During a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R) sharply criticized Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery executives, accusing them of using entertainment platforms to advance left-wing political ideology amid discussion of the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. merger.
The hearing, intended to examine the antitrust and consumer impacts of the merger, quickly turned ideological as Sen. Cruz pressed Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos and Warner Bros Discovery executive Bruce Campbell on what he described as Hollywood's growing role in political propaganda rather than entertainment.
Sen. Cruz questioned whether there is a clear distinction between entertainment and propaganda, arguing that mainstream media and entertainment increasingly promote only one acceptable political viewpoint.
Referencing remarks made during the recent Grammy Awards, Cruz criticized entertainers who suggested the United States was built on "stolen land," calling the reaction from the industry a sign of deep corruption.
"When you see an entertainer say, 'Nobody is illegal while we're on stolen land,' and then you see entertainers leap to their feet... it starts to convey that the entertainment world is deeply corrupt," said Cruz in reference to Billie Eilish's comments from the Grammys.
I asked Netflix and Warner Bros. executives if we are on “stolen land.”
They, apparently, have “no idea the history of this land.”
Worrisome is an understatement. pic.twitter.com/dGrnCp0NgA
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 4, 2026
Cruz also pointed directly to Netflix's leadership and political ties.
"Netflix has long been a left-wing company," he said, noting that founder Reed Hastings has donated millions to Democratic causes.
Cruz further cited the presence of Susan Rice, a former Obama administration official, on Netflix's board and criticized the company's $50 million deal with the Obamas, saying it produced "no discernible content whatsoever."
The Texas Republican went on to question how Texans and other Americans could trust that a merged media giant would not wield expanded market power to push partisan narratives. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos responded by rejecting the accusation that the company pushes propaganda.
"We would fail pushing a political view," said Sarandos. "If we fail to entertain them by trying to promote propaganda... we fail."
Cruz further challenged Warner Bros. Discovery executive Bruce Campbell on claims of neutrality.
Campbell stated that he believed CNN was fair, leading to Cruz questioning, "When CNN showed riots and fires behind them and put a chyron that said 'mostly peaceful but fiery protest,' was that journalism?"
Cruz concluded by warning that conservative writers, actors, and entertainers are routinely marginalized in Hollywood and said nothing presented during the hearing reassured him that the merger would not promote ideological bias across media and entertainment platforms.
