Latest news with #ScottPelley
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fox News stars want Scott Pelley arrested and ‘60 Minutes' canceled over anti-Trump free speech defense
After spending the past few years railing against the Biden administration for its supposed attacks on free speech and censorship of social media platforms, Fox News is now calling for a CBS News journalist to be locked up and his show canceled for warning college graduates that 'freedom of speech is under attack.' What appears to be most rankling to the conservative news network's stars are Scott Pelley's comments in a commencement speech at Wake Forest that were sharply directed at President Donald Trump. A week after Pelley delivered an impassioned address, clearly targeted at Trump, MAGA world fully melted down over it after clips were shared online by a pro-Trump account. The speech went viral over the Memorial Day weekend as conservatives lashed out in anger and Fox News picked up the mantle after the holiday. 'Does he hate half the country as much as he hates President Trump?' anchor Harris Faulkner huffed on Tuesday morning's broadcast of The Faulkner Focus. 'He never mentions anything about the 76 million people who voted for Trump as being valuable and loved in the country. He goes after the man they voted for.' The portion that specifically incensed conservatives and Trump supporters was Pelley — whose network is currently facing a $20 billion lawsuit from the president over an edited 60 Minutes interview of Kamala Harris in the stretch run of the presidential campaign — having referenced Trump's attacks on the media and the nation's sacred institutions. The longtime 60 Minutes correspondent did not mention the president by name. 'But in this moment, this moment, this morning, our sacred rule of law is under attack. Journalism is under attack. Universities are under attack,' he declared. 'Freedom of speech is under attack. And insidious fear is reaching through our schools, our businesses, our homes, and into our private thoughts. The fear to speak in America.' Noting that 'ignorance works for power,' Pelley also pointed out that they first 'make the truth-seekers live in fear' when they 'sue the journalists and their companies for nothing,' an apparent reference to the president's lawsuit. Paramount, the parent company of CBS, is considering a settlement of that complaint in an effort to coax the Trump administration to approve a mega-merger with Skydance Media. The possibility of settling a lawsuit that legal experts describe as frivolous has resulted in the abrupt resignations of 60 Minutes' executive producer and CBS News' chief, along with Democratic senators suggesting that the company could be breaking anti-bribery laws. Pelley also took aim at the administration's efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. 'With that done, power can rewrite history with grotesque, false narratives,' he stated. 'They can make criminals heroes and heroes criminals. Power can change the definition of the words we use to describe reality. Diversity is now described as illegal. Equity is to be shunned. Inclusion is a dirty word.' Faulkner wasn't done with her hyperbolic and breathless indignation over Pelley's speech. During the midday roundtable show Outnumbered, which she co-anchors, she seemingly accused CBS News of antisemitism while suggesting the White House could soon turn its attention to shutting down the network. 'We know what is happening. They are losing their relevancy and soon will be losing their funding,' she said, perhaps confusing CBS with PBS, which Trump directed to be defunded by an executive order this month. Referencing a previous interview with former Fox News pundit Leo Terrell, who now leads the president's so-called antisemitism task force, Faulkner noted that Terrell told her 'we are not stopping with Harvard' and will be going after other institutions. 'The administration has an answer for this,' she concluded. 'And Scott Pelley – well, I don't know – maybe it won't be 60 Minutes anymore. Maybe he can just go on a speaking tour.' Former Trump press secretary turned Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany went even further during Tuesday's broadcast of top-rated panel show The Five. After the network's resident 'comedian' Greg Gutfeld jokingly brushed off Pelley's warnings by pointing out 'he wasn't arrested after that,' McEnany called for that very thing to happen. 'He should have been, because there was an overt lie,' she exclaimed. 'What do you know about journalism being under attack? What does he know about that? I mean, 60 Minutes should be reduced to zero minutes.' Grumbling that Pelley recently interviewed a Democratic attorney for a segment on Trump targeting law firms, one of several 60 Minutes reports that have drawn the president's ire, McEnany fumed that Pelley knows 'nothing about journalism' and that his commencement speech was a 'load of garbage.' Naturally, the right-wing network's primetime lineup – which includes the president's shadow chief of staff Sean Hannity – kept the outrage flowing through the evening. 'Scott's still a whiny liberal and still bitter,' Laura Ingraham growled during an eight-minute show-opening monologue about Pelley's speech. 'What he will never admit is his own role of tanking the credibility of the press he supposedly is so desperate to save. His influence has waned, the power of his old network is gone. And now he's not shy about showing the rank bias we knew he harbored all along.' Hannity, meanwhile, complained that the former CBS Evening News anchor's address was 'full of rage and anti-Trump rhetoric,' adding that Pelley is a 'biased liberal radical talk show host and here's the proof.' The evidence, according to the Fox News star, was Pelley saying that 'journalism is under attack.'
