Instagram/David Ellison & Larry Ell Celebrity CNN staff anxious as David Ellison nears Warner Bros. Discovery takeover, raising fears over editorial independence and political influence. March 11, 2026 AceShowbiz - David Ellison is on the verge of acquiring control over Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of CNN, sparking unease among the cable news network's staff about potential changes in editorial independence and political influence. The news broke when CNN anchor Jake Tapper interrupted regular programming on Thursday evening to deliver an update about the impending Warner Bros.