreds of cooling centers will open Tuesday and Wednesday — find the nearest location at finder.nyc.gov/coolingcenters/  

 

Street outreach will intensify under Code Red, with 21 COOL vans deployed to support vulnerable neighbors

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) today urged New Yorkers to prepare for dangerous heat expected Tuesday and Wednesday. 

 

Temperatures are expected to feel like the upper 90s Tuesday, with the heat index climbing into the low 100s Wednesday before cooler weather arrives later this week. While this stretch of heat is expected to be less severe and shorter than the historic heat wave earlier this month, the National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory from 11 a.m. Tuesday through 9 p.m. Wednesday. 

 

New Yorkers are encouraged to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day and spend time in air-conditioned spaces whenever possible. Residents should check on vulnerable neighbors — especially older adults, people with disabilities and people with chronic health conditions — and learn to recognize the warning signs of heat illness. Anyone experiencing hot, dry skin, difficult breathing, a rapid heartbeat, confusion, disorientation, dizziness, nausea or vomiting should call 911 immediately. 

 

“This heat may not reach the levels we experienced earlier this month, but it can still be deadly,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Every New Yorker should make a plan today. If you have air conditioning, turn it on. If you don’t, head to one of the hundreds of cooling centers opening across the city, visit a pool or cool off at a spray shower. And look out for your neighbors, especially seniors. If you see someone outside who appears to be in distress, call 311 so we can get help to them.” 

  

“As we stressed just two weeks ago during our city’s record-breaking temperatures, high heat can be life threatening,” said NYCEM Commissioner Christina Farrell. “Temperatures forecasted this week will feel above 100 degrees, so New Yorkers should be vigilant about staying safe and cool. Make sure that you drink lots of water, use air conditioning or get to an air-conditioned space and check on vulnerable neighbors.” 

 

“Extreme heat doesn’t affect everyone equally, and that’s why our COOL vans meet New Yorkers most at risk directly where they are,” said Dr. Ted Long, Senior Vice President and System Chief Medical Officer for Clinical Services and Population Health at NYC Health + Hospitals. “COOL’s clinical teams bring cooling supplies directly to you, and can then immediately transport you somewhere safe. Whether you are an unhoused New Yorker on the street or an older adult that needs help at home, the COOL initiative shows that New York City will do everything in its power to help you.” 

  

Cooling Centers and Cool Options  

The City will activate hundreds of cooling centers Tuesday and Wednesday, providing free, air-conditioned spaces across the five boroughs. New Yorkers can find locations, including accessible and pet-friendly options, at finder.nyc.gov/coolingcenters/ or by calling 311. Service animals are always welcome.  

 

Thousands of LinkNYC kiosks will provide real-time walking directions to the nearest cooling center within a 10-minute walk.  

  

New Yorkers can also find relief at spray showers and other cooling location by visiting on.nyc.gov/CoolItNYC.

  

The City’s roughly 50 outdoor pools are free and open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Olympic- and intermediate-sized pools will remain open until 8:30 p.m. 

   

Public beaches are free and open daily with lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Swimming outside designated areas or when lifeguards are off duty is prohibited and extremely dangerous.  

  

Adults 18 and older can also pick up free spray caps at local firehouses to safely convert fire hydrants into sprinklers.  

   

Outreach to Vulnerable New Yorkers 

The City will activate Code Red outreach from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, expanding street canvassing to connect homeless New Yorkers with shelter, cooling centers and essential services. Shelter is available to anyone experiencing homelessness, and walk-ins are welcome. Anyone concerned about a person who may need assistance is encouraged to call 311. 

 

Twenty-one COOL vans will provide New Yorkers with wellness checks, medical care, electrolytes, sunscreen, meal — including vegetarian, kosher and halal options, transportation to cooling centers or health care facilities and visits to older adults in their homes to help them stay safe during the heat.  

 

New Yorkers can stay informed by signing up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency communications program, by texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692 and visiting nyc.gov/beattheheat for more health and safety guidance.  

Governor Hochul Announces New Chip-Based Benefit Cards for SNAP Recipients to Be Issued in Early 2027

More Secure Technology to Protect Recipients’ Benefits from Theft

New York One of Just a Few States Transitioning to the EBT Chip Cards

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York has made significant strides in its ongoing efforts to protect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients’ benefits from theft and that new, more secure chip-based cards will be issued beginning early in 2027. The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) recently finalized a contract with a vendor to provide the cards, which are expected to greatly limit theft of benefits by criminals using illegal “skimming” devices.

“We are committed to protecting New Yorkers from benefit theft and modernizing our EBT system is the most effective tool we have to prevent heartless criminals from preying on some of our most vulnerable residents,” Governor Hochul said. “As the federal administration continues to undermine efforts to address food insecurity and hunger, New York remains focused on uplifting families and ensuring they have the help they need to put food on the table.”

Fidelity Information Services, LLC (FIS) will provide the new cards, which utilize chip technology that is standard with commercial debit and credit cards. The Federal Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system, which is used nationally to distribute and use SNAP benefits, only recently gained the ability to accept chip cards. The new cards will begin being issued to recipients in the first quarter of 2027.

The Governor directed OTDA earlier this year to implement this priority as quickly as possible. OTDA proactively issued a request for proposals for a new EBT card vendor capable of providing cards with chips that are more secure than the existing cards – to be prepared to transition once funding was secured.

New York is one of just a handful of states transitioning to secure, chip-based EBT card technology. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, five states have already issued chip cards and five more states, including New York, are in progress.

The funding to support the transition was included by the Governor and the Legislature in the FY 2027 Budget. About two million new cards are expected to be issued.

OTDA recently began outreach to retailers and financial institutions encouraging them to make sure their systems and equipment are updated to accept the new EBT chip cards before the end of the year, so that they can continue accepting SNAP benefits as payment when the new cards are issued.

EBT cardholders will be notified before their new card is issued.

There has been increased awareness in recent years of the use of skimming devices to capture recipients’ card information and PIN, with criminals using skimmed information to access accounts and steal the recipients’ benefits before recipients have a chance to spend them. However, the federal government stopped funding replacement benefits at the end of 2024 for SNAP recipients who had their benefits stolen and the Trump Administration has refused to consider reauthorizing such replacement.

The new EBT cards, which are also used by Public Assistance recipients to access their benefits, will be virtually impervious to skimming, helping safeguard the dollars that New Yorkers depend on to feed their families.

OTDA has worked steadily toward transitioning to the use of EBT chip cards to help protect recipients' benefits from electronic theft, while taking steps to raise awareness and encouraging recipients to do what they can to protect their benefits. EBT cardholders can help protect their benefits by using the freeze/unfreeze card feature in the ebtEDGE mobile app or online cardholder portal. They can also choose to block online and out-of-state purchases.

OTDA, local departments of social services, or the EBT card provider will never contact clients asking for EBT information. EBT cardholders should never give their EBT card information in response to emails, text messages, or phone calls. Thieves can use this information to access your account and spend your SNAP and cash benefits.

Resources to assist the public with information about EBT scams and how to protect their benefits can be found at otda.ny.gov/ebtscam. 

Mamdani Administration Releases Summer Safety Plan, Highlighting Whole-of-Government Approach to Community Safety

 

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the Mayor’s Office of Community Safety released the City’s “Summer Safety Plan,” outlining a whole-of-government strategy to keep New Yorkers safe during a historic summer of major events and public celebrations.    

  

The plan focuses on three priorities:   

•   Safe Summer Gatherings: Help New Yorkers and visitors safely enjoy this summer’s celebrations, cultural events and public gatherings, including the World Cup.   

•   Supporting Young People: Expand access to jobs, mentorship and leadership opportunities so young New Yorkers have safe, enriching places to spend their summers.  

•   Preventing Violence: Reduce violence that historically increases during the summer months through prevention, intervention and survivor support.  

  

As part of the administration’s commitment to supporting young New Yorkers, the Office of Community Safety launched a Youth Listening Tour ahead of summer 2026. To date, the Office has reached approximately 1,400 students, with plans to engage additional community organizations in the months ahead.   

  

The Mamdani administration also launched an interactive Summer Activities website, where young New Yorkers can search hundreds of free and low-cost classes, sports leagues and events by age, interest and location. The website has already received more than 200,000 visits. In addition, more than 1,000 young people are enrolled in the City’s Anti-Gun Violence Employment Program.   

  

The administration is also expanding evidence-based violence prevention efforts through the City’s Crisis Management System (CMS). Providers are increasing outreach, neighborhood canvassing and on-call staffing to align with documented patterns of summer violence, ensuring more trained responders are present during evenings, weekends and holidays. CMS providers will also activate a 72-hour shooting response protocol to rapidly support victims, families and communities in the aftermath of gun violence.   

  

As New York City hosts a historic summer of major events – including the FIFA World Cup™, Pride celebrations and American 250 commemorations – the Office of Community Safety is coordinating with agencies across City government on a Know Your Rights campaign to ensure New Yorkers and visitors have access to important public safety information. The Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence has also launched a multimedia campaign raising awareness about human trafficking on LinkNYC kiosks and TaxiTVs across the five boroughs. This complements the NYPD’s efforts to deliver the fewest shooting incidents, shooting victims, and murders for the first half of the year.   

  

“New York City government is working across agencies and around the clock to deliver the safe summer that New Yorkers deserve,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Whether you’re heading to a World Cup match, taking your kids to a block party or just enjoying some time in the sun, our administration is bringing every part of City government together to help keep New Yorkers safe.”   

  

“Safety is not just the absence of violence, but the presence of opportunity, dignity, and community,” said Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Renita Francois. “This summer, the Mayor’s Office of Community Safety is bringing together the full strength of city government to ensure that every New Yorker can not only stay safe, but enjoy themselves.”   

  

“The Mamdani administration's commitment to a safe summer includes making sure young people have opportunities, families have support and communities have the resources they need to thrive,” said Mayor's Office of Community Safety Commissioner Dr. Ayesha Delany-Brumsey. “The Office of Community Safety is bringing together agencies, community organizations and trusted local partners to prevent violence before it occurs, strengthen neighborhood safety and ensure every New Yorker can safely enjoy everything our city has to offer this summer.”  

Speaker Julie Menin, Council Member Susan Zhuang, and Small Business Owners Highlight New Legislation to Cut Red Tape, Reduce Fines, and Support Small Businesses

 

Red Tape Relief Act would create new interagency inspection coordination program modeled after New Business Acceleration Team and new bill would establish commission to review and issue recommendations on regulations, permitting, and fine reduction  

Today, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, Council Member Susan Zhuang, the New York City Hospitality Alliance, and small business owners announced a pair of bills to support small businesses by cutting red tape, reducing fines, and streamlining inspection, permitting, and approval processes. The legislation builds on previous bills enacted by the Council to alleviate challenges facing small businesses, including repealing the requirement for commercial storefronts to install visible security grilles, establishing a small retail business security system program to provide financial assistance, and streamlining child care program permitting.

A Preconsidered Introduction, sponsored by Speaker Menin, would create a Quadrennial Regulatory Review Commission to study the regulatory framework for businesses and issue recommendations related to easing permitting, licensing, inspections, and reducing fines and fees. The Commission would be chaired by a small business representative and include appointees from the Council and city agencies. This bill will be introduced at Thursday’s Stated Meeting. 

Introduction 955-A, also known as the Red Tape Relief Act, sponsored by Council Member Zhuang, would require the Mayor to establish a program, modeled after the Bloomberg-era New Business Acceleration Team (NBAT), to coordinate inspections and plan reviews among city agencies to reduce the time it takes for small businesses to open. The Council is expected to vote on the Red Tape Relief Act at the upcoming Stated Meeting.

Photos from the press conference can be found here.

“Small businesses are the economic drivers of our local economy and of vibrant neighborhoods, which is why we must be focused on making it easier to start and sustain them in our city,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “My new bill will establish thoughtful, periodic reviews of city regulations, fines, and permitting, with the goal of reducing the barriers for establishments to succeed. At a time when New York has lost thousands of businesses to other cities across the country, our city must take proactive steps to support them. I look forward to advancing this innovative bill and establishing the Quadrennial Regulatory Review Commission to begin its work.

“As an immigrant who came to this city seeking opportunity, and as the daughter of a small business owner, I have seen firsthand what it takes to build something in New York,” said Council Member Susan Zhuang. “Too many entrepreneurs, especially immigrant entrepreneurs, spend months or years lost in red tape just trying to get their doors open. I introduced this bill because our small business owners deserve a city government that works with them, not against them. This legislation brings back a model that worked before and gets restaurants and childcare programs open faster. I thank Speaker Menin and my colleagues for their partnership in getting this done, and I’m proud to champion small businesses across our city.”

According to a January 2026 economic snapshot by New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), only 3,500 new businesses started in the five boroughs in the second quarter of 2025, the weakest quarter of new business formation in the last five years. With an estimated 8,400 businesses closing during that same period, New York City lost a net of nearly 5,000 businesses, underscoring the importance of supporting small business creation.

Speaker Menin’s bill will establish a Quadrennial Regulatory Review Commission, which will meet every four years and issue recommendations to improve government processes, policies, and rulemaking to make it easier to create, operate, and grow businesses in New York City. The Commission will review regulations within the following city agencies:

•    Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)
•    Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)
•    Department of Buildings (DOB)
•    Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
•    Fire Department of New York (FDNY)
•    Department of Sanitation (DSNY)
•    Department of Transportation (DOT)

The Commission will be chaired by a member of the public representing the small business community. It will include representatives from the city agencies being reviewed and Council appointees. The bill will require the Commission to issue a report with its recommendations six months after appointments are made. A report from the Commission will be required to be sent to the Mayor and Council and posted online.

Opening a small business in New York City typically requires approvals from multiple city agencies, including DOB, FDNY, DEP, and DOHMH. Reviews and inspections often take months to complete, with total permitting timelines often stretching beyond six months for food and beverage establishments. Small business owners must navigate a complex and bureaucratic system, which presents challenges that disproportionately impact immigrant entrepreneurs and first-time operators.

Under the administration of then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the City administered the NBAT. NBAT served as a single point of contact to coordinate reviews and inspections across relevant city agencies simultaneously. As a result, businesses that worked with NBAT reduced their time-to-open by an average of 45 days. More than 1,500 restaurants opened ahead of schedule due to the program, which was discontinued during the administration of former Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The Red Tape Relief Act, which will establish a program modeled after NBAT to support small businesses, will cover new food service establishments and child care programs, but can include other types of businesses. The bill also requires the City to publicly report on the effectiveness of the new program to advance transparency and accountability. It also allows the City to provide an online application portal for prospective businesses to enroll in the program.

The legislation takes effect 180 days after it becomes law.

TransDigm Abandons Proposed Acquisition of Stellant Systems in Response to Justice Department’s Decision to Block Transaction

Abandoned Deal Would Have Eliminated Competition Between Manufacturers of Mission-Critical Defense Radar Components 

TransDigm Group has abandoned its attempt to acquire rival defense and industrial component manufacturer Stellant Systems. TransDigm and Stellant compete, in addition to industrial products, to supply and repair components used in radar systems for the U.S. Navy’s Aegis Combat System and the U.S. Air Force’s F-16 fighter jets. The acquisition would have left the Department of War with a single source for critical products, increasing supply chain risks and removing the benefits of competition.

TransDigm abandoned the transaction after the Justice Department informed the parties that it would file a lawsuit in federal court to block the transaction.

“This Justice Department will rigorously investigate and challenge mergers that create monopolies and harm competition. Our decision to put a stop to this deal preserved critical competition that protects American taxpayers and warfighters,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “We are grateful to our War Department partners who were crucial to this investigation.”

“The Department of War is committed to building the Arsenal of Freedom, which requires resilient supply chains and competition,” said Michael P. Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment. “Maintaining a robust, diverse, and competitive defense industrial base is vital to preventing single-source vulnerabilities and ensuring our warfighters are equipped with superior capabilities at the best value to the American taxpayer.”

TransDigm Group Incorporated is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. Stellant Systems Inc. is headquartered in Torrance, California.

Houston Man Guilty of Drug Trafficking as Part of Homeland Security Task Force Investigation in the Eastern District of Texas

 

A Houston man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking violations following a Homeland Security Task Force investigation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division Brian C. Leardo and U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Indolfo Hernandez, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn on July 10, 2026. 

According to information presented in court, in January 2024, law enforcement began investigating a drug trafficking organization that was distributing large amounts of methamphetamine throughout Texas and neighboring regions. The organization, based in Houston and operating within the Eastern District of Texas, was led by Hernandez. During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than 16 kilograms of methamphetamine that had been distributed by Hernandez and his coconspirators. 

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.  HSTF Houston comprises agents and officers from the FBI; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Houston (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI); and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas; DEA Beaumont HIDTA Task Force Group D23; Houston Police Department; Liberty County Sheriff’s Office; and Harris County Precinct 2 Constable’s Office with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Lee.

Hernandez faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison at sentencing. The actual sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

Attorney General James Sues to Block Paramount’s Merger with Warner Bros.

 

AG James and 11 Other Attorneys General File Lawsuit to Stop Largest Merger in Media and Entertainment History

$110 Billion Merger Would Consolidate Film and TV Industry and Harm Consumers, Workers, Theaters, and Other Businesses

New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 11 other attorneys general today sued Paramount Skydance Corp. (Paramount) and Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (Warner Bros.), two of the nation’s largest media companies, to block a proposed $110 billion merger that would illegally undermine competition throughout the entertainment industry. Paramount’s purchase of Warner Bros. would combine two of Hollywood’s five major film studios and two of the five major basic cable companies, creating a massive conglomerate in markets for basic cable and theatrical film releases.

Attorney General James and the coalition argue that this merger would have devastating effects for consumers, workers, and the entertainment industry. After acquiring Warner Bros., Paramount would have fewer incentives to invest in television and film production, leading to fewer new releases and a less diverse range of entertainment and news perspectives for consumers. With less competition, Paramount would be able to dictate terms to theater owners and television providers, driving up prices for movie tickets and cable packages. Thousands of workers in the entertainment industry would also be at risk, with fewer big-budget projects and studios competing to hire them. Attorney General James and the coalition are seeking a court order declaring the merger illegal and preventing the two companies from combining.

“For over a century, Paramount and Warner Bros. have competed to create movies and television that bring people together, inspire and sustain generations of artists, and help us understand the world,” said Attorney General James. “This merger would destroy that competition, creating a massive company with unprecedented power and influence over news and entertainment across the globe. Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. threatens to raise costs for consumers and put jobs and businesses nationwide at risk. I thank my fellow attorneys general for joining this effort to uphold the law and block this merger.”

Paramount and Warner Bros. have competed in the television and film industry for over a century. Their long-running competition has yielded some of the nation’s most popular and critically acclaimed films and franchises, including Titanic, Forrest Gump, The Godfather, and Mission Impossible produced by Paramount, and the Batman, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings films produced by Warner Bros. The two companies also own some of the most watched television channels and programs in the country, including three production studios responsible for Game of Thrones, The Big Bang Theory, The Late Show, and NCIS.

On February 27, 2026, Paramount agreed to acquire Warner Bros. in a transaction valued at approximately $110 billion. As Attorney General James and the coalition allege in their lawsuit, this would create a media company of enormous scale that would illegally reduce competition across the entertainment industry. If the merger proceeds, Paramount would be one of four studios that would control 85 percent of all theatrical film releases. Two companies – Paramount and Disney – would control more than half of all basic cable programming. Paramount would own lucrative sports programming, including broadcasting rights for the NFL on CBS, March Madness, and Major League Baseball, two major news stations, CNN and CBS, and more than 20 top-rated cable stations such as MTV, HGTV, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon. The merger would also combine three of the top subscription streaming services, Paramount+, Discovery+, and HBO Max.

The lawsuit alleges that the merger would violate antitrust law by reducing competition in the markets for films released widely to more than 600 theaters, anticipated top-grossing films, and basic cable television. Paramount’s size would enhance its power to set terms with the theaters and cable channel distributors it negotiates with, leading to higher prices for consumers. With fewer competitors, Paramount would be able to negotiate box office splits, ticket prices, discounts, and other terms that favor the studio at the expense of theaters. As a result, consumers would likely see a reduction in the number of blockbuster movies at the theater and face higher costs when going to the movies, and theaters would have fewer resources to invest in improving experiences for their customers.

Paramount would be in a similarly unfair and powerful position with distributors of cable channels. With control over more than 50 basic cable channels, Paramount would have unprecedented leverage to charge distributors higher fees to carry its channels and threaten a blackout if distributors refuse to comply. These fee increases would likely be passed on to consumers in the form of higher cable bills. Paramount’s ownership of both CBS and CNN would also allow the company to control content at two major television news outlets at a time when news consumption is increasingly concentrated in national media.

By reducing competition, Paramount would have less of an incentive to invest heavily in new content, leading to fewer new films and television shows for consumers. Paramount executives have made this clear by telling investors that “content spending reductions” are part of the “synergies” the merger will create. Less spending on new content will mean fewer unique stories for consumers, fewer jobs for independent writers, producers, and directors, and fewer opportunities for the many businesses involved in film and television production.

Attorney General James and the coalition are seeking a court order declaring the merger in violation of the Clayton Act and preventing Paramount from finalizing its acquisition of Warner Bros.

Joining Attorney General James in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington.