Concerns are mounting among CNN employees as the prospect of Paramount’s CEO, known for his favorable stance towards Donald Trump, taking control of Warner Bros. Discovery becomes increasingly likely. This shift in leadership has stirred apprehension about the future direction of the network.

According to reports from Status, fear spread through CNN’s newsroom on Thursday following Netflix’s decision to withdraw its interest in pursuing Warner, deeming the acquisition “no longer financially attractive.” This development left a $111 billion offer from Paramount’s CEO, David Ellison, standing without a competitor.

Ellison’s exact plans for CNN are yet to be disclosed, but his and his father Larry Ellison’s known affiliations with the Trump administration—which sanctioned their acquisition of Paramount last year—add a layer of uncertainty to the situation.

Following Netflix’s retraction, some advisors to Trump expressed satisfaction, interpreting the move as a win since Netflix was primarily interested in Warner’s streaming services and film studio, rather than the entire media conglomerate.

The potential merger of CBS News, under Paramount’s ownership, and CNN is reportedly causing unease among CBS staff as well. The idea of these two prominent news outlets joining forces under a shared corporate umbrella is unsettling for many within the industry.

Paramount is the parent company of CBS News, where staffers are also reportedly panicked – at the prospect of CBS and CNN coming under the same roof.

‘F**k, f**k, f**k,’ one CBS producer told Status, resorting to curses when questioned about the increasingly likely future. ‘Well, f**k,’ another staffer similarly said. The move would mean cuts on both sides, another CBS source agreed.

The idea of coming under control of Ellison’s pick to lead CBS News, right-leaning Bari Weiss, also has staffers at CNN particularly scared, sources told Status.

CNN staffers were left ‘panicked’ after Netflix’s bid for it parent company, Warner Bros Discover, fell apart on Thursday, paving the way for Paramount to take over. Pictured, CNN stars Dana Bash and Jake Tapper and Univision’s Illia Calderon at the 2020 Democratic debate

The idea of coming under control of Trump-friendly Paramount boss David Ellison and his GOP donor father, Larry Ellison, is part of what has staffers anxious, sources told Status. The elder Ellison helped finance the $8billion merger that saw his son take over Paramount last year 

‘The panic at CNN right now is off the charts,’ one insider said Thursday night.

A CNN staffer said the company has lost any credit as ‘stewards of a news brand over the last few months’ because of changes made at CBS News under Weiss.

Weiss, 41, was appointed by Ellison himself in October, with the expectation of being a disruptor. She is a fierce critic of legacy news.

The billionaire father of the Paramount owner, meanwhile – 81-year-old David floated the idea of firing some of CNN’s top talent if his son was able to acquire the news network’s parent company back in November, sources told the Guardian at the time.

The Oracle founder singled out anchors like Erin Burnett and Brianna Keilar because they are not liked by Donald Trump, sources said back then.

The elder Ellison – wel- known GOP donor – also reportedly pondered a programming change that would put longtime CBS News flagship program 60 Minutes on CNN.

At the time, his son, a 43-year-old former Hollywood producer, had just entered an unknown bid for the entire WBD portfolio, CNN included.

Netflix then entered its $27.75-a-share bid, which was abandoned on Thursday, following months of bids from Paramount.

Pictured, the Newsroom at CNN World Headquarters in Georgia. Paramount’s looming takeover likely means cuts within CNN and its own asset CBS News 

The younger Ellison is seen sitting ringside at UFC 314 with President Trump and members of his team in April. Insiders told Status the current state of CBS News shows the executive has been compromised by the conservative 

Pictured, Donald Trump and Oracle founder Ellison at the White House in January. Ellison does not hold a specified role at Paramount, which is run by his son David, but is in contact with the White House 

Larry and David were the only bidders who wanted to buy WBD in its entirety. CNN, as a channel, has shed nearly two-thirds of its primetime viewers since 2016.

A Netflix acquisition would have seen CNN spun off alongside Warner’s other waning cable assets into an entirely new company, much like MS NOW’s separation under Versant last year. The network was previously controlled by NBCUniversal.

‘A Paramount WBD merger is a disaster for the people who work at both companies, and if Bari Weiss takes control of CNN, it will be the end of the global network Ted Turner founded,’ one frightened CNN producer told the Guardian Thursday.

Trump said back in December of Warner: ‘I don’t think the people that are running that company right now and running CNN – which is a very dishonest group of people – I don’t think that should be allowed to continue.

‘I think CNN should be sold along with everything.’