Headlines From The Times

After a nearly year-long legal battle, the biggest merger in Hollywood history closed on Tuesday. The $111 billion deal combines Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, and the mega media company is now called Skydance. In addition to the two legacy film studios, it includes the streaming services HBO Max and Paramount+, and two of the biggest news outlets in the country, CNN and CBS. Three industry experts spoke to the Associated Press about what those changes could mean for Hollywood.

Meanwhile, a Southern California couple with 21 children – 19 of whom were born through surrogates –  has been arrested in connection with allegations of child abuse inside their Arcadia mansion. Prosecutors allege that multiple children were subjected to physical abuse by live-in nannies and that the parents sometimes witnessed and even encouraged the punishments. The couple has pleaded not guilty, and their attorney denies the allegations.

And, the 2027 Super Bowl is coming to Disney+. ESPN’s telecast of Super Bowl LXI will stream on Disney+ on February 14, 2027, when the game takes place at SoFi Stadium. It’ll also air on ABC, ESPN, and the ESPN app. Meanwhile, advertisers are paying up to $10 million for 30 seconds of the Super Bowl broadcast – the most-watched TV event of the year.

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For decades, American restaurants have been super-sizing their menus. Now, with about 30 million Americans on GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic, many are scaling back. Customers who eat less are ordering less, often choosing smaller items like appetizers over full-priced entrées. McKinsey found GLP-1 users are buying fewer snacks and sodas, a sign the weight-loss drugs are changing how and what people eat. For restaurants, that means smaller checks just as costs climb.

Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is joining Fox News as an on-air contributor, following her exit from the White House in August 2026. She’ll provide commentary and analysis across Fox News programs beginning November 1st.

Nicolas Cage is sharing his thoughts on the current state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actor says the MCU has become too focused on big fight scenes, comparing it to a “well-funded and glorified WWE” and calling for a return to stronger storytelling and character development. Cage is part of the MCU, having starred as Ghost Rider and played different versions of Spider-Noir.

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Nvidia is making a big bet on itself. The chipmaker authorized what it calls the largest stock buyback in history, adding $150 billion to its existing program and bringing its total authorization to $235 billion.

Meanwhile, the Chargers are still looking for their 1st win after a 24-16 loss to Buffalo. L.A.’s defense forced 5 turnovers, but the offense turned those takeaways into just 10 points. The Chargers also settled for 3 field goals on 4 red-zone trips as Justin Herbert & the offense struggled to capitalize.

And, the Rams fell to 1-2 after blowing a 16-0 halftime lead in a 30-26 loss to the Denver Broncos. Matthew Stafford threw for 390 yards & 2 touchdowns, while Davante Adams added 137 receiving yards. But 2 costly interceptions helped Denver complete the comeback, including a 66-yard pick-6 in the 4th quarter. The Rams now head to Philadelphia to face the Eagles.

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Diesel prices are hitting record highs, averaging $6.50 a gallon, up more than 70% since the start of the Iran war, according to AAA. The spike comes right as U.S. farmers are harvesting corn and soybeans, two of the country's largest commodities. Missouri farmer Jason Kurtz says he's paid twice as much for diesel this year. Farmers are also experiencing elevated costs for fertilizer and chemicals.

Because diesel also powers much of the nation's supply chain, those costs could eventually show up in grocery prices. Now the Trump administration is weighing a 90-day export ban, though the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and industry groups are against the proposal.

Meanwhile, the Rams bounced back with a 28-6 win over the Giants as Matthew Stafford threw 4 touchdowns, Davante Adams finished with 195 receiving yards & Aaron Donald made his return. Now the Rams head to Denver for Sunday Night Football, while Puka Nacua’s status remains unclear.

And, the Chargers are still searching for their 1st win after a mistake-filled 26-14 loss to the Raiders. L.A. fumbled 6 times & turned the ball over 3 times. Now Justin Herbert & the Chargers head to Buffalo to face Josh Allen & the 2-0 Bills.

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CNN, MS NOW and Politico are suing the Trump administration after their reporters were denied entry to the White House and stripped of their press credentials.

The news organizations say the credentials were pulled without “notice or process,” while President Trump says he's blocking them over reporting he calls "fake news." The case has been assigned to the same federal judge who sided with CNN in 2018 when one of its journalists was blocked from covering the White House, and a hearing is set for Wednesday. Meanwhile, the White House press pool, which includes CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, suspended its shared coverage of the president on Monday in solidarity.

And, California’s High-Speed Rail Authority approved more than half a million dollars in wasteful and unexplained travel spending that included first-class and premium flights, international travel and rideshare trips to an escape room, a night club and a cigar lounge in Washington, D.C., according to a new report.

The authority spent more than $2 million in travel costs for four consulting firms from June 2024 to April 2026, according to the report released this week by the agency’s inspector general. In addition, the authority failed to comply with state law requiring it to consider the business need for travel before approving it, the report said.