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Scott Pelley ‘drones on' about Trump in unhinged rant to college students
Comedian Alex Stein discusses Scott Pelley's unhinged Trump rant in a commencement speech at Wake Forest University. 'Scott Pelley spent the last four years covering up for Joe Biden, while Joe Biden was senile and had obvious cognitive disabilities,' Mr Stein told Sky News host James Morrow. 'He doesn't have free speech, he doesn't practice free speech. 'They don't want to hear some CNN anchor just drone on about the threat that Donald Trump imposes on the First Amendment give me a break, like anyone at CNN cares about free speech.'
New York Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Scott Pelley's anti-Trump rant: Letters to the Editor — May 29, 2025
The Issue: '60 Minutes' anchor Scott Pelley's anti-Trump commencement speech at Wake Forest University. Contrary to what Scott Pelley said, America's free speech is not under attack ('Sinking to the depths of Pell,' Michael Goodwin, May 28). No, the public is under attack from so-called journalists like Pelley who continue to fail miserably by not being investigative or independent when covering news stories. Despite Pelley's years of journalistic experience, he couldn't even use language that would've inspired and encouraged the graduating class at North Carolina's Wake Forest University to be optimistic about the future as they embark on their careers. His rage and tone seemed to be the result of an acute case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. He owes the Class of 2025 an apology for his horrible presentation. Michael Headley Brooklyn Scott Pelley's rant at Wake Forest should be a career-ender. His address was vile and sophomoric; whoever booked him should also be canned. The mystery is how such benighted people gain access to forums that are dedicated to being free of bias. L. Toboroff Ramatuelle, France Some of the most seasoned news journalists are beginning to show their true colors. Rather than share insightful and uplifting words on this joyous occasion, Pelley felt compelled to try to indoctrinate a whole new crop of graduates. I'm seriously worried about the well-being of Pelley — and some of his misguided colleagues. He closed his eyes at times and was absurdly waving his arms as though he was at a religious revival. This was pure histrionic behavior at its best. My sympathies go out to the students who had to endure this unconvincing stage performance. The last thing that new graduates want to hear is doomsday pessimism. My advice to Mr. Pelley: Next time, leave your personal baggage at home and sulk on your own time. Ronald G. Frank West Orange, NJ Goodwin's piece about Pelley spewing his TDS rhetoric to a captive audience of graduates and their parents (most of whom probably voted for Trump) was spot-on. Pelley's ramblings that the rule of law, journalism and freedom of speech are 'under attack' left out the inconvenient truth that the first volleys were initiated by radical left prosecutors and judges, media outlets and universities. This can more accurately be described as a well-deserved counterattack. Jack Kaufman Naples, Fla. Keep up with today's most important news Stay up on the very latest with Evening Update. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters The Issue: King Charles' trip to Canada and comments about the country joining the United States. King Charles III is visiting one of the Commonwealth's countries, Canada, to remind anyone who doesn't understand history that it won't be the 51st state ('Aim of throne: Defend Canada,' May 28). President Trump is still enthusiastic about his plan, but all of his bluster is not going to be enough to beat the British royal family, who have over 1,000 years of experience handling all of the various upstarts who have annoyed them. Donald, stick with 50 stars on the flag. Dennis Fitzgerald Melbourne, Australia King Charles: Welcome to Canada! We cordially invite you to see Alberta one last time, while it's still part of the Commonwealth. Albertans are used to liberals making screwy decisions, which is why we want to leave Canada. Chris Robertson Alberta, Canada King Charles should mind his own business. It's of no concern to him if Canada becomes part of the US. Storm Destro Bayonne, NJ Want to weigh in on today's stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to letters@ Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.
