In this photo illustration, the logo of Warner Bros. Discovery is displayed on a computer screen in Ankara, Turkiye, on August 12, 2025. (Photo by Omer Taha Cetin/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Warner Bros Discovery has agreed to a deal with Paramount Skydance, the two companies confirmed Friday in a news release.
According to the release, under the terms of the agreement, Paramount plans to pay “$31.00 per share in cash for all outstanding shares of WBD.”
“The merger unlocks innovative and compelling storytelling opportunities across the combined company’s best-in-class film and television studios, streaming and linear platforms,” the release stated.
According to the release, the board of directors of both companies approved the deal unanimously.
The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, “subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory clearances and approval by WBD shareholders, with a vote expected in the early spring of 2026.”
President Donald Trump answers questions during a press briefing held at the White House February 20, 2026, in Washington, DC. The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled against Trump’s use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs, a central portion of the administration’s core economic policy. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump has ordered U.S. government agencies to stop using Anthropic’s products, just hours before the deadline the Pentagon set for the AI company to agree to its terms.
“I am directing EVERY Federal Agency in the United States Government to IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic’s technology. We don’t need it, we don’t want it, and will not do business with them again! There will be a Six Month phase out period for Agencies like the Department of War who are using Anthropic’s products, at various levels,” Trump posted on his social media platform.
“Anthropic better get their act together, and be helpful during this phase out period, or I will use the Full Power of the Presidency to make them comply, with major civil and criminal consequences to follow,” Trump added.
ABC News has reached out to Anthropic for comment.
The AI company’s CEO has made clear that despite threats from the Pentagon, they refuse to drop their two key demands: no use of its artificial intelligence for fully autonomous weapons — meaning AI, not humans, making final battlefield targeting decisions — and no mass domestic surveillance.
Anthropic told ABC News that amid negotiations, the latest contract language from the Pentagon does not fully commit that the military will not use their technology for those two use cases.
In fact, Anthropic said the “new language” added into the contract by the department would allow their safeguards to be “disregarded at will.”
“The contract language we received from the Department of War made virtually no progress on preventing Claude’s use for mass surveillance of Americans or in fully autonomous weapons,” Anthropic told ABC News.
The company added, “New language framed as compromise was paired with legalese that would allow those safeguards to be disregarded at will. Despite DOW’s recent public statements, these narrow safeguards have been the crux of our negotiations for months.”
Top members of the Senate Armed Services Committee have sent a private letter to Anthropic and the Pentagon, urging them to resolve their fight.
The Senate leaders are urging Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the CEO of Anthropic, Dario Amodei, to extend their negotiations and work with Congress to find a solution, according to the letter obtained by ABC News.
The Pentagon claims it has no intention of using Anthropic’s AI for cases that involve mass domestic surveillance or autonomous kinetic operations. However, it says Anthropic’s guardrails could jeopardize military operations.
The Pentagon said that if Anthropic does not agree to its demands by 5:00 p.m. ET Friday, they will terminate the partnership with Anthropic and label the company a “supply chain risk” – a designation usually reserved for foreign adversaries.
“The Department has stated that it does not intend to conduct mass surveillance or use autonomous weapons without humans on the loop — positions that we in Congress endorse,” the letter from the Senate leaders reads. “It is clear, however, that the issue of ‘lawful use’ requires additional work by all stakeholders. We must determine whether additional legislative or regulatory language is required, and, if so, what that law and regulation should entail.”
“By Friday, February 27, the DOD could essentially declare war not on a foreign nation but on one of America’s most successful frontier AI companies if it does not bow to its demands,” Adam Conner, the vice president for technology policy at American Progress, wrote in an article on their website.
“This would be an unprecedented and unnecessary peacetime move that sends the signal to other private companies that they must do the Trump administration’s bidding or face existential consequences,” Conner wrote.
In addition to the 1973 live performance at Boston venue Paul’s Mall on black vinyl, the set includes the original album remastered on clear vinyl, along with a 2024 Album Mix on translucent red vinyl. The set also includes unreleased studio tracks on black vinyl and a UV cloud-effect 12-inch vinyl, featuring both the 2024 remaster and mix of the band’s iconic single “Dream On.”
