The Federal Communications Commission has approved the $8 billion merger of Paramount Global and Skydance Media, claiming “significant changes,” are coming to the CBS owner.

Chairman Brendan Carr thinks his agency should strive to ensure that news coverage is fair and balanced—a role precluded by the First Amendment.

When the FCC approved the Paramount-Skydance merger Thursday, one commissioner blasted the decision, calling it an act of “ cowardly capitulation ” on behalf of Paramount and warning that this could lead to a further “erosion of our First Amendment protections.”

The signoff on the deal, which could close next month, follows Paramount’s settlement of a Trump lawsuit.

With the FCC having cleared the Skydance Media-Paramount merger and the deal set to close in a matter of weeks, Paramount Global co-CEO Chris McCarthy will leave the media conglomerate, a company source confirmed to Variety.

Paramount’s Skydance merger brings fresh leadership, cost synergies, and asset monetization to fuel a turnaround and reduce leverage. Learn why PARA stock is a buy.

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez issued a scathing statement of dissent following the FCC's approval of the Paramount and Skydance Media merger on Thursday