Paramount Global just handed President Donald Trump a massive win, settling his $20 billion lawsuit against CBS with a payout that’s raising eyebrows and tempers.
Fox News reported that the deal, finalized Tuesday, has conservatives cheering a rare media accountability moment, while others cry foul over press freedom. It’s a messy clash of power, money, and principle that’s got everyone talking.
Trump’s lawsuit accused CBS News of editing a "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris to polish her image, a claim many legal experts dismissed as flimsy.
Paramount Global and CBS settled this election interference suit, reportedly for over $30 million, to avoid a drawn-out legal battle. The settlement, which includes $16 million for Trump’s future presidential library, has sparked a firestorm of criticism from media watchdogs and CBS staffers alike.
Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, is said to have pushed for the settlement to smooth the path for a merger with Skydance Media. She recused herself from negotiations in February, leaving the deal’s details to others. The move has some wondering if corporate interests trumped journalistic integrity.
CBS staffers are livid, joined by journalism advocacy groups like the ACLU and PEN America, who see the settlement as a betrayal of press freedom.
“Paramount’s capitulation was craven,” said Ben Wizner of the ACLU, lamenting the loss of an independent press. But conservatives argue the media’s been dodging accountability for too long, and Trump’s win is a step toward fairness.
The settlement doesn’t include an apology from CBS, nor an admission of wrongdoing. Instead, CBS agreed to update its editorial standards, promising unedited transcripts of future presidential candidate interviews. Critics say this concession is a weak attempt to save face after caving to pressure.
Paramount’s spokesperson defended the decision, saying settlements avoid “unpredictable costs” and keep the company focused on its goals. That pragmatic excuse hasn’t quelled the outrage from those who see it as a dangerous precedent. Sen. Bernie Sanders called it “extremely dangerous” for the First Amendment, a rare point where left and right agree on the stakes.
The Freedom of the Press Foundation, a Paramount shareholder, isn’t letting this slide, filing a shareholder demand to probe the settlement’s decision-making process.
“We are not done fighting,” said Seth Stern of the FPF, vowing to hold Paramount’s directors accountable. Their second demand aims to uncover whether the Skydance merger influenced the payout.
A source close to Paramount’s leadership confirmed only $16 million was officially sanctioned, with no direct link to the Skydance deal. Yet incoming owner Skydance Media will foot the bill for an additional eight-figure sum tied to conservative causes. The lack of transparency fuels suspicions of backroom deals.
Sen. Ron Wyden accused Paramount of paying a “bribe” to grease the merger’s FCC approval, a charge that stings with plausibility. Jim Acosta piled on, calling it a “shameful bribe” that “stinks to high heaven.” For conservatives, though, it’s less about bribes and more about a media giant finally facing consequences.
Trump’s legal team crowed about the “record settlement,” claiming it proves CBS’s deceit. “President Trump will always ensure no one gets away with lying,” they said, framing it as a victory for truth. But the celebration ignores the broader chill this could cast over journalism, as media outlets brace for more lawsuits.
Bob Corn-Revere of FIRE warned that “behavior that gets rewarded gets repeated,” predicting more frivolous suits from Trump.
He pointed to the FCC’s role in reviewing the Paramount-Skydance merger as a pressure point Trump exploited. The settlement, he argues, makes the government the media’s de facto editor.
Tim Richardson of PEN America called it a “spineless capitulation” that emboldens politicians to weaponize lawsuits. “Paramount chose appeasement to bolster its finances,” he said, highlighting the corporate cowardice at play. Yet conservatives like Tim Young of the Heritage Foundation see it differently, insisting the media’s lies justified the payout.
This isn’t the first time a network has buckled under Trump’s legal pressure. ABC settled a defamation suit in December for $15 million after George Stephanopoulos’s false claim about Trump’s civil trial liability. The pattern suggests a troubling trend where media giants prioritize wallets over principles.
Young, however, doubts this marks a turning point, noting legacy media’s “continuous lies” in coverage. “They wouldn’t have settled had Trump not won,” he said, tying the outcome to political leverage. His skepticism resonates with conservatives who feel the media’s bias remains unchecked.
