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yesterday

Paramount and Trump Enter Mediation Over ‘60 Minutes’ Lawsuit in Push for Skydance Merger Approval

California legislators have summoned former CBS executives to testify in an inquiry into potential bribery and unfair competition law violations, risking journalistic independence.

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Paramount Global logo is seen in this illustration taken December 17, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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Overview

  • Paramount and Trump’s legal teams are in mediation over a lawsuit accusing CBS News of deceptively editing a ‘60 Minutes’ interview with Kamala Harris, with Trump turning down a $15 million offer and demanding more than $25 million plus an apology.
  • A proposal under consideration would have CBS run public service announcements for causes supported by Trump instead of a direct payment, as both sides evaluate non-monetary settlement options.
  • California’s State Senate has opened an inquiry into whether Paramount’s settlement discussions violate state bribery and unfair competition laws, inviting former CBS News executives Bill Owens and Wendy McMahon to testify.
  • The FCC’s review of Paramount’s pending $8 billion merger with Skydance Media remains complicated by the lawsuit, with FCC Chair Brendan Carr probing CBS’s public-interest compliance.
  • Resignations of key CBS figures, including Owens and McMahon, underscore internal divisions over journalistic integrity and corporate pressure in the settlement talks.