Paramount-Trump Reps Talk Wednesday With Mediator

Paramount and President Trump’s representatives will meet Wednesday with a mediator to decide the outcome of Trump’s $20 billion lawsuit against CBS, sources told The Post. The lawsuit accuses CBS of deceptively editing a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris to favor her in the 2024 election. This comes as Paramount navigates its $8 billion merger with Skydance, which requires approval from Trump’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Settling the lawsuit is seen as a way to speed up FCC approval, though the mediator’s ruling remains uncertain. Paramount declined to comment but didn’t deny the mediation; Trump’s lawyer didn’t respond. Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, is eager to resolve the case and meet FCC demands, including ending Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, which the Trump administration views as promoting illegal racial quotas, and ensuring CBS adheres to FCC fairness rules for unbiased news on public airwaves.

Insiders at Paramount and Skydance see a path forward, with Redstone likely to settle and the FCC, led by chair Brendan Carr, engaging on DEI and fairness issues. Skydance, set to run Paramount and CBS if the merger is approved, is reportedly willing to comply with Carr’s demands. A Skydance representative declined to comment.

Conservatives have long criticized CBS and “60 Minutes” for alleged political bias, claiming the network violates FCC “public interest” rules. The FCC began investigating earlier this year after a conservative legal group’s complaint about the Harris interview, delaying the Skydance deal. “Finally, we can see light at the end of the tunnel,” a deal insider said.

However, settling could harm CBS’s reputation and finances. Legal experts question Trump’s lawsuit, arguing it fails to prove the edited interview damaged his election efforts, especially since he won in 2024. CBS denies deceptive editing. A settlement or apology could undermine “60 Minutes’” credibility, and a mediator ruling awarding Trump significant damages—potentially nearing $20 billion—would far exceed the $2.4 billion Redstone stands to gain from the Skydance deal. Redstone aims to settle for less and secure merger approval.