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House of Troy is a new podcast from LA Times Studios tracing the rise and fall of USC football, from coach Pete Carroll’s back-to-back national titles in the 2000s, to the Reggie Bush scandal, to the series of missteps that followed. It’ll feature exclusive interviews with coaches, players, and USC officials who saw it all up close — and shine new light on how a college football dynasty came undone.

The Federal Communications Commission approved Paramount’s request to allow foreign investors to take a substantial stake in the $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Three Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi plan to invest a combined $24 billion. Collectively, the funds would hold 38.5% of the combined company’s equity, while the Ellison family and RedBird Capital would retain 100% of the voting shares.

The FCC approval comes despite concerns raised by Democratic lawmakers and FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez about potential foreign influence over major U.S. media properties including CBS and CNN. The deal still faces an antitrust lawsuit brought by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 11 other Democratic attorneys general. A federal antitrust trial is currently scheduled for March 2, 2027, if the case is not resolved through settlement talks.

Meanwhile, a federal investigation into Gavin Newsom’s travel expenses is expanding, and the California governor is pushing back. Investigators have issued subpoenas for records from a nonprofit that has helped pay for Newsom’s official travel through private donations to places including China, Mexico, the Vatican, and the 2020 Super Bowl. Newsom says the investigation is politically motivated, calling it “Trump retribution,” and is accusing the administration of weaponizing the Justice Department.

And, both of LA’s football teams are hoping to bounce back after disappointing Week 1 losses. Two important matchups are ahead: The Chargers face the Raiders after a 26-14 loss to the Cardinals, while the Rams are back in the US for Monday Night Football against the Giants following their 27-7 loss to the 49ers in Australia.

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For the first time since 1995, three American men — Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and Alex Michelsen — have reached the US Open quarterfinals. It feels like a milestone moment for American tennis. Now they're chasing history: no American man has won on home soil since Andy Roddick in 2003. On the women's side, Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, and 2023 champion Coco Gauff make up the most US women's quarterfinalists since 2017.

Meanwhile, the Rams and 49ers are set to make history in the NFL's first-ever regular-season game in Australia. The matchup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground features a Super Bowl-style atmosphere, Sean McVay's unique travel strategy, the Rams' "guinea pig" travel experiment, and the possibility of Aaron Donald making his return after coming out of retirement. Here's everything you need to know before kickoff.

And, fast-food workers in Los Angeles could soon have more control over when and how they work. The City Council is weighing a proposal that would require restaurants to give workers more notice regarding scheduling, and would also give workers paid training on labor rights. Supporters say this could make a huge difference for workers to plan for child care, medical appointments, and other responsibilities. But the restaurant industry says it could raise costs for businesses.

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A new one-dollar coin featuring President Trump's portrait is making headlines after the U.S. Mint put sleeves up for sale this week to celebrate the country's 250th birthday. The "heads" side shows Trump's portrait with "liberty" above it and the years 1776–2026, while the reverse features the Seal of the United States. Federal law generally bans living presidents from appearing on U.S. currency, but there's an exception for certain commemorative coins with Treasury Secretary approval. It's also not completely unprecedented: Calvin Coolidge appeared on a $1 coin 100 years ago while still in office.

Meanwhile, California’s rules allowing transgender athletes to compete in school sports will remain in place after a federal judge tossed a Trump administration lawsuit. The Justice Department argued that allowing trans girls to compete on girls teams would be a violation of Title IX, but Judge Cynthia Valenzuela ruled that Title IX does not clearly require California to impose a ban. The Justice Department says it’s considering an appeal.

And, K-Pop supergroup BTS took over SOFI Stadium this week, kicking off 4 sold-out shows on its world tour. This is the first LA show since the members completed their mandatory military service in South Korea.

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Gloria Steinem, the author and activist who helped revolutionize the feminist movement, died Wednesday at her home in New York City. She was 92.  For more than half a century, Steinem fought for abortion rights, equal pay, and same-sex marriage, calling herself an "entrepreneur of social change." From her groundbreaking undercover exposé on the Playboy Club to becoming one of the most recognizable voices of the women's liberation movement, Steinem's life and legacy reshaped how the world sees gender, work, and power. We look back at her extraordinary story.

Meanwhile, the NBA is handing down massive penalties against the Clippers that could devastate the team for years to come. After finding the team violated salary cap rules involving Kawhi Leonard, the league is issuing the Clippers a $30 million fine, stripping them of five first-round draft picks, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for a year, and fining Leonard $700,000. The Clippers deny the findings and say they’ll challenge the penalties.

And, Jordan Chiles is coming back to elite gymnastics and gearing up for the 2028 Olympics in LA. The Olympic gold medalist announced her return in a video narrated by NBA legend Michael Jordan, who asked, “Why again?” Chiles says it’s because “the dream is still there.” She helped Team USA win gold at the Paris Olympics, and plans to split her time training for LA28 while also returning to UCLA as a student coach.

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