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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
FCC commissioner sounds alarms about free speech 'chilling effect' under Trump
Federal Communications Commissioner Anna M. Gomez traveled to Los Angeles this week to sound an alarm that attacks on the media by President Trump and his lieutenants could fray the fabric of the 1st Amendment. Gomez's appearance Wednesday at Cal State L.A. was designed to take feedback from community members about the changed media atmosphere since Trump returned to office. The president initially expelled Associated Press journalists from the White House, for example. He signed an executive order demanding government funding be cut to PBS and NPR stations. Should that order take effect, Pasadena-based radio station LAist would lose nearly $1.7 million — or about 4% of its annual budget, according to Alejandra Santamaria, chief executive of parent organization Southern California Public Radio. 'The point of all these actions is to chill speech,' Gomez told the small crowd. "We all need to understand what is happening and we need people to speak up and push back." Congress in the 1930s designed the FCC as an independent body, she said, rather than one beholden to the president. But those lines have blurred. In the closing days of last fall's presidential campaign, Trump sued CBS and "60 Minutes" over edits to an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, alleging producers doctored the broadcast to enhance her election chances. CBS has denied the allegations and the raw footage showed Harris was accurately quoted. Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, upon taking office in January, revived three complaints of bias against ABC, NBC and CBS, including one alleging the "60 Minutes" edits had violated rules against news distortion. He demanded that CBS release the unedited footage. The FCC's review of Skydance Media's pending takeover of CBS-parent Paramount Global has been clouded by the president's $20-billion lawsuit against CBS. The president rejected Paramount's offer to settle for $15 million, according to the Wall Street Journal, which said Trump has demanded more. Two high-level CBS News executives involved in "60 Minutes" were forced out this spring. Gomez, in an interview, declined to discuss the FCC's review of the Skydance-Paramount deal beyond saying: "It would be entirely inappropriate to consider the complaint against the '60 Minutes' segment as part of a transaction review." Scrutinizing edits to a national newscast "are not part of the public interest analysis that the commission does when it considers mergers and acquisitions," she said. Read more: Trump, '60 Minutes' and corruption allegations put Paramount on edge with sale less certain For months, Gomez has been the lone voice of dissent at the FCC. Next month, she will become the sole Democrat on the panel. The longtime communications attorney, who was appointed to the commission in 2023 by former President Biden, has openly challenged her colleague Carr and his policies that align with Trump's directives. She maintains that some of Carr's proposals, including opening investigations into diversity and inclusion policies at Walt Disney Co. and Comcast, go beyond the scope of the FCC, which is designed to regulate radio and TV stations and others that use the public airwaves. The pressure campaign is working, Gomez said. 'When you see corporate parents of news providers ... telling their broadcasters to tone down their criticisms of this administration, or to push out the executive producer of '60 Minutes' or the head of [CBS] News because of concerns about retribution from this administration because of corporate transactions — that is a chilling effect,' Gomez said. Wednesday's forum, organized by the nonprofit advocacy group Free Press, was punctuated with pleas from professors, journalists and community advocates for help in fending off Trump's attacks. One journalist said she lost her job this spring at Voice of America after Trump took aim at the organization, which was founded more than 80 years ago to counter Nazi propaganda during World War II. The Voice of America's remaining staffers could receive reduction-in-force notices later this week, according to Politico. Latino journalists spoke about the difficulty of covering some stories because people have been frightened into silence due to the administration's immigration crackdown. Read more: How Trump's FCC chairman is stoking the culture war For now, journalists are able to carry out their missions "for the most part," said Gabriel Lerner, editor emeritus of the Spanish-language La Opinión. But he added a warning. "Many think that America is so exceptional that you don't have to do anything because fascism will never happen here," Lerner said. "I compare that with those who dance on the Titanic thinking it will never sink.' The White House pushed back on such narratives: 'President Trump is leading the most transparent administration in history. He regularly takes questions from the media, communicates directly to the public, and signed an Executive Order to protect free speech on his first day back in office," spokesperson Anna Kelly said. "He will continue to fight against censorship while evaluating all federal spending to identify waste, fraud, and abuse.' Traditionally, the five-member FCC has maintained an ideological balance with three commissioners from the party in power and two from the minority. But the senior Democrat — Geoffrey Starks — plans to step down next month, which will leave just three commissioners: Gomez, Carr and another Republican, Nathan Simington. Trump has nominated a third Republican, Olivia Trusty, but the Senate has not confirmed her appointment. Trump has not named a Democrat to replace Starks. Some on Wednesday expressed concern that Gomez's five-year tenure on the commission could be cut short. Trump has fired Democrats from other independent bodies, including the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Gomez said if she is pushed out, it would only be because she was doing her job, which she said was defending the Constitution. Read more: The network evening news is in flux: Why an American TV institution is under pressure Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Indio) applauded Gomez's efforts and noted that he's long appreciated coordinating with her on more routine FCC matters, such as ensuring wider broadband internet access. "But now the fight is the survival of the free press," Ruiz said. He noted that millions of people now get news from non-journalist sources, leading to a rise of misinformation and confusion. "What is the truth?" Ruiz said. "How can we begin to have a debate? How can we begin to create policy on problems when we can't even agree on what reality is?" Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
FCC commissioner sounds alarms about free speech ‘chilling effect' under Trump
Federal Communications Commissioner Anna M. Gomez traveled to Los Angeles this week to sound an alarm that attacks on the media by President Trump and his lieutenants could fray the fabric of the 1st Amendment. Gomez's appearance Wednesday at Cal State L.A. was designed to take feedback from community members about the changed media atmosphere since Trump returned to office. The president initially expelled Associated Press journalists from the White House, for example. He signed an executive order demanding government funding be cut to PBS and NPR stations. Should that order take effect, Pasadena-based radio station LAist would lose nearly $1.7 million — or about 4% of its annual budget, according to Alejandra Santamaria, chief executive of parent organization Southern California Public Radio. 'The point of all these actions is to chill speech,' Gomez told the small crowd. 'We all need to understand what is happening and we need people to speak up and push back.' Congress in the 1930s designed the FCC as an independent body, she said, rather than one beholden to the president. But those lines have blurred. In the closing days of last fall's presidential campaign, Trump sued CBS and '60 Minutes' over edits to an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, alleging producers doctored the broadcast to enhance her election chances. CBS has denied the allegations and the raw footage showed Harris was accurately quoted. Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, upon taking office in January, revived three complaints of bias against ABC, NBC and CBS, including one alleging the '60 Minutes' edits had violated rules against news distortion. He demanded that CBS release the unedited footage. The FCC's review of Skydance Media's pending takeover of CBS-parent Paramount Global has been clouded by the president's $20-billion lawsuit against CBS. The president rejected Paramount's offer to settle for $15 million, according to the Wall Street Journal, which said Trump has demanded more. Two high-level CBS News executives involved in '60 Minutes' were forced out this spring. Gomez, in an interview, declined to discuss the FCC's review of the Skydance-Paramount deal beyond saying: 'It would be entirely inappropriate to consider the complaint against the '60 Minutes' segment as part of a transaction review.' Scrutinizing edits to a national newscast 'are not part of the public interest analysis that the commission does when it considers mergers and acquisitions,' she said. For months, Gomez has been the lone voice of dissent at the FCC. Next month, she will become the sole Democrat on the panel. The longtime communications attorney, who was appointed to the commission in 2023 by former President Biden, has openly challenged her colleague Carr and his policies that align with Trump's directives. She maintains that some of Carr's proposals, including opening investigations into diversity and inclusion policies at Walt Disney Co. and Comcast, go beyond the scope of the FCC, which is designed to regulate radio and TV stations and others that use the public airwaves. The pressure campaign is working, Gomez said. 'When you see corporate parents of news providers ... telling their broadcasters to tone down their criticisms of this administration, or to push out the executive producer of '60 Minutes' or the head of [CBS] News because of concerns about retribution from this administration because of corporate transactions — that is a chilling effect,' Gomez said. Wednesday's forum, organized by the nonprofit advocacy group Free Press, was punctuated with pleas from professors, journalists and community advocates for help in fending off Trump's attacks. One journalist said she lost her job this spring at Voice of America after Trump took aim at the organization, which was founded more than 80 years ago to counter Nazi propaganda during World War II. The Voice of America's remaining staffers could receive reduction-in-force notices later this week, according to Politico. Latino journalists spoke about the difficulty of covering some stories because people have been frightened into silence due to the administration's immigration crackdown. For now, journalists are able to carry out their missions 'for the most part,' said Gabriel Lerner, editor emeritus of the Spanish-language La Opinión. But he added a warning. 'Many think that America is so exceptional that you don't have to do anything because fascism will never happen here,' Lerner said. 'I compare that with those who dance on the Titanic thinking it will never sink.' The White House pushed back on such narratives: 'President Trump is leading the most transparent administration in history. He regularly takes questions from the media, communicates directly to the public, and signed an Executive Order to protect free speech on his first day back in office,' spokesperson Anna Kelly said. 'He will continue to fight against censorship while evaluating all federal spending to identify waste, fraud, and abuse.' Traditionally, the five-member FCC has maintained an ideological balance with three commissioners from the party in power and two from the minority. But the senior Democrat — Geoffrey Starks — plans to step down next month, which will leave just three commissioners: Gomez, Carr and another Republican, Nathan Simington. Trump has nominated a third Republican, Olivia Trusty, but the Senate has not confirmed her appointment. Trump has not named a Democrat to replace Starks. Some on Wednesday expressed concern that Gomez's five-year tenure on the commission could be cut short. Trump has fired Democrats from other independent bodies, including the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Gomez said if she is pushed out, it would only be because she was doing her job, which she said was defending the Constitution. Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Indio) applauded Gomez's efforts and noted that he's long appreciated coordinating with her on more routine FCC matters, such as ensuring wider broadband internet access. 'But now the fight is the survival of the free press,' Ruiz said. He noted that millions of people now get news from non-journalist sources, leading to a rise of misinformation and confusion. 'What is the truth?' Ruiz said. 'How can we begin to have a debate? How can we begin to create policy on problems when we can't even agree on what reality is?'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Democratic Senators Warn Paramount's Shari Redstone That Trump Lawsuit Settlement May Violate Federal Bribery Statute
Three senators have sent a letter to Paramount Global's Shari Redstone warning that a potential settlement of Donald Trump's $20 billion lawsuit against CBS may violate federal bribery laws. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) wrote that 'Paramount appears to be trying to settle a lawsuit that it has assessed as 'completely without merit,' and moderating the content of its programs in order to obtain approval of this merger. Under the federal bribery statute, it is illegal to corruptly give anything of value to public officials to influence an official act. If Paramount officials make these concessions in a quid pro quo arrangement to influence President Trump or other Administration officials, they may be breaking the law.' More from Deadline Live Video Startup 2WAY Adds Three New Shows Including 'The Group Chat' 'The Daily Show's Jon Stewart Mocks Media Praising Trump For "Not Taking Cancer's Side" In Biden Statement Kennedy Center To Include Non-Equity Theater Productions Following Donald Trump Complaints Redstone is non-executive chairwoman of Paramount Global and controlling shareholder. The senators cite 18 U.S.C. 201, which prohibits giving anything of value to a public official for the purposes of influencing their decisions. In October, Trump sued CBS over the way that 60 Minutes edited an interview with Kamala Harris. The lawsuit alleges violations of Texas' Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which is typically used by consumers for false advertising claims. A number of legal experts see Trump's lawsuit as meritless, but the litigation comes as CBS-parent Paramount Global seeks Trump administration approval for its merger with Skydance. Read the senators' letter to Shari Redstone. The senators also wrote that 'Paramount appears to have begun overseeing CBS's content, presumably in order to screen it for content that could anger the Trump Administration.' That was a reference to the resignation last month of Bill Owens, executive producer of 60 Minutes, over what he said was corporate interference. The lawmakers also noted the pending departure of Wendy McMahon, the CEO of CBS News and Stations, who announced her resignation on Monday, saying that 'it's become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward.' 'Paramount's scheme to curry favor with the Trump Administration has compromised journalistic independence and raises serious concerns of corruption and improper conduct,' the senators wrote. The lawmakers went on to ask Redstone to respond to a series of questions about the potential settlement, including, 'Has 60 Minutes made changes to its content at the request of anyone at Paramount to facilitate approval of the merger?' A Paramount Global spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the letter. A spokesperson told the Journal that Redstone has recused herself from the settlement talks. Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds All The 'Mission: Impossible' Movies In Order - See Tom Cruise's 30-Year Journey As Ethan Hunt Denzel Washington's Career In Pictures: From 'Carbon Copy' To 'The Equalizer 3'
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Media consolidation under the Trump admin: Analyst shares outlook
Just days before the 2024 election, President Donald Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS, accusing the media giant of editing an interview with former Vice President and election rival Kamala Harris. While initially dismissed as a long shot, reports suggest that CBS-parent company Paramount Global (PARAA, PARA) is now considering a settlement to avoid interference in its merger with Skydance Media. MoffettNathanson senior analyst Robert Fishman joins Market Domination to explain that the challenges in linear TV — particularly with weak advertising and cord-cutting trends by viewers — will force media companies to consolidate. "Clearly there's complications depending on which asset we're talking about or which company we're talking about. But, at the same time, these companies are going to be forced to go down that direction the more that the pressure builds," Fishman says. "It's going to be the fundamentals that drive the decision, not just the need for consolidation for any other reason." Fishman also mentions that while industry fundamentals may drive consolidation, it may also be influenced by the current regulatory stances the Trump administration seems to be displaying. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Market Domination here. This post was written by Josh Lynch Sign in to access your portfolio
