Colbert Calls Out Paramount Over Alleged Trump Pressure on CBS News
Stephen Colbert, host of CBS’s "Late Show," publicly criticized Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, on Tuesday. Colbert’s remarks centered on reports suggesting that Shari Redstone, the controlling shareholder of Paramount Global, exerted pressure on "60 Minutes" to soften its coverage of former President Donald Trump. The alleged pressure came amid Trump’s $20 billion lawsuit against CBS News and Paramount Global, a suit based on claims of election interference related to the editing of a "60 Minutes" interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Colbert addressed the issue directly during a conversation with MSNBC host Rachel Maddow. He referenced the reports indicating that Redstone had contacted either the president himself or the chairman of Paramount Global, urging them to curtail negative stories about Trump. Colbert expressed relief that this alleged directive had not been relayed to the news division.
He then turned to Maddow, posing the question of whether she had experienced similar pressures at MSNBC. "Have you been getting anything like that at MSNBC? Are there any like, ‘Hey, let’s not talk so much about Trump too much over there’?"
Maddow responded firmly, stating that she had not encountered such pressure. She praised the leadership at MSNBC, emphasizing that true leadership involves shielding those who do the actual journalistic work from inappropriate political influence. "Not at all. And that’s what leadership looks like here. Leadership is not that you don’t expect you are going to get inappropriate political pressure. Leadership is hearing that inappropriate political pressure and making sure the people who actually do the work never have to bear the cost themselves," Maddow said.
Maddow’s appearance on Colbert’s show coincided with her return to a weekly hosting schedule on MSNBC after covering Trump’s first 100 days back in the spotlight. She will now host her show on Mondays, with Jen Psaki taking over the 9 PM slot from Tuesday through Friday. Maddow jokingly emphasized the integrity of MSNBC, stating, "Were good at MSNBC."
Colbert also directly alluded to the hefty lawsuit filed by Trump against CBS News and Paramount. He questioned Maddow, "You guys arent being sued for $20 billion?"
The lawsuit, which seeks $20 billion in damages, stems from Trump’s allegations that CBS News deliberately edited its interview with then-candidate Kamala Harris in a way that constituted election interference. The interview aired in the lead-up to the presidential election.
Currently, the legal dispute is in mediation as both parties explore the possibility of reaching a settlement. However, legal and journalism experts have widely criticized the lawsuit, deeming it largely without merit and unlikely to succeed in court. Speculation has arisen that Redstone’s desire to settle the suit is motivated by the impending merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media.
The prevailing theory suggests that Redstone is attempting to preempt any potential retaliation from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which possesses the authority to either approve or block the merger. A prolonged legal battle with Trump could potentially jeopardize the regulatory approval process.
The controversy surrounding potential interference in CBS News coverage also resulted in the departure of Bill Owens, a former executive producer at "60 Minutes." On-air, "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley discussed Owens’ sudden resignation, essentially confirming reports that Paramount Global had attempted to influence the program’s content.
Pelley explained, "Our parent company, Paramount, is trying to complete a merger. The Trump administration must approve it. Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways. None of our stories have been blocked, but Bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism required."
Owens, in his resignation memo obtained by Fox News Digital, expressed his concern about the diminishing independence he felt was necessary to run the program effectively. He wrote, "Over the past months, it has also become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it. To make independent decisions based on what was right for 60 Minutes, right for the audience. So, having defended this show — and what we stand for — from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward."
Colbert’s public criticism and the circumstances surrounding Owens’ resignation raise significant concerns about the potential for corporate influence to compromise the editorial independence of CBS News. The ongoing merger negotiations and the hefty lawsuit filed by Trump further complicate the situation, creating a delicate balance between corporate interests, journalistic integrity, and political pressures. The outcome of this situation will likely have lasting implications for the media landscape and the future of independent journalism within large media conglomerates. The incident also puts a spotlight on the challenges faced by journalists and news organizations in navigating an increasingly polarized political environment and the ever-present threat of legal action and political interference.
