Bulwark Takes Was This A Bribe! CBS' $16 Million Surrender To Trump Is Complete
Jul 2, 2025
Max Tani, a media reporter for Semaphore, dives into the controversial $16 million settlement between Trump and Paramount/CBS regarding the editing of a 60 Minutes segment. He discusses how this payