[hackyhacky]

> Greedy for trying to stay in business.

If CBS were headed by someone with gumption and less willingness to kowtow to the government, they could resist this pressure and still be fine. Worst case scenario, a merger would get rejected and they would be targeted by some spurious lawsuits. Going out of business is not a realistic risk.

What is a risk, however, is non-optimal shareholder value. We live in a world where the stock price is more important than anything else, including doing the right thing.

[johannes1234321]

For CVS the stock price isn't the driver. It's owned to 77% by the Ellison family, who certainly want to make a buck, but also want political influence and control.

[thatnerdyguy]

> they could resist this pressure and still be fine

Precisely. See also: TACO

[croes]

There are lots of things that where unthinkable before Trump.

But it seems this is just business between billionaire buddies