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The Independent
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Fox News stars want Scott Pelley arrested and ‘60 Minutes' canceled over anti-Trump free speech defense
After spending the past few years railing against the Biden administration for its supposed attacks on free speech and censorship of social media platforms, Fox News is now calling for a CBS News journalist to be locked up and his show canceled for warning college graduates that 'freedom of speech is under attack.' What appears to be most rankling to the conservative news network's stars are Scott Pelley's comments in a commencement speech at Wake Forest that were sharply directed at President Donald Trump. A week after Pelley delivered an impassioned address, clearly targeted at Trump, MAGA world fully melted down over it after clips were shared online by a pro-Trump account. The speech went viral over the Memorial Day weekend as conservatives lashed out in anger and Fox News picked up the mantle after the holiday. 'Does he hate half the country as much as he hates President Trump?' anchor Harris Faulkner huffed on Tuesday morning's broadcast of The Faulkner Focus. 'He never mentions anything about the 76 million people who voted for Trump as being valuable and loved in the country. He goes after the man they voted for.' The portion that specifically incensed conservatives and Trump supporters was Pelley — whose network is currently facing a $20 billion lawsuit from the president over an edited 60 Minutes interview of Kamala Harris in the stretch run of the presidential campaign — having referenced Trump's attacks on the media and the nation's sacred institutions. The longtime 60 Minutes correspondent did not mention the president by name. 'But in this moment, this moment, this morning, our sacred rule of law is under attack. Journalism is under attack. Universities are under attack,' he declared. 'Freedom of speech is under attack. And insidious fear is reaching through our schools, our businesses, our homes, and into our private thoughts. The fear to speak in America.' Noting that 'ignorance works for power,' Pelley also pointed out that they first 'make the truth-seekers live in fear' when they 'sue the journalists and their companies for nothing,' an apparent reference to the president's lawsuit. Paramount, the parent company of CBS, is considering a settlement of that complaint in an effort to coax the Trump administration to approve a mega-merger with Skydance Media. The possibility of settling a lawsuit that legal experts describe as frivolous has resulted in the abrupt resignations of 60 Minutes' executive producer and CBS News' chief, along with Democratic senators suggesting that the company could be breaking anti-bribery laws. Pelley also took aim at the administration's efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. 'With that done, power can rewrite history with grotesque, false narratives,' he stated. 'They can make criminals heroes and heroes criminals. Power can change the definition of the words we use to describe reality. Diversity is now described as illegal. Equity is to be shunned. Inclusion is a dirty word.' Faulkner wasn't done with her hyperbolic and breathless indignation over Pelley's speech. During the midday roundtable show Outnumbered, which she co-anchors, she seemingly accused CBS News of antisemitism while suggesting the White House could soon turn its attention to shutting down the network. 'We know what is happening. They are losing their relevancy and soon will be losing their funding,' she said, perhaps confusing CBS with PBS, which Trump directed to be defunded by an executive order this month. Referencing a previous interview with former Fox News pundit Leo Terrell, who now leads the president's so-called antisemitism task force, Faulkner noted that Terrell told her 'we are not stopping with Harvard' and will be going after other institutions. 'The administration has an answer for this,' she concluded. 'And Scott Pelley – well, I don't know – maybe it won't be 60 Minutes anymore. Maybe he can just go on a speaking tour.' Former Trump press secretary turned Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany went even further during Tuesday's broadcast of top-rated panel show The Five. After the network's resident 'comedian' Greg Gutfeld jokingly brushed off Pelley's warnings by pointing out 'he wasn't arrested after that,' McEnany called for that very thing to happen. 'He should have been, because there was an overt lie,' she exclaimed. 'What do you know about journalism being under attack? What does he know about that? I mean, 60 Minutes should be reduced to zero minutes.' Grumbling that Pelley recently interviewed a Democratic attorney for a segment on Trump targeting law firms, one of several 60 Minutes reports that have drawn the president's ire, McEnany fumed that Pelley knows 'nothing about journalism' and that his commencement speech was a 'load of garbage.' Naturally, the right-wing network's primetime lineup – which includes the president's shadow chief of staff Sean Hannity – kept the outrage flowing through the evening. 