CBS News Staffers Don't Like Settlement

Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS News, settled a lawsuit with President Donald Trump on July 1, 2025, for $16 million over the editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which aired in October 2024. 

Trump’s lawsuit, initially filed for $10 billion and later amended to $20 billion, alleged that CBS deceptively edited Harris’s responses to favor her campaign, claiming it violated Texas consumer protection laws and caused “mental anguish” and diverted attention from his Truth Social platform. The settlement, which directs funds to Trump’s future presidential library and includes no apology from Paramount, has sparked significant concern among CBS News staffers, particularly those at “60 Minutes,” who fear it undermines the program’s journalistic integrity and sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom.

The settlement has caused internal turmoil at CBS News, with staff morale described as “very low” due to fears that Paramount’s decision to settle a lawsuit widely viewed as meritless signals capitulation to political pressure. “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley warned that a settlement would be “very damaging to CBS, to Paramount, to the reputation of those companies.” The controversy led to the resignations of two key figures:

• 
  Bill Owens, the longtime “60 Minutes” executive producer, stepped down in April 2025, citing a loss of editorial independence and stating he could no longer run the show objectively due to pressure from Paramount leadership.
• Wendy McMahon, CBS News President and CEO, resigned on May 19, 2025, after disagreements with Paramount over the company’s direction, particularly its willingness to settle with Trump.

Staffers have expressed frustration over what they perceive as Paramount’s prioritization of business interests—specifically, securing FCC approval for its $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media—over journalistic principles. Some believe the settlement could embolden further attacks on the press, with veteran correspondent Lesley Stahl telling The New Yorker that conceding to Trump would be a “travesty.” 

Trump’s lawsuit, filed in October 2024 in Texas federal court, centered on a “60 Minutes” interview where Harris was asked about the Biden administration’s influence over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

Two versions of her response aired: a concise version on “60 Minutes” and a longer, less coherent one on “Face the Nation.” Trump’s legal team argued this constituted “malicious, deceptive, and substantial news distortion” to mislead voters. CBS maintained the edits were standard for time constraints, releasing unedited transcripts in February 2025 to support this claim, following an FCC demand.

The settlement, finalized through mediation, includes:

• A $16 million payment to Trump’s presidential library, covering legal fees and costs, though some sources like Twitchy inaccurately reported a potential $30 million payout.
• A commitment from Paramount to release full transcripts of future “60 Minutes” interviews with U.S. presidential candidates after airing, subject to redactions for legal or national security concerns, dubbed the “Trump Rule” by some.
• A release of all claims against CBS reporting through July 1, 2025, including a separate threatened defamation action.CBS and its legal team consistently called the lawsuit “completely without merit,” arguing it was an attack on First Amendment rights. Media advocacy groups, including the Writers Guild of America East, which represents “60 Minutes” journalists, condemned the settlement, stating it “threatens journalists’ ability to do their job reporting on powerful public figures.”