Latest news with #60Minutes'
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘60 Minutes' Veteran Lesley Stahl Expects To Soon Be 'Mourning, Grieving' Paramount Settlement Of 'Frivolous' Trump Lawsuit
Long-tenured 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl is fully expecting a settlement of Donald Trump's 'frivolous' $20 billion lawsuit, but she dreads what will follow the resolution of the case. 'I'm already beginning to think about mourning, grieving,' Stahl said in a podcast interview with New Yorker editor David Remnick. 'I know there's going to be a settlement,' she added, and 'I know there's going to be some money exchanged' given that Shari Redstone, controlling shareholder of CBS parent Paramount Global, needs government approval for the pending merger with Skydance. (Deadline reported Wednesday that Paramount has made an eight-figure settlement offer, which has been rejected by Trump.) More from Deadline Paramount Offers Millions To Trump To End $20B '60 Minutes' Suit & Let Skydance Merger Go Through Trump 101: Why POTUS' Lawsuit Against CBS Over '60 Minutes' Is Seen As Dubious – Analysis Lester Holt Signs Off As 'NBC Nightly News' Anchor: "Facts Matter" After the settlement, Stahl speculated, 'We will hopefully still be around, turning a new page and finding out what that new page is going to look like.' Trump filed suit over a pre-election episode of 60 Minutes even after defeating Kamala Harris and winning re-election last November. He claims that CBS News wronged him by serving different edits of an interview with Harris to different CBS outlets in the course of promoting the segment, something that is standard practice in TV news. Legal experts universally agree there is no merit to the claim, but a number of news outlets have recently had their corporate parents pay settlements or otherwise capitulate to Trump after he applied pressure. Stahl's comments on The New Yorker Radio Hour come as uncertainty about the top-rated CBS newsmagazine continues to mount. Longtime executive producer Bill Owens departed in April, citing pressure from Redstone and other corporate executives concerned about the show's coverage of Trump. CBS News chief Wendy McMahon also exited recently. Stahl described the departure of Owens as 'a punch in the stomach …. one of those punches where you almost can't breathe.' Owens urged staffers not to quit and instead to keep advocating for tough coverage despite Trump's muzzling efforts. His pleas came as employees were openly discussing an 'en masse' exit from the program, according to Stahl. Asked if she would expect 60 Minutes to change 'radically' under Skydance's control, Stahl said she is hoping Skydance CEO David Ellison and his executive team 'hold the freedom of the press up as a beacon, that they understand the importance of allowing us to be independent and do our jobs. I'm expecting that, I'm hoping that, I want that, I'm praying for that.' Remnick inquired if there is 'a lot of optimism … at 60 Minutes that that will be the outcome,' and Stahl replied, 'No. But there's also not a lot of dark thinking, either.' Throughout the interview, Stahl lamented the steady decline of public trust in the media, which has been amplified by Trump's tactics. When she once asked him about his intensely combative stance with reporters, he told her that he operates that way so that when negative reports about him surface, 'nobody will believe you.' The explanation 'sent a chill through me because I thought, 'Wow, he has thought this through,'' she said. 'This isn't something that's a casual, angry' mood because ''the press said something yesterday about me.' It was thought out, it was a strategy.' Stahl described having a 'pain in my heart' about the state of her profession more than five decades after she joined CBS News to cover Watergate. (After joining CBS in 1972, she segued to 60 Minutes in 1991.) The average citizen 'does not appreciate the importance of a free and strong and tough press in our democracy,' she said. They don't grasp 'that we have a function to fulfill,' she added. 'The public doesn't seem to want what we do to be part of our public life.' Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
California Is Investigating Paramount Over Alleged Settlement Offer To Trump
California state senators are investigating Paramount over the reported $15 million it offered President Donald Trump to settle his lawsuit against the company — and they're inviting top former employees to speak out. The news was first reported by Semafor, which obtained a letter the state's Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee sent former '60 Minutes' producer Bill Owens and former CBS News president Wendy McMahon, who both left the Paramount-owned network as rumblings about a potential settlement circulated. 'Your recent resignations from CBS's leadership, amid public reports of internal concern about the editorial and ethical implications of the proposed settlement, suggest that you may possess important, first-hand knowledge relevant to our legislative oversight responsibilities,' committee chairs Sens. Josh Becker and Thomas Umberg wrote, asking them to appear at a hearing. The senators said they're concerned about the implications of a major media company being 'allowed to use politically motivated settlements to secure merger approvals or otherwise shape regulatory treatment,' noting that could disrupt fair competition in California's media industry and disadvantage viewers who 'deserve access to independent, unpressured journalism.' The letter emphasizes The Wall Street Journal's report earlier this week alleging that Paramount recently offered Trump $15 million to settle, and that Trump countered with a demand for more than $25 million to end his lawsuit, which accuses CBS News of doctoring footage from its '60 Minutes' interview with Kamala Harris to boost her chances of winning the presidential election. In their resignations, Owens and McMahon both indicated they disagreed with Paramount's approach to the lawsuit, with Owens saying he felt he'd lost journalistic independence and McMahon saying she and Paramount did 'not agree on the path forward.' The squabble over the lawsuit comes as Paramount tries to complete an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, which requires approval from the Federal Communications Commission, headed by Trump appointee Brendan Carr. The state senators said that if Paramount settles in order to secure regulatory benefits, that could constitute a violation of federal bribery laws, California competition laws and other regulations. But perhaps even more concerning, the senators wrote, 'is the potential chilling effect of Paramount's settlement on investigative and political journalism.' Bernie Sanders Warns Paramount Not To Settle Trump's 'Bogus' Lawsuit '60 Minutes' Reportedly Under Increased Scrutiny As Network Mulls Settlement With Trump Trump's Lawyers Claim Kamala Harris' '60 Minutes' Interview Caused Him 'Mental Anguish'
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
California Senate Launches Paramount-Trump Settlement Talks Investigation, Invites Bill Owens and Wendy McMahon to Testify
The California State Senate has launched an investigation into Paramount Global's ongoing discussions with President Donald Trump to settle his $20 billion lawsuit against CBS. In a Friday letter, the state's lawmakers invited former '60 Minutes' executive producer Bill Owens and former CBS News president Wendy McMahon to testify as part of an investigation into Paramount's settlement discussions with President Donald Trump over his $20 billion lawsuit against the program's Oct. 7 interview with former vice president Kamala Harris. 'Your recent resignations from CBS's leadership, amid public reports of internal concern about the editorial and ethical implications of the proposed settlement, suggest that you may possess important, first-hand knowledge relevant to our legislative oversight responsibilities,' the joint letter from its Energy, Utilities & Communications committee chair Josh Becker and Judiciary committee chair Thomas Umberg states. 'If Paramount is entertaining a settlement primarily to secure favorable regulatory treatment, this raises deeply troubling implications not just for journalism, but for the rule of law and the integrity of corporate governance.' The committees are seeking information from the pair on whether newsroom staff raised internal objections to the settlement or its motivations, whether any editorial decisions were impacted or overridden, whether internal counsel or leadership acknowledged the weakness of the lawsuit's claims and whether anyone within the company indicated that the settlement may be 'advantageous or necessary' in order to influence the regulatory review of the pending $8 billion Skydance merger. The lawmakers argue that a settlement to clear regulatory approval of the Skydance deal could constitute a violation of federal anti-bribery laws, an infraction of California's unfair competition law, a breach of fiduciary duties owed by Paramount board members to shareholders and the misuse of corporate funds vulnerable to shareholder derivative litigation. 'These issues go beyond internal policy,' the letter states. 'They have real legal exposure for Paramount and its board of directors, including Ms. Shari Redstone, Ms. Barbara Byrne, Ms. Judith McHale, Ms. Linda Griego, and Ms. Susan Schuman.' They also said it could have a 'potential chilling effect' on investigative and political journalism, signaling 'politically motivated lawsuits can succeed when paired with regulatory threats.' 'It would damage public trust in CBS News and other California-based outlets, diminishing the state's stature as a national leader in ethical journalism. Paramount's capitulation would also undermine two essential pillars of a liberal democracy: a free press and an impartial, rule-of-law regulatory system,' the letter continues. The California State Senate noted that while the invite is a voluntary request, they retain full subpoena authority under California law should additional testimony or documentation become necessary during its investigation. 'We respectfully encourage you to participate in this important hearing,' the letter concluded. 'Your cooperation will help safeguard the values you have each worked to uphold in your distinguished careers.' Representatives for Paramount declined to comment on the letter. Owens resigned from '60 Minutes' in April, telling staff in a memo that he lost the ability to make independent decisions as the network. Meanwhile, McMahon resigned earlier this month, saying in a memo to staff that 'it's become clear the company and I do not agree on the path forward.' She described the tension between herself and Paramount as 'challenging.' Though neither referenced the Trump lawsuit directly, both executives had previously expressed opposition to a settlement. The lawsuit takes aim at the news program's Oct. 7 interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris, which Trump has said was deceptively edited to make her look good. CBS News has maintained that Trump's accusations of deceitful editing were false, explaining that the promo shown on 'Face the Nation' used a longer section of Harris' answer. It also turned over the transcript and camera footage from the interview to the FCC as part of the agency's investigation into allegations of 'news distortion.' In a March filing to dismiss the Trump suit, CBS called it 'an affront to the First Amendment' and 'without basis in law or fact.' In a Wednesday legal filing asking the court to deny Paramount's motion to dismiss, Trump's attorneys claimed that the interview caused him 'mental anguish and confusion.' They also said that 'viewers withheld attention from President Trump and Truth Social,' his social media platform, due to the 'false advertising and tampering' tied to the Harris interview, resulting in a decrease in value for Trump Media and Technology Group and his other media holdings. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump recently shot down Paramount's offer to settle the lawsuit for $15 million, with the president aiming to get at least $25 million and an apology. The Paramount-Skydance merger, which is subject to regulatory approval from the FCC due to a required transfer of broadcast licenses of Paramount's 28 owned-and-operated local TV stations, recently triggered its first automatic 90-day extension after failing to close by April 7. FCC chairman Brendan Carr has argued that the settlement talks with Trump are unrelated to the agency's review of the Skydance deal. But he has warned that 'all options remain on the table' in the agency's ongoing investigation into alleged 'news distortion,' including potentially revoking CBS' broadcast license if the network is found to have violated the agency's public interest standard. He has also previously threatened to block M&A for companies who embrace diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies and is reportedly seeking concessions in the Paramount-Skydance deal. Paramount's settlement talks come as Disney previously paid $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit Donald Trump brought against ABC News and star anchor George Stephanopoulos. Meta also paid $25 million to settle Trump's lawsuit about being kicked off Facebook and Instagram after the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The post California Senate Launches Paramount-Trump Settlement Talks Investigation, Invites Bill Owens and Wendy McMahon to Testify appeared first on TheWrap.
New York Post
21 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
Trump legal team, Paramount mull proposal for CBS to run free ads to break quagmire over $20B lawsuit: sources
A proposal to break the legal quagmire between CBS News parent Paramount and President Trump involves the Tiffany Network running millions of dollars in public service ads for causes that appeal to the administration, On The Money has learned. The idea was floated in recent days by people involved in the explosive legal dispute as part of a long anticipated settlement, sources said. The PSAs would involve Paramount's CBS news subsidiary — the defendant in Trump's controversial $20 billion lawsuit — running what would be paid ads across its platforms that address issues such as the rise of antisemitism in American society that followed the Oct. 7 massacre of Jews by Hamas terrorists, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. 4 Paramount and the White House are in mediation over Trump's lawsuit against the media giant over alleged deceptive editing of a '60 Minutes' interview with Kamala Harris. 60 Minutes / CBS The spots would also promote issues that support US veterans, these people add. Sources close to the matter say the Trump legal team likes the idea. It's unclear if the Paramount legal team is supportive. Reps for Paramount and the White House declined comment. The two sides are in mediation over Trump's lawsuit against the media giant over alleged deceptive editing of a '60 Minutes' interview with Kamala Harris. In order for the mediator in the case to consider the proposal and make it part of the bargaining discussions, both sides need to officially vet the idea and get a sign-off from management. The settlement plan comes as parties involved seek common ground to bring the litigation to an end. Trump has taken steps to stamp out antisemitism, particularly on college campuses, since returning to the White House. Paramount's controlling shareholder Shari Redstone also has spoken out against antisemitism since Oct. 7 and has even been critical of how CBS has covered the matter. As On The Money first reported, Redstone is willing to pay Trump up to $50 million to settle the matter and get a deal done. 4 The settlement plan comes as parties involved seek common ground to bring the litigation to an end. Trump has taken steps to stamp out antisemitism, particularly on college campuses. FRANCIS CHUNG/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock She has so far recused herself from the negotiations, leaving the decision-making to her senior management team. But management has been hesitant to reach a deal that involves handing over significant cash to Trump, worried that such a large payment could run afoul of anti-bribery laws since his appointed head of the Federal Communications Commission still needs to approve the Skydance deal, On The Money previously reported. Aside from the high-stakes legal tussle, the lawsuit is also seen as a key impediment to getting the Trump administration to approve a plan by the media heiress to sell the company to independent studio Skydance for $8 billion. 