'Scott's still a whiny liberal and still bitter,' Laura Ingraham growled during an eight-minute show-opening monologue about Pelley's speech. 'What he will never admit is his own role of tanking the credibility of the press he supposedly is so desperate to save. His influence has waned, the power of his old network is gone. And now he's not shy about showing the rank bias we knew he harbored all along.' Hannity, meanwhile, complained that the former CBS Evening News anchor's address was 'full of rage and anti-Trump rhetoric,' adding that Pelley is a 'biased liberal radical talk show host and here's the proof.' The evidence, according to the Fox News star, was Pelley saying that 'journalism is under attack.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Scott Pelley Warns Graduates About the Threats to American Democracy
Earlier this month, journalist Scott Pelley delivered what should have been a fairly standard commencement address at Wake Forest University. The 60 Minutes correspondent spoke about seeking truth, defending democracy, and the importance of courage in difficult times—the kind of boilerplate inspiration you'd expect from a veteran journalist addressing graduates. But because we live in very normal times, the speech went viral over Memorial Day weekend and triggered a conservative meltdown that's been fascinating to watch unfold. The fury started when a pro-MAGA account clipped portions of Pelley's speech and shared them on X, writing 'Scott Pelley raged at Trump in angry, unhinged commencement address at Wake Forest.' What did Pelley say that sent the right into such a tizzy? Well, he had the audacity to suggest that 'our sacred rule of law is under attack. Journalism is under attack. Universities are under attack. Freedom of speech is under attack.' He warned of 'insidious fear … reaching through our schools, our businesses, our homes, and into our private thoughts, the fear to speak in America.' And perhaps most provocatively, Pelley criticized the administration's attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, saying, 'Diversity is now described as 'illegal.' Equity is to be shunned. Inclusion is a dirty word. This is an old playbook, my friends.' He also referenced 'masked agents' who 'abduct a college student who wrote an editorial in her college paper defending Palestinian rights and send her to a prison in Louisiana charged with nothing.' Pelley's speech comes as Trump is suing CBS for $20 billion over alleged 'election interference' and CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon abruptly resigned, citing disagreements with the company amid the legal pressure. What's remarkable is how a fairly conventional call for civic engagement and democratic values could generate such hysteria. But then again, when you're running an administration built on exactly the kind of authoritarian playbook Pelley described, I suppose any critique—no matter how measured—feels like an existential threat. Reading the speech in full, it's hard to see what's so 'unhinged' about urging graduates to be engaged citizens and defend democratic institutions. Unless, of course, you're deeply invested in attacking those very institutions. Here's the complete transcript of Pelley's May 19 address: Good morning, everybody. What a beautiful day. What a beautiful North Carolina day for a graduation. Incredible. President Wente, Provost Gillespie, members of the board of trustees, and Kathy Herringer, my faculty sponsor for this precious Wake Forest honorary degree, I am honored and grateful to be with you today. Good morning, graduates. And a special shout-out to our members of the Reserve Officer Training Corps who are going to be commissioned today in the service of their country. Thank you so much. Oh, this has been a challenging road. You have worked. You have worried. You have wondered whether you would ever reach this day. I'm not talking to the graduates. I'm talking to the parents and the families. Why are there so many people here? Because nobody got here alone. First, a quick word of warning. I was reporting a story for 60 Minutes not long ago, on the Webb space telescope. And I had a young astronomer. And I asked her, I said, 'So what took you into astronomy?' And she said, 'Well, you spoke at my college graduation.' And she went on and she said, 'I was sitting there. I was graduating with a perfectly sensible degree. But as I heard you speak, I realized my love was astronomy. I re-enrolled. I have a Ph.D. in astronomy. And now I work on the Webb space telescope.' So if there is anyone here today who does not want to be an astronomer, this is the time to space out. You know, if we were in London