This could be the final straw that completely crushes freedom of speech in America:

FCC Commissioner Slams Her Own Agency for Policies 'Custom-Built' to Favor Sinclair-Tribune Merger

"We're burning down the values of media policy in this agency in order to service this company."

Control over mobile streaming technology too?

The Sinclair-Tribune merger would extend the company's reach to nearly three-quarters of households, according to the New York Times.

According to Pew Research, around 30 percent of American adults get their news from local television broadcasts. If Sinclair and Tribune do finally merge, the company will reach 70 percent of American households.

And against Rosenworcel's wishes, the FCC also voted to adopt a framework for mobile streaming technology to which Sinclair owns numerous patents.

Another set up by Bill Clinton that paved the way:

We Have Bill Clinton to Thank in Part for Trump's Propaganda Machine

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 helped pave the way for Sinclair's broadcasting monopoly

This is a full spectrum threat to democracy:

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 did not just permit consolidation in TV," noted Guardian reporter Kevin Carty last November. "It paved the way for radio monopolization as well. Before the law, it was illegal for one company to own more than 40 radio stations. Today, the company formerly known as Clear Channel—iHeartMedia—owns 858 stations."

I haven't seen many signs of political or media pushback, but plenty of horror stories. This is literally slave labor:

Sinclair Threatening Employees to Keep Mouths Shut About 'Must-Read' Scripts

Another employee anonymously told HuffPo that "everything Sinclair gives us or forces upon us is met with uproar, but we have no choice."

This is largely because the costs of quitting Sinclair can be extremely "steep," as Bloomberg has reported.

After reviewing two employment contracts, Bloomberg found that "some Sinclair employees were subject to a liquidated damages clause for leaving before the term of their agreement was up: one that requires they pay as much as 40 percent of their annual compensation to the company."

And finally:

Confessions of a Former Sinclair News Director

During my time with Sinclair, while on a conference call with other news directors, someone asked if we could ever run local commentary during newscasts. The answer was a firm “no.” The only opinions Sinclair allows on air are the opinions that come out of headquarters, because the company will not risk giving local audiences a dissenting view.

That “no” was telling. Being afraid of a variety of viewpoints is, in the words of Sinclair’s now-infamous “must-run,” extremely dangerous to a democracy.