NPR84%
Justice Dept. approves Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery 36%
By David Folkenflik77%
6/12/2026, 3:29:12 PM
BS Summary: This article contains 12 faulty reasoning types, including Self-Serving Bias, Halo Effect, and Unattributed Quote, with Optimism Bias as the most egregious example at 38.5% saturation with 67 hits. Analysis detected 355 faulty-reasoning hits from 174 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 43% and a BS Rank of 36% (14,114 of 21,887 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 64.50% of the article peer group.
The Justice Department on Friday closed its antitrust investigation into the proposed $111 billion merger of Paramount and Warner Brothers Discovery, saying that it has found no threat to competition or consumers of film, broadcast television or streaming.
The decision paves the way for a merger of two historic studio rivals — Paramount, owner of CBS, and the much larger Warner, which includes HBO and CNN.
Several states, including California, have raised antitrust concerns.
The European Union is investigating as well.
In a statement following the decision, Paramount described the deal as "pro-competitive," and would result in "a stronger company better positioned to compete against dominant technology platforms in an industry increasingly defined by intense competition for audiences, talent, technology, and investment."
The company said it planned to complete the merger as soon as possible, "delivering its benefits to consumers, creators, and the entertainment industry as a whole."
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
NPR's Carrie Johnson contributed to this story.
Confirmation Bias
0%Confirmation Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
3.2%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
3.4%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Anchoring Bias
0%Anchoring Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.2%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
1.6%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Availability Heuristic
4%Availability Heuristic
OverallThis article
4%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
1.5%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
3.8%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Representativeness Heuristic
0%Representativeness Heuristic
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
1%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
1.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Hindsight Bias
0%Hindsight Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.6%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.8%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Overconfidence Bias
0%Overconfidence Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.3%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
2.4%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Framing Effect
16.1%Framing Effect
OverallThis article
16.1%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
14.3%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
11.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Loss Aversion
0%Loss Aversion
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
1%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
1.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Status Quo Bias
0%Status Quo Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.4%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
1.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Sunk Cost Effect
0%Sunk Cost Effect
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Optimism Bias
38.5%Optimism Bias
OverallThis article
38.5%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
4.3%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
3.4%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Pessimism Bias
0%Pessimism Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
1%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
2.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Negativity Bias
4.6%Negativity Bias
OverallThis article
4.6%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
12%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
11.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Self-Serving Bias
23.6%Self-Serving Bias
OverallThis article
23.6%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
3.5%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
2.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Fundamental Attribution Error
0%Fundamental Attribution Error
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
1.6%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
1.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Actor-Observer Bias
0%Actor-Observer Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
In-Group Bias
0%In-Group Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
2.1%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
2.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Out-Group Homogeneity Bias
0%Out-Group Homogeneity Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
1.5%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
1.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Halo Effect
23.6%Halo Effect
OverallThis article
23.6%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
3.1%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
2.8%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Horn Effect
0%Horn Effect
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.3%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Dunning-Kruger Effect
0%Dunning-Kruger Effect
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Recency Bias
5.7%Recency Bias
OverallThis article
5.7%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.6%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
1.7%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Primacy Effect
4%Primacy Effect
OverallThis article
4%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.2%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.5%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Blind-Spot Bias
0%Blind-Spot Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.5%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Ad Hominem
0%Ad Hominem
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
1.6%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
1.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Straw Man
0%Straw Man
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.3%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Appeal to Authority
21.8%Appeal to Authority
OverallThis article
21.8%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
3.5%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
6.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
False Dilemma
0%False Dilemma
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
1%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
1.5%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Slippery Slope
0%Slippery Slope
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
1.4%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
1.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Circular Reasoning
0%Circular Reasoning
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Hasty Generalization
0%Hasty Generalization
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
3.8%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
4.4%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Red Herring
0%Red Herring
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.1%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Bandwagon
0%Bandwagon
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.2%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.7%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Appeal to Emotion
0%Appeal to Emotion
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
6.8%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
6.6%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Begging the Question
0%Begging the Question
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
1.6%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.9%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Post Hoc (False Cause)
0%Post Hoc (False Cause)
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
4.6%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
2.8%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Tu Quoque
0%Tu Quoque
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Burden of Proof
0%Burden of Proof
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.4%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Appeal to Nature
0%Appeal to Nature
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Composition/Division
0%Composition/Division
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.1%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Anecdotal
0%Anecdotal
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.6%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
2.8%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
No True Scotsman
0%No True Scotsman
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.2%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Ambiguity (Equivocation)
0%Ambiguity (Equivocation)
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.8%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
1.5%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Gambler’s Fallacy
0%Gambler’s Fallacy
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Middle Ground
0%Middle Ground
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.1%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Personal Incredulity
0%Personal Incredulity
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
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Special Pleading
0%Special Pleading
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.1%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Genetic Fallacy
0%Genetic Fallacy
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
1.2%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.5%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Unattributed Quote
23.6%Unattributed Quote
OverallThis article
23.6%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
2.6%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
1.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Quote-first Misdirection
0%Quote-first Misdirection
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
1.4%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.9%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Biased Writer Voice
0%Biased Writer Voice
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
6.3%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
3.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Indoctrination
14.9%Indoctrination
OverallThis article
14.9%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
1.4%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Politically Left Leaning Bias
0%Politically Left Leaning Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
3.7%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
1.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Politically Right Leaning Bias
0%Politically Right Leaning Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Attempt to Sell a Product or Service
23.6%Attempt to Sell a Product or Service
OverallThis article
23.6%AuthorDavid Folkenflik
0.6%PublicationGoats and Soda (NPR)
0.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
174 words analyzed.
Analysis
Hover over highlighted words in the article to view the associated bias or fallacy analysis.