Senator Bernie Sanders has warned about the growing threat of an oligarchy in the US media landscape, citing the ownership of major news outlets and social media platforms by a handful of billionaires. During a CNN interview, Sanders expressed concerns that Elon Musk’s potential acquisition of TikTok would exacerbate the problem.
Musk owns Twitter, while Jeff Bezos controls The Washington Post, according to Sanders. “This is what oligarchy is about,” he said. “You have large Wall Street firms behind these media outlets.” If Musk were to acquire TikTok, it would further concentrate ownership in the hands of a few wealthy individuals.
Sanders’ concerns come as President Trump has expressed openness to Musk buying TikTok. The possibility is a result of a 2022 foreign aid bill that forced TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest or face ban in the US. While some believe TikTok poses a national security threat, Sanders opposed the bill due to its funding for Israel and fears that Congress may be overstepping into media control.
The senator emphasized the need for fearless media outlets that can speak out on critical issues, which he believes would be compromised if a small group of wealthy individuals controlled the narrative. The recent attendance of major tech CEOs at Trump’s inauguration has highlighted this concern, as some who previously criticized Trump publicly attended the event.
Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-billionaires-media-oligarchy_n_679103d6e4b0835f2b8312a8