Stephen Miller Recuses Himself from Paramount, AI, and Space Matters Amid Ethics Concerns

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has formally recused himself from policy matters concerning the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, artificial intelligence, and space exploration. These recusals stem from potential conflicts of interest linked to his wife, Katie Miller, a former White House strategist and current podcaster. Katie Miller has been engaged in informal discussions to sell her podcast to Paramount and holds consulting ties to Elon Musk’s xAI and SpaceX. The situation intensified after Katie Miller helped organize a high-profile dinner attended by President Trump, Paramount CEO David Ellison, and senior administration officials, including the acting Attorney General reviewing the merger. While the White House asserts that Stephen Miller complies with all ethics rules and distinguishes between podcast sponsorships and consulting, critics argue that Katie Miller leverages her marital connection to sell political access. Sponsors of her podcast include major corporations with legislative interests before the administration. Despite these controversies, no evidence has emerged of improper official acts benefiting podcast sponsors, though the arrangement highlights ongoing tensions regarding influence peddling within the Trump administration.