walking past Portland Place on a beautiful spring day, we would encounter the headquarters of the British Broadcasting Corporation, a nearly 100-year-old building from which Edward R. Murrow, the original CBS News correspondent, stood on the roof and broadcast back to America the falling bombs of fascism that fell on that free city month after month. And if we walk a little bit further past the BBC, we will encounter another hero in the fight against fascism, George Orwell. He'll be standing right there, frozen in bronze, with his words carved in the side of the building: 'If liberty means anything at all, it means telling someone something that they don't want to hear.' I fear there may be some people in the audience who don't want to hear what I have to say today. But I appreciate your forbearance in this small act of liberty. I'm a reporter, so I won't bury the lede. Your country needs you. The country that has given you so much is calling you, the class of 2025. Your country needs you, and it needs you today. As a reporter, I've learned to respect opinions. Reasonable people differ about the life of our country. And America works well when we listen to those that we disagree with, when we listen to those we disagree with and have common ground and compromise. And one thing we can all agree on, one thing, at least: America is at her best when everyone is included. To move forward, we debate, not demonize. We discuss, not destroy. But in this moment, this moment, this morning, our sacred rule of law is under attack. Journalism is under attack. Universities are under attack. Freedom of speech is under attack. And insidious fear is reaching through our schools, our businesses, our homes, and into our private thoughts. The fear to speak in America. If our government is, in Lincoln's phrase, 'of the people, by the people, for the people,' then why are we afraid to speak? The Wake Forest class of 1861, they did not choose their time of calling. The class of 1941 did not choose. The class of 1968 did not choose. History chose them. And now history is calling you, the class of 2025. You may not feel prepared, but you are. You are not descended of fearful people. You brought your values to school with you, and now Wake Forest has trained you to seek the truth, to find the meaning of life. Let me tell you about three people, briefly, who I've met recently, who discovered the meaning of their lives in a moment of crisis not unlike what we have today. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, president of Ukraine, spent his entire career as an entertainer on television. His first elected office was president of Ukraine. And three years ago, the Russian army came at him from three directions. He had a decision to make. So he reached for the most lethal weapon in the Ukrainian arsenal: his cell phone. And he walked out in front of the presidential offices in Kyiv and made a video selfie and told his people, 'I'm still here. Your army is still here. And we are going to fight,' galvanizing 44 million people instantly. And today, three years later, he is all that stands between a murderous dictator in Russia and the rest of free Europe. I asked Zelenskiy, 'Where did that come from?' And he said, 'Well, you look in the mirror and you ask, 'Who are you?'' Nadia Murad, a young woman that we at 60 Minutes found in a refugee camp in Iraq. Her family had been murdered by ISIS. And she had been sold for money into slavery. We convinced her to tell her story on 60 Minutes, which she did. And she found her voice. And after that interview, she began to write. And then she began to speak about the crimes that women suffer in war. And a few years later, this young woman that we found in a refugee camp won the Nobel Peace Prize. Who are you? Finally, Dr. Sam Attar. He's an orthopedic surgeon in Chicago, professor of surgery at Northwestern, who volunteers to do surgery in war zones—in Gaza, in Ukraine, in Syria—to try to save the lives of innocent people wounded by war, using whatever meager supplies that he has at hand. I asked him, 'Where does this come from?' And Sam Attar told me, 'It's not much, but it beats burying your head in fear and ignorance.' Who are you? Who are you? What is the meaning of life? Today, today, great universities are threatened with ruin. So what did President Wente and Provost Gillespie do? They spoke out. They joined other institutions signing the call for constructive engagement, a declaration of the relationship between government and higher education. It reads, in part: 'Institutions of higher education share a commitment to serve as centers of open inquiry, where in their pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear, without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation.' Who are you? What does this make Wake Forest in this moment? Well, I think we know. Did you hear that phrase in the declaration? 