FCC's Carr: Pelley, Journalists 'Out of Touch'

FCC Chair Brendan Carr criticizes veteran journalist Scott Pelley as emblematic of legacy media's disconnect, responding to Pelley's expressed surprise at his recent firing from CBS' "60 Minutes."

In a post on X, Carr stated: “One of the reasons why trust in media is so low is because many legacy journalists are completely out of touch.” He added that Pelley's attitude revealed how “blind some are” to workplace norms, noting that such behavior “could not get away with that... at any run of the mill job.”

The remarks came after Pelley, a longtime "60 Minutes" correspondent, told The New York Times in a profile that his ousting “hadn't occurred” to him — describing it as “the furthest thing from my mind.” Pelley was fired this week following a heated meeting with the show's new executive producer, Nick Bilton, amid broader changes at CBS under new ownership.

Pelley, 68, was terminated Tuesday after clashing with Bilton over the direction of the iconic news program. Reports indicate the meeting involved insubordination concerns, with Pelley questioning Bilton's qualifications and recent staffing decisions. Pelley later issued a statement accusing the network of trying to “curry a moment of favor with the Trump administration” by sidelining longtime talent.

The dismissal is part of larger shifts at CBS following its acquisition by a new owner, including reported concessions to regulators and efforts to address perceived bias. Carr, as FCC chairman, has been involved in overseeing related media deals but stated the agency has no plans to investigate bias claims tied to the firings.

Carr's response highlights ongoing tensions between Trump-era regulators and traditional media outlets. He has previously argued that legacy journalists often fail to reflect broader public sentiments, contributing to declining trust in mainstream news. Pelley's surprise, in Carr's view, underscores a sense of entitlement among some in the industry.

Pelley Calls for Bari Weiss' Ouster

In his first interview since being fired, longtime "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley accused CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss of “putting a thumb on the scale” for the Trump administration and called for her removal.

Speaking with Lulu Garcia-Navarro of The New York Times, Pelley detailed his concerns from the start of Weiss’ tenure and described what he called direct editorial interference in a story about protests in Minneapolis against an ICE crackdown.

Pelley specifically claimed Weiss pushed changes — just hours before airtime — to the segment on the fatal shooting of Renee Good. He said she asked to make protesters appear more violent and to describe Good’s car as driving toward the officer, a version he said contradicted video evidence.

Pelley expressed early doubts about Weiss’ leadership, citing her lack of television experience and no background managing a large global news operation like CBS News.

“What concerned me was that she had zero television experience and had never managed a large global operation like CBS News,” Pelley said. “Those were red flags to me.” He also criticized Weiss’ and new executive producer Nick Bilton’s push to modernize the 58-year-old program, calling their focus on digital platforms outdated and disingenuous.

“It’s almost as if Bari Weiss and Nick Bilton were sealed in a time capsule in 1990, and it just cracked open,” Pelley said. “They’ve just discovered the internet.”

According to the NY Times article, Pelley said four our hours after deadline, Bari Weiss emailed his boss Tanya Simon. She asked whether they could make the protesters appear more violent and wanted the script to describe Renee Good’s car as driving directly toward the officer.

That description does not match what the video actually shows. stated Pelley. In the footage, the officer is standing slightly to the side of the car, and Good’s wheels are clearly turned sharply away from him. Yet he shot her in the head, killed her, and made an offensive comment about her that Pelley would not repeat.

From the start, Pelley's team had worked hard to fairly show the protesters’ own responsibility in the events and had scrubbed the video archives for supporting scenes, he said. But that was not enough for Weiss. The video evidence showed the officer was not standing in front of the car and that Good was not driving toward him. Still, that was how the president had described it, and that was how Weiss wanted the story told, according to Pelley.

In response to the accusations, a CBS News spokesperson told The Times that Weiss made four editorial points in an email during normal back-and-forth. The suggestions, the spokesperson said, had “no political motivation” and were aimed solely at making the piece “as strong, fair, and accurate as possible.” Not every point raised made it into the final segment, the network noted.

CBS Shake-Up Leaves '60 Minutes' With Trust Crisis

The firing of longtime "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley and other recent shake-ups at the CBS newsmagazine have left only Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim as remaining correspondents.

It remains unclear whether the iconic program — a viewer mainstay for 57 years — can regain its footing or preserve public trust under CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss' leadership, as the changes draw sharp criticism from journalists and fuel an escalating public feud, According to The Wrap. Weiss continues to face internal skepticism, with the aggressive handling of Pelley's exit adding to perceptions of poor crisis management.

