Republicans haul Netflix before Congress for being too ‘woke’

image via The Verge

February 4, 2026, 12:07 AM

• •Republicans criticized Netflix for 'woke' content, including transgender-themed programming.
• •The hearing examined both antitrust concerns and content-related criticisms.
• •Netflix's potential acquisition of part of Warner Bros. Discovery was a central topic.
• •Concerns were raised about the fairness of any transaction review.

During a Senate subcommittee hearing, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos faced criticism from Republican senators who accused the streaming service of producing excessively 'woke' content, particularly programming featuring transgender characters. The hearing also addressed traditional antitrust concerns regarding Netflix's potential acquisition of a large part of Warner Bros. Discovery. Lawmakers also scrutinized the company's content for children, referencing the French film Cuties, and noted the political leanings of its staff. Furthermore, concerns were raised about the fairness of any transaction review, particularly given the political affiliations involved.

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