'Pursuit of the truth'? Why attack universities? Why attack journalism? Because ignorance works for power. First, make the truth-seekers live in fear. Sue the journalists and their companies for nothing. Then, send masked agents to abduct a college student who wrote an editorial in her college paper defending Palestinian rights, and send her to a prison in Louisiana charged with nothing. Then, move to destroy the law firms that stand up for the rights of others. With that done, power can rewrite history with grotesque, false narratives. They can make criminals heroes and heroes criminals. Power can change the definition of the words we use to describe reality. Diversity is now described as illegal. Equity is to be shunned. Inclusion is a dirty word. This is an old playbook, my friends. There's nothing new in this. George Orwell, who we met on the street in London, 1949, he warned us about what he called 'newspeak.' He understood that ignorance works for power. But then, it is ignorance, isn't it, that you have repudiated every single day here at Wake Forest University. Who are you? I think we know. Can just speaking the truth actually work? Well, consider this day, May 19. This day, May 19, 1963, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter from a Birmingham jail is published for the first time. In that letter, Dr. King says that the first thing that has to be done in the pursuit of justice is collecting the facts. Power was telling him in a jail cell, 'Do not speak the truth because power will crush you.' But consider: Just months before that letter was published, Wake Forest University became the first major private institution of higher education in the South to integrate. 1962. The year after King's letter, 1964, the Civil Rights Act is passed. The year after that, 1965, the Voting Rights Act is passed. Now, today, both of those are under attack. But can the truth win? My friends, nothing else does. It may be a long road, but the truth is coming. Did you hear the other phrase in the declaration that was signed by President Wente and Provost Gillespie? 'Without fear.' That doesn't mean there's nothing to be afraid of. It's an affirmation that you know who you are. You know what you stand for. And you know that in the end, in the long end, the Constitution will defend you, even in the face of fearsome times. In the words of one of your former Wake Forest professors: 'You may write me down in history with your bitter, twisted lies. You may trod me in the very dirt, but still, like dust, I'll rise. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear, I rise into a daybreak that's wondrously clear. I rise. Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise. I rise. I rise.' The poet Maya Angelou taught at Wake Forest. She saw the fear that power sought to impose. And yet, in her famous phrase, she still knew why the caged bird sings. Oh, this university, old and wise, has seen worse. It has overcome existential threats before to our country. You are not alone. A legion has gone before you. But now it is the class of 2025 that is called in another extraordinary time. Will you permit me a word of advice? I think this is how I created at least one astronomer. Do not settle. You only get one pass at this. This world is going to tell you no a thousand times. But listen to the song in your heart. If they can't hear it, that's on them, not on you. In the 1980s, I was rejected by CBS News over and over and over again over years. Again over years. They told me at one point, 'Please stop applying.' They did. And at the time, I thought, 'What's wrong with these people? They couldn't hear the song in my heart.' Maybe they were smarter. Every time I was rejected, I got better. Maybe that was the plan. But I finally made them hear the music in my heart. You only lose if you quit. Do not settle. What is the meaning of life? Who are you? You are the educated. You are the compassionate. You are the fierce defenders of democracy, the seekers of truth, the vanguard against ignorance. You are millions strong across our land. I might be sorry that you were picked by history for this role. But maybe that was the plan. Hard times are going to make you better and going to make you stronger. In a few minutes, when that diploma hits your hand, it's not a piece of paper we're giving you. We're handing you the baton. Run with it. Why am I here? I'm here today because I'm 50 years farther down the trail than you are. And I have doubled back this morning to tell you the one thing that I have learned from Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Nadia Murad, Sam Attar, and a thousand others. In a moment like this, when our country is in peril, don't ask the meaning of life. Life is asking, 'What's the meaning of you?' With great admiration for your achievement, with confidence that you will rise to this occasion, I thank you very humbly for the honor of being with you. Thank you very much.