"The audience is going to have a hard time trusting CBS if it keeps seeing stories like this," said Susie Banikarim, former head of global newsgathering and EVP of Vice News and a contributor to Columbia Journalism Review. 

"Fueling these stories with the very aggressive public firing of Scott Pelley isn’t helpful. Part of good leadership is diffusing situations, and when they start to spiral out of control, it feels like a rookie move to throw a log on the fire."

The controversy intensified Wednesday as Weiss and Pelley traded barbs through the press. In a staff call, Weiss said Pelley had broken a "foundation of trust and mutual respect" during his Monday confrontation with new executive producer Nick Bilton. She described the outcome as unfortunate but necessary.

Pelley rejected that account in a pointed response: "Bari Weiss knows what she said is not true. In the meeting on Tuesday, in which I was effectively fired, there was no effort of any kind to ‘find a way back,’ as Weiss said... At no point did anyone... suggest that there could be steps taken... Weiss and [CBS News President] Tom Cibrowski were openly hostile from the start. ‘Firing’ was raised by Cibrowski in the first 15 seconds."

Pelley had earlier leveled serious accusations at the heart of the program's credibility: "For my part, new management has instructed me to inject falsehoods and bias into a politically sensitive story. I’ve been told to include assertions that are unverified."

CBS News has declined to comment on Pelley's claims. The public back-and-forth, combined with months of layoffs and leadership changes, has raised broader doubts about whether audiences will accept the revamped "60 Minutes" when it returns in September.

Trump Abruptly Storms Off MTP Sit Down Interview

MTP Moderator Kristen Welker

President Donald Trump abruptly ended a pre-recorded interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker after roughly 50 minutes, citing repeated disruptions from rain pounding a metal barn roof and growing frustration during a tense exchange over election integrity claims.

The sit-down, conducted Friday, June 5, 2026, at Custer Farms in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, was arranged at the White House’s request and took place inside a barn before Trump appeared at a farming roundtable. Heavy rain created loud interruptions on the metal roof, delaying segments multiple times along with a technical issue.

Tense Exchange Leads to Early EndTrump became visibly frustrated during a back-and-forth on unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in California’s recent elections. When pressed by Welker for evidence, he responded combatively and criticized the press. He then ended the interview, walking out amid the ongoing rain noise and disagreements.

MUST WATCH: President Trump OBLITERATES Kristen Welker on Meet the Press, DROPS the mic on the ground, and then STORMS OUT of the interview. “You’re a one-sided crooked network. Sorry. Let’s call it quits because I’ve had enough. Thank you, darling. Have a good time.”

President… pic.twitter.com/TWsThbz3FA

— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) June 7, 2026

Key Comments on Iran

Trump stated that Iranian leaders have not yet agreed to terms because “they’re strong” and “they’re proud,” adding that they have “no choice” but to make a deal eventually after “47 years of getting away with whatever they wanted.” He emphasized that negotiations are advancing and the U.S. would assist in destroying enriched uranium under a potential agreement. He pushed back on characterizations of the conflict as a “forever war” or quagmire, insisting it would not drag on indefinitely and reiterating his campaign promise to avoid prolonged foreign entanglements.

Economy and Other Topics

• Addressing rising gas prices linked to the war, Trump predicted they would fall once a deal is reached. He praised new Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh as “fantastic” and said he did not want to exert big influence over interest rate decisions.
• Trump also defended a proposed “anti-weaponization” fund for victims of alleged politicized prosecutions, including openness to compensating certain Jan. 6 participants, while making unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud in California.

The interview highlighted Trump’s combative style, with reports noting tension and him criticizing the press during exchanges. It marks Welker’s fourth sit-down with Trump and comes as his administration navigates midterm pressures and foreign policy challenges.Full video and transcript are available on NBCNews.com.

MLB Blackouts To Get Worse, Before They Get Better

Major League Baseball’s first labor proposal includes an offer from owners that could eventually dismantle the territorial TV rights system responsible for out-of-market “blackouts,” allowing local team broadcasts to be consolidated into a single streaming service over time.

The Athletic reports the change would blur — and possibly eliminate — the frustrating “in-market” versus “out-of-market” distinction that currently forces fans to consult maps and juggle services just to watch their favorite team. Under the existing setup, fans inside a team’s territory cannot access that team’s games through MLB.tv, the league’s out-of-market streaming platform.However, the proposal does not create a simple, all-in-one solution. 

