• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, Yesterday

So Comcast Corp. is a direct supporter of the controversial new $350 million ballroom for the White House East Wing?

Are NBC News, MSNBC, and CNBC also in the clear when it comes to any future criticism or business financial roadblocks -- from federal regulators? Or otherwise?

It's crazy to think one would even need to bring this up.

Are these or other news organizations in the clear from any forthcoming controversy over their journalistic or editing process?

One might suggest Comcast CEO Brian Roberts' approved donation could be part of the plan, especially now that Comcast is spinning off its cable TV networks.

Cable TV networks are not subject to FCC rule-marking. That said, spun-off cable TV network groups -- as stock-market publicly traded companies -- could be in harm's way.

Should Comcast’s Versant Media cable TV network companies make a deal to buy the Warner Bros. cable TV network group (with CNN)?

Or perhaps with Paramount Skydance's cable TV division (possibly with a CBS News business segment), federal regulators -- under the direction of President Trump -- could put the kibosh on that deal.

Why? Because they can. Major tech companies have been already playing ball with earlier financial donations for the second term of the Trump Administration.

Now Microsoft, Google, T-Mobile, and Palantir Technologies (a software and data analytics company) are some of 37 companies/donators contributing to the ballroom financial fund.

Legacy media companies are joining the move -- especially those that now need to make major transitional changes to how they operate their businesses amid major  disruption by digital-first media companies.

All this is to say that no one is in the clear. So if you can’t beat ‘em -- or hold them accountable with your journalist independence -- join ‘em?

Paramount Global has already paid Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit over "editing" of a CBS "60 Minutes" Kamala Harris interview during the Presidential race.

The news media has done "editing" for centuries, and in print since the 15th century. Analysts believe CBS ceded to the deal just to complete its $8 billion Paramount deal to be bought by Skydance Media.

Who's to say, however, that Trump won’t try to proceed with more frivolous lawsuits against any media organization in the coming years?

Media organizations that buy into -- and will attend -- the new ballroom for some initial party celebration may think they have it made. Trouble is, now they might have to dance.