David Ellison, heir to Larry Ellison's fortune and head of Skydance, is engaged in formal talks to acquire The Free Press, a media company founded by Bari Weiss three years ago. These discussions, which have included meetings with Weiss and her legal team from Allen & Co. in Sun Valley, come as David Ellison prepares to take ownership of CBS News through his acquisition of Paramount and CBS. Sources familiar with the matter indicate that Ellison aims to elevate Weiss to a prominent editorial role within CBS News. The potential merger has sparked internal concerns at CBS, with some insiders describing the Skydance takeover as bringing a restrictive oversight to the news division. Industry analysts are observing the Ellison era at Paramount and CBS as potentially transformative, with expectations of programming shifts that may include content appealing to Trump supporters, such as mixed martial arts. Commentary from individuals close to Ellison reflects a belief that the news industry has lost its direction, highlighting ongoing debates about the future of television news under new ownership.