National broadcasts (on ESPN, NBC, Netflix, and similar platforms) would still require separate subscriptions. MLB also plans to significantly increase the number of nationally televised games starting in 2029 while reducing locally available ones. As a result, fans will likely continue needing multiple paid services to follow every game their team plays, regardless of the bargaining outcome.

The territorial system has long existed primarily for profit. By granting exclusive local broadcast rights, it has generated substantial revenue for teams, broadcasters, and cable/satellite providers — revenue that has helped fund rising player salaries. But with local TV deals declining in many markets, the league is now seeking a new model.

This proposal represents a potential first step toward modernizing how fans access games, though full relief from fragmented viewing remains complicated.

News Source Trust Diverges Sharply Along Partisan Lines

Trust in news sources diverges sharply along partisan lines in the United States, with Democrats far more likely than Republicans to trust major national outlets, according to Pew Research Center surveys.

Recent Pew data shows Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents express significantly higher trust in information from national news organizations. As of late 2025, 69% of Democrats report at least some trust in national news, compared to just 44% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents.

A June 2025 Pew analysis of 30 news sources highlights the divide: Democrats are more likely to trust and use outlets like ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, PBS, and NPR. Republicans are more likely to distrust these sources and instead place greater trust in Fox News, Newsmax, The Joe Rogan Experience, The Daily Wire, Tucker Carlson Network, and Breitbart.

Forbes and The Wall Street Journal stand out as the only two sources where both parties are more likely to trust than distrust them.

Trust in local news remains higher overall and shows a smaller partisan gap, with 78% of Democrats and 64% of Republicans expressing at least some trust. However, both sides have seen declines in recent years.

These patterns reflect a long-standing partisan polarization in media trust. Republicans’ confidence in national news has eroded particularly sharply since 2016, while Democrats maintain higher—but also declining—levels of trust in traditional outlets. The gaps influence news consumption habits, with each group favoring ideologically aligned sources.

Pew’s findings, drawn from multiple 2025 surveys, underscore how political affiliation remains one of the strongest predictors of media trust in the U.S.

YouTube Surpasses Netflix in Average Daily Usage

Google-owned YouTube has overtaken Netflix in average daily viewing time per account, according to new data from London-based analytics firm Digital i.

YouTube users now spend an average of 99.1 minutes per day on the platform, up from 87.2 minutes in 2024. Netflix’s daily average fell from 100.5 minutes to 93.4 minutes over the same period.The shift reflects YouTube’s growing dominance on TV screens, with its share of viewing time rising from 28% to 35% between January 2024 and December 2025, while mobile viewing declined from 35% to 31%. 

Audiences are increasingly treating YouTube as a primary entertainment destination rather than just social media.

YouTube has approximately 2.7 billion monthly active users worldwide, compared with Netflix’s 325 million paid subscribers and 780 million monthly active users. Netflix’s official channel remained the most-watched on YouTube in 2025, reaching 78.2 million unique accounts.

Gen Z continues to be YouTube’s most engaged audience, averaging 111 minutes daily. However, the strongest growth came from men aged 55-64, whose viewing time rose 15% year-over-year, alongside increases among women of all ages.

“YouTube’s evolution from a social video service into a dominant global attention platform is one of the defining media shifts of the decade,” said Matt Ross, Digital i’s chief analytics officer. “Our data shows audiences increasingly treating YouTube not as social media, but as a primary entertainment destination.”

Digital i’s analysis covers major markets including the United States, Canada, several Latin American countries, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and key European nations.

Report: ESPN Bracing For More Layoffs

ESPN is bracing for another round of layoffs this summer, sources told Front Office Sports.

The cuts are expected to affect both talents and non-camera-facing employees, sources said.

An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment.

One of the major factors is ESPN’s recent acquisition of NFL Network. While everyone employed at the formerly-league-owned network immediately made the jump as ESPN employees, corporate acquisitions frequently involve headcount trimming as efficiencies are evaluated.

This would be the second round of cuts in recent months, as about 30 off-camera workers were laid off this past spring. They were part of a round of company-wide layoffs at parent company Disney. Deadline previously reported that Disney’s layoffs might not be finished.

In a note to employees in April, Disney’s new CEO Josh D’Amaro hinted that there would be some looming job cuts.

“Given the fast-moving pace of our industries, this [streamlining of the business] requires us to constantly assess how to foster a more agile and technologically-enabled workforce to meet tomorrow’s needs,” he wrote. “As a result, we will be eliminating roles in some parts of the company and have begun notifying impacted employees.”

Annoying Kars4Kids Jingle is back

The long-running Kars4Kids jingle is back on the air in California after a court lifted a temporary ban, allowing the ads to continue while the charity appeals a false advertising ruling.

