Descriptions:
This episode of Prof G Markets covers two business stories, the second of which carries significant implications for the AI industry. Business reporter Rohan Goswami of Semafor joins host Edson to walk through the Warner Brothers Discovery acquisition saga, where Paramount has re-entered negotiations with a “ticking fee” strategy—offering incremental quarterly increases to their bid as long as the Netflix deal remains unclosed. The segment breaks down why Netflix granted Warner Brothers a 7-day negotiation waiver despite an already-signed merger agreement, and what Paramount’s willingness to bid past $31 per share signals about the eventual deal structure.
The more consequential segment for AI industry observers covers an escalating conflict between Anthropic and the U.S. Pentagon. According to reporting from Axios, the Department of Defense is considering placing Anthropic on a supply chain risk list—a designation typically reserved for foreign adversaries—after the AI lab refused to relax its terms of service to permit uses including mass surveillance and weapons of mass destruction development. Claude was reportedly deployed through Palantir during operations connected to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. If Anthropic is formally added to the list, every tech company conducting business with the U.S. military would be required to sever ties with the startup.
The discussion provides sharp context on how the federal government is approaching AI procurement and what the Anthropic situation may signal for other AI labs navigating defense contracts and usage policy boundaries.
📺 Source: The Prof G Pod – Scott Galloway · Published February 18, 2026
🏷️ Format: News Analysis
