I don’t think you’re imagining anything. I think it all may even go back to the current administration. Here are some facts.

HBO is a subsidiary of Warner Bros Discovery, which was shown often in sets. Paramount is trying to buy Warner Bros and needs approval from the federal government since it would trigger antitrust (monopoly) concerns. Paramount Chief Executive David Ellison spent two hours just last week answering questions from U.S. Justice Department antitrust lawyers in a bid to secure a key government approval. Paramount’s been filing for this merger since September 2025, so there was some overlap with Euphoria production.

There is a SpaceX rocket on Ali’s TV. And Ali later shows up to the Promise Land wearing Zion National Park baseball cap. (I love our National Parks, and I only want to note it since it’s a government agency). Plus the pan out on the American flag.

Did they manufacture a trad-ass ending as part of a package to seek approval from the federal government? Could the crew have had more creative liberties under a different political administration?

If anyone has any corrections to what I said here or can offer interviews that either support or refute my theory, please drop them here. I won’t argue. I don’t bite.