A California man sued Kars4Kids last month, claiming the ads misled donors by failing to disclose that car donations primarily benefit Oorah, a Jewish organization that funds youth trips to Israel and other religious programs. An Orange County court initially ruled the jingle violated California’s false advertising law and ordered it off the air. Kars4Kids appealed, and the court has now permitted the ads to resume during the appeals process.

“Kars4Kids applauds today’s court ruling allowing its ads to continue airing in California while the appeals process continues,” a spokesperson said. “The uninterrupted airing of its ads will enable the charity to continue funding its programs for children and families. We believe the lower court’s findings on the facts and the law were deeply flawed.”

The jingle, famous for nearly 30 years, has faced similar complaints before. In 2009, Oregon and Pennsylvania fined Kars4Kids $130,000 and required it to disclose its religious affiliations in future advertisements.

Kars4Kids has maintained that its website clearly states its Jewish affiliation. The organization says donations support programs for children and families, though funds have also gone toward a matchmaking program for Jewish young adults and the purchase of a $16.5 million building in Israel.

The jingle could be removed again depending on the final outcome of the appeal. For now, it will remain part of California radio broadcasts.

Radio History: June 8

➦In 1947...Lassie debuted on ABC radio. It was a 15-minute radio juvenile adventure program. It was broadcast on ABC from June 8, 1947 until May 30, 1948, and on NBC from June 5, 1948, until May 27, 1950.

➦In 1967...The Beatles thematic album 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' quickly climbed to number one after being released just a week earlier. It was their 8th studio album and spent 15 weeks at number one in the U-S.  In the U-K,  the album went to #1 after just one week, where it remained for an incredible 27 weeks. It was the first album to print the lyrics on the sleeve.

It was lauded by critics for its innovations in production, songwriting and graphic design, for bridging a cultural divide between popular music and high art, and for providing a musical representation of its generation and the contemporary counterculture. It won four Grammy Awards in 1968, including Album of the Year, the first rock LP to receive this honor.

➤In 1988...Billboard Blast From The Past....

➦In 2011…Former Detroit Tigers outfielder and broadcaster Jim Northrup died of complications from Alzheimer's disease at age 71.

Chuck Negron is 83

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

• Singer Nancy Sinatra is 86. 
• Singer Boz Scaggs is 82. 
• Actor Kathy Baker (“Picket Fences”) is 76. 
• Actor Sonia Braga is 76. 
• Singer Bonnie Tyler is 75. 
• Actor Griffin Dunne is 71. 
• Actor-director Keenan Ivory Wayans is 68. 
• Singer Mick Hucknall of Simply Red is 66. 
• Keyboardist Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran is 64. 
• Singer Doris Pearson of Five Star is 60. 
• Actor Julianna Margulies (“The Good Wife,” ″ER”) is 59. 
• Actor Dan Futterman (“Judging Amy”) is 59. 
• Actor David Sutcliffe (“Private Practice,” “Gilmore Girls”) is 57. 
• Actor Kent Faulcon (“Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse”) is 56. 
• Singer Nicci Gilbert of Brownstone is 56. 
• Actor Kelli Williams (“The Practice”) is 56. 
• Actor Mark Feuerstein (“West Wing,” ″Good Morning, Miami”) is 55. 
• Guitarist Mike Scheuchzer of MercyMe is 51. 
• Actor Eion Bailey (“Once Upon a Time”) is 50. 
• Rapper Ye (formerly Kanye West) is 49. 
• TV personality Maria Menounos is 48. 
• Singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson is 48. 
• Guitarist Derek Trucks (Allman Brother Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band) is 47. 
• Singer Alex Band of The Calling is 45. 
• Fiddler Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek is 45. 
• Actor Torrey DeVitto (“Pretty Little Liars”) is 42.

✞REMEMBRANCES

• In 1982..Satchel Paige, American Baseball HOF pitcher (6 x Negro League, 2 x MLB All Star; World Series 1948 Cleveland Indians), dies of a heart attack at 75
• In 2001..Nathaniel Rochester, American computer scientist (chief architect of the IBM 701), dies at 82
• In 2010..Crispian St. Peters [Robin Peter Smith], British pop singer (The Pied Piper; No No No), dies at 71
• In 2020..2020 Bonnie Pointer, American pop and R&B singer (The Pointer Sisters - "Jump"; "I'm So Excited"), dies at 69
• In 2023..Pat Robertson, American Baptist televangelist (700 Club), media mogul (CBN), and politician (Presidential candidate-R-1989), dies at 93