The set also comes with a hardcover book featuring never-before-seen photos, plus liner notes with new interviews with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Brad Whitford and Joey Kramer. There are also contributions from musicians like Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, Dolly Parton, The Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson, Guns N’ Roses’ Slash and more.
In addition to the Collector’s Edition set, Aerosmith will release Aerosmith (Legendary Edition) as four-LP and three-CD sets, as well as digitally, as a single CD and as a single LP, available in both black and translucent red.
RAYE has released “Nightingale Lane.” from her upcoming album, This Music May Contain Hope. There’s also a live video, recorded at London’s legendary Abbey Road Studios with the London Symphony Orchestra and a choir. “This song is about the greatest heartbreak I’ve ever known,” RAYE says before she starts singing the ballad. The album is out March 27.
Alex Warren has been teasing his song “Fever Dream” for weeks, and the song is finally out. Fans seem to agree that they really like the song but wish it was longer. Like his breakthrough hit “Ordinary,” the song is about his wife, Kouvr Annon. It’s the first taste of new music from the Grammy-nominated singer ahead of his upcoming tour, which launches in April. He performs at the BRIT Awards on Sunday.
Jessie Murph has a new song on the soundtrack of Scream 7, the latest installment in the long-running horror franchise. The slinky track is called “Criminal.” The movie’s in theaters now.
Lauv has returned with a new EP called songs i couldn’t forget, a set of demos he’s been sitting on for years. In a statement, he writes, “back in 2018, i wrote these songs during a time that shaped me. years later, i still can’t get them out of my head, so i put them together into my new EP … it’s a collection of songs that still mean a lot to me — lessons learned, moments shared, and love lost. in any case, i hope you love them.” The single, ‘mariah,’ is about listening to old songs by Mariah Carey. Lauv launches a co-headlining tour with Khalid called It’s Always Summer Somewhere, starting May 15.
Ryan Hurst as Kratos and Callum Vinson as Atreus on the set of ‘God of War.’ (Leah Gallo/Prime Video)
Prime Video has released its first look at its upcoming God of War series.
Additionally, Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios have announced that production on the new series has begun. The first photo from the show’s set has also been released. It features stars Ryan Hurst and Callum Vinson in character as Kratos and Atreus.
God of War is based on the popular ancient mythology-themed Playstation video game. It has already received a two-season order from the streamer.
Hurst previously played Thor in the Playstation game God of War Ragnarök and already has established familiarity with the franchise.
The storyline for the upcoming series follows “father and son Kratos and Atreus as they embark on a journey to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye,” according to an official synopsis from Prime Video. “Through their adventures, Kratos tries to teach his son to be a better god, while Atreus tries to teach his father how to be a better human.”
Also starring in the show are Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Ed Skrein as Baldur, Max Parker as Heimdall, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Teresa Palmer as Sif, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Jeff Gulka as Sindri and Danny Woodburn as Brok.
A fan reacts during the 2025 When We Were Young Music Festival at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on October 18, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Bryan Steffy/Getty Images)
When We Were Young won’t be happening in 2026.
The Las Vegas festival will be skipping this year but plans to return in 2027, organizers have announced.
“The songs, the memories, the moments — none of it exists without you,” a statement on the When We Were Young website reads. “After an unforgettable run in Las Vegas, we’ve decided to take 2026 off to give this festival the care it deserves and to make sure what comes next feels just as special as what came before.”
It continues, “Thank you for showing up with your whole hearts every year. This isn’t goodbye — it’s just a pause. We’ll see you in 2027.”
The first When We Were Young festival took place in 2017 in Santa Ana, California. It then relaunched in Vegas in 2022 with a headline-making lineup dedicated to the alternative, emo and pop-punk scene of the early and mid-2000s.
My Chemical Romance and Paramore headlined in 2022, followed by blink-182 and Green Day in 2023, MCR and Fall Out Boy in 2024, and blink and the reformed Panic! at the Disco in 2025.