4 Shari Redstone is willing to pay Trump up to $50 million to settle the matter and get a deal done. Getty Images FCC chair Brendan Carr is probing whether CBS broke 'public interest' rules that govern the use of public airwaves (as opposed to cable) by exhibiting left-wing bias in its news programming. The Harris interview is a focal point of the investigation that has delayed the deal indefinitely. If approved, however, Redstone would walk away with $2 billion and preserve some of the wealth left to her by her late father, media-merger king Sumner Redstone. The controversy over the lawsuit – and the possibility of a settlement with Trump – has roiled CBS in recent weeks. CBS News chief Wendy McMahon resigned earlier this month, saying, 'It's become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward.' 4 If the deal is approved, Redstone would walk away with $2 billion and preserve some of the wealth left to her by her late father, media-merger king Sumner Redstone. Christopher Sadowski In April, '60 Minutes' boss Bill Owens quit, citing increased pressure from senior management over his programming. Sources said Trump's legal team wants a settlement along the lines of what it received from Disney's ABC, which he sued for libel. ABC made a payment of $16 million and issued an apology for misstating the facts surrounding a civil judgment against Trump.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Sued By PBS To Stop $500M Funding Cut
First it was NPR and now PBS is punching back legally at Donald Trump's desire to slash funding to public broadcasters. In an 'injunctive and other expedited relief' seeking document jus filed in federal court in the District of Columbia, the Public Broadcast Service and Northern Minnesota Public TV (Lakeland PBS) are declaring Trump's Executive Order of May 1, 2025 to be illegal and unconstitutional. More from Deadline Diddy Pardon: Donald Trump "Certainly" Would Consider Clemency For Sean Combs As Old Pal Faces Sex-Trafficking Trial & Life Behind Bars Artificial Intelligence Influencers To Get D.C.'s Acclaim At The AI Honors Ceremony Donald Trump Urges Judge Not To Dismiss CBS '60 Minutes' Lawsuit As Paramount And POTUS Teams Talk Settlement Inked with much fanfare, Trump's executive order of earlier this month directed federal agencies and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to halt federal funding for NPR and PBS, as the president has alleged that the entities trafficked in 'left-wing propaganda.' Sorry Mr. President, but that's not the point says PBS, in so many words. 'A recent survey of a politically representative sample of U.S. adults (conducted by YouGov) showed that PBS is the number one most trusted institution in the United States, as compared to video streaming services, commercial cable television, news publications, commercial broadcast television, the federal government, Congress, courts of law, and social media platforms,' today's generally understated complaint asserts. 'The same survey found that PBS is the most trusted news network.' That's the tone, then there's the law. 'Regardless of any policy disagreements over the role of public television, our Constitution and laws forbid the President from serving as the arbiter of the content of PBS's programming, including by attempting to defund PBS,' reads the 51-page complaint filed by DC law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld to hit home with its point PBS gets around $500 million a year from the feds, which is about 15% of its operating budget. Reading very much like the suit NPR hit the MAGA White House with three days ago, the former home of Big Bird and Downton Abbey goes on to say in their own suit that 'if allowed to stand, the EO would override Congress's decision to remove the administration of federal funding for public television from the government's editorial purview.' Framing the matter as a clear attack on the freedom of speech as well the American system of checks and balances, the complaint adds: And it would have profound impacts on the ability of PBS and PBS Member Stations to provide a rich tapestry of programming to all Americans. PBS and Lakeland PBS bring suit to preserve their ability to serve their viewers and communities without political interference, as both Congress and the First Amendment mandate.' Deadline reached out to the White House for comment on the new suit. Just like the NPR complaint, the PBS action named Trump, Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget; Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. Additionally, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noam and DHS itself are named here, as are the soon to shuttered Department of Education and Sec. Linda McMahon, acting FEMA boss David Richardson and that agency. A line-up that makes one think of one of the great lines from Dame Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Granthamon on Downton: 'It always happens when you give these little people power, it goes to their heads like strong drink.' Best of Deadline 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More Everything We Know About Netflix's 'The Thursday Murder Club' So Far 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery
