CBS’s Capitulation: Colbert Mocks $30M Trump Settlement
Stephen Colbert, the late-night television host, recently heaped scorn on Paramount, the company that signs his paycheck, for caving in to President Trump’s election interference lawsuit related to an interview on ’60 Minutes.’ This notable smackdown occurred despite both ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ and ’60 Minutes’ being broadcast on CBS, owned by Paramount. Colbert mockingly suggested that ‘big fat bribe’ is the legally accurate term for such questionable financial engagement with a reigning government official, especially as Paramount’s proprietors sought approval from the Trump administration to sell CBS to Skydance.
Paramount, the parent body of CBS, on July 1, shockingly agreed to pay a potentially whopping sum exceeding $30 million to appease President Trump and settle the lawsuit he filed against the network for purported election interference. Colbert, amidst uncontrollable laughter, quipped that Paramount’s official response was akin to saying, ‘Take our money, but our dignity is not for sale. However, you can purchase it for a mere $16 million; we urgently need the cash!’
A variety of media pundits predict that once Skydance acquires CBS, their desire to win Trump’s approval might exert pressure on Stephen Colbert, known for his frequent and sharp criticisms of Trump. Colbert responded to this by theatrically stroking his mustache.
In his lawsuit, Trump claimed a staggering $20 billion from CBS over their management of a ’60 Minutes’ interview in the previous year with then-Vice-President Kamala Harris, alleging it influenced the 2024 election. CBS, in settling the suit, did not admit any unchecked bias or disreputable journalism practices, much to the chagrin of its employees and supporters.
The lawsuit alleged that CBS News, blatantly manipulated an interaction that Kamala Harris had with ’60 Minutes’ correspondent Bill Whitaker. In this edited broadcast, Whitaker queried Harris as to why Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu was seemingly inattentive to the Biden administration. Harris’ response, which was far from articulate or coherent, aired in a preview clip of the interview on CBS’ ‘Face the Nation.’ However, the edited content presented during the ’60 Minutes’ primetime special showed her delivering a far more succinct and pointed response.
Earlier in the year, Colbert had criticized Paramount’s management for allegedly having succumbed to pressure from controlling shareholder Shari Redstone, leading to compromised coverage of President Trump during the continuing lawsuit.
The settlement left CBS staff in a state of fury and disbelief. Expectedly, this move also generated vehement opposition from media watchdogs, journalism support groups, liberal journalists, and perhaps unsurprisingly, Democratic lawmakers.
Sen. Bernie Sanders designated this verdict an ‘extremely dangerous precedent,’ emphasizing the negative implications for both First Amendment freedoms and the risk of institutional coercion by the government. Furthermore, Sen. Ron Wyden went on to accuse Paramount of accepting a ‘bribe’, ominously suggesting the possibility of subsequent federal charges.