Avery Anna’s new EP, forgive, forget, will arrive March 13. The six-song collection features her latest release, “Man Downstairs.”
“Boat Named After You” is the latest preview of ERNEST’s third studio album, Deep Blue, which is set for release sometime later this year. It will also feature the previously released “Lorelei.”
“Born to Be Yours” is Warren Zeiders’ first new music since January’s Live from the 717. The 21-track album was recorded during his sold-out Giant Center performance in his hometown of Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Cover of The Zombies’ ‘Begin Here’ (Beechwood Park Records)
The Zombies are revisiting their debut album with a new reissue.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers are set to reissue 1965’s Begin Here remastered in mono on April 17. This follows the September release of a mono remaster of their iconic sophomore album, Odessey & Oracle.
The reissue of Begin Here, the second of four planned reissues, will feature all 17 tracks from the U.K. and U.S. versions of the album, with new liner notes by rock journalist David Fricke.
“Thinking of The Zombies’ first album Begin Here immediately triggers wonderful memories of late-night sessions in Decca’s West Hampstead studio fueled by pure excitement and adrenaline,” The Zombies’ Colin Blunstone says. “These tracks changed all of our lives forever and I am forever grateful. I look back on them with wonder and a great deal of affection!”
The band is previewing the reissue with the release of the mono remastered version of “It’s Alright With Me,” which is now available via digital outlets.
Begin Here (Mono Remastered) will be released digitally, and on CD and vinyl. It is available for preorder now.
Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler joined ‘GMA’ to discuss their record-breaking film. (ABC News)
Sinners star Michael B. Jordan and director Ryan Coogler are opening up on making Oscar nominations history.
The actor-director duo sat down for an interview with Good Morning America‘s Chris Connelly to discuss Sinners, which gathered a record-breaking 16 Oscar nominations, and their partnership, which has been over a decade in the making.
Coogler and Jordan recalled meeting in a Starbucks in 2011 to discuss their first joint project, Fruitvale Station.
“He reassured me. ‘Mike, I think you’re a movie star. Let’s go do this,'” Jordan said Coogler told him at the time.
The pair also discussed the moment they both realized that they had broken Oscars history on Oscar nomination morning.
Jordan said he woke up to missed messages and called his mother. “It felt great. You know, just to kind of hear her happiness and joy and knowing how much that she poured into me.”
Coogler said he watched the nominations with his spouse, Zinzi Coogler, who is also nominated as a producer on the film, and the pair celebrated with waffles.
Sinners marks the fifth collaboration between Coogler and Jordan, a partnership that includes the Creed movies and Black Panther.
Coogler reflected on what makes Jordan such an effective presence on screen.
“There’s a magic to Mike that I think like Tom Hanks has, where you see him and you care about him,” Coogler said. “As a character, he does everything. So what that gives him is an incredible amount of empathy when he’s on the screen,” Coogler said, adding that he also has “incredible drive.”
The pair said working together for as many years as they have has allowed them to work in sync.
“We complement one another,” said Jordan.
“You kind of know what the other person might need at a particular time to achieve a certain goal,” Coogler added.
Dasha’s “Oh, Anna! (Live from the Opry)” (Warner Records)
To celebrate her 26th birthday, “Austin” hitmaker Dasha is putting out a new version of “Oh, Anna!” recorded live at the Grand Ole Opry.
“Stepping into the circle never loses its magic for me,” she says. “Every time I stand on that stage, I think about the little girl who used to go by Anna and dreamed about moments like this. The Opry carries so much history; it’s where country music’s story has been told for generations, and ‘Oh, Anna!’ carries my own history.”
The 2025 Opry NextStage member made her Opry debut in June 2024. The new version of “Oh, Anna!” was captured last August.
“When I sang it there this past summer, I knew it was a moment I’d want to hold onto forever,” she recalls. “Releasing this live version on my 26th birthday feels like the most meaningful way to honor where I started and who I’ve become. It’s a gift to myself I’ll always cherish.”
“Austin” put Dasha on the map in 2024, becoming a viral sensation and making it to the top 10 on the Mediabase chart.
