Not So Fast, Netflix!

Along with a gazillion other people, I recently received this message from Netflix.

Hi Douglas,

We recently announced that Netflix will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO. This unites our leading entertainment service with Warner Bros.’ iconic stories, bringing some of the world’s most beloved franchises like Harry Potter, Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Casablanca, Game of Thrones and the DC Universe together with Stranger Things, Wednesday, Squid Game, Bridgerton and KPop Demon Hunters.

What’s changing?

Nothing is changing today. Both streaming services will continue to operate separately. We have more steps to complete before the deal is closed, including regulatory and shareholder approvals. You’ll hear from us when we have more to share. In the meantime, we hope you’ll continue to enjoy watching as much as you want, whenever you want – all on your current membership plan.
We know you might have questions. Check out our Help Center for more information or contact us at any time.

Thank you for choosing Netflix. We’re committed to bringing you more great TV shows, movies, games and live programming.

The Netflix team

Netflix didn’t pay Pope Trump the indulgence money he requires, so of course he is favoring a hostile bid for Warner. Once already this year, CBS/Paramount paid a cash tribute to the King to get his approval for a merger. To ensure he gets his cut from them again, his son-in-law is backing Paramount.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/08/trump-netflix-wbd-paramount.html

There are good reasons why Netflix shouldn’t acquire Warner. Failure to participate in a thoroughly corrupt president’s shakedown isn’t one of them.

Severed Brains and Connected People

I don’t subscribe to Apple TV, so I rely upon Bismo to not only tell me what’s worth watching, but to invite me to watch with him.

First, it was Severance. Currently, there is Plur1bus, which is Vince Gilligan returning to his X-Files roots.

Both are sci-fi series about social isolation. A small group of people who, in distinctly different ways, are separated from everybody else. With Severance a voluntary, lobotomy-like operation literally cuts people off from one part of themselves. In Plur1bus, the disconnect is involuntary.

I’ve been checking in on Dilbert’s Scott Adams, to see how he’s doing with his cancer treatments. One of his followers has suggested Pluribus to Scott, who is a Trump follower.

Mo’ Moanin’ O’er Money

Donny’s repeating his first term economic mistakes. His tariff taxes have done nothing to reduce China’s trade surplus. He’s hurting farmers and making direct payments of tariff money to keep them afloat.

China’s Trade Surplus Climbs Past $1 Trillion for First Time

President Trump’s tariffs weren’t enough to hold back the global export flood by China, which pushed past last year’s record in just 11 months.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/07/business/china-trade-surplus.html

Trump Insists Tariffs Will Buoy the Economy. For Now, He’s on Damage Control.

The president rolled out a $12 billion bailout for farmers as he makes the case that his policy is working — or will soon.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/us/politics/trump-trade-affordability.html

What does economics journalist David Wessel at the Brookings Institute think the Fed is going to do?