"Morning Joe" co-host Joe Scarborough warned Republicans on Friday they will suffer "blowback" for the $8 billion Paramount-Skydance merger that was just approved by the FCC. Scarborough said FCC Chairman Brendan Carr set a "horrible precedent" by "openly picking winners and losers" based on his political and social leanings.

Shares of Paramount are set to open higher Friday after long-awaited FCC approval for its merger erased a big question mark hovering over the company's future, but amid ongoing uncertainty about its strategic plans under Skydance Media.

Plus, Hulk Hogan, the pro wrestler who brought the sport to new heights of mainstream popularity, died at the age of 71.

CNBC’s Dominic Chu joins Morning Joe to break down the regulatory hurdles facing Paramount’s $8 billion merger with Skydance, which cleared a key FCC approval — but with a ban on future DEI initiatives.

"New York Times" White House correspondent Peter Baker on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" expressed his displeasure with the Trump administration for approving the Skydance-Paramount merger. JOE SCARBOROUGH, HOST: It took a while.

On 'Daily Variety' podcast, Skydance Media's overtures accelerate FCC approval of Paramount Global deal; Why Steve Stoute is Music Mogul of the Year.

Recently, comedian Stephen Colbert—whose popular CBS Late Show will be cancelled next May despite being No. 1, in what many view as censorship due to his jokes about Trump—pointedly mocked the settlement the first chance he got, AP News reported.

In addition to telling time, smartwatches can track your steps, heart rate, blood pressure and sleeping patterns. Now, a smartwatch has helped search and rescue teams locate a small plane after it crashed into the dense forests near West Yellowstone, Montana. Here’s what else you need to know to get up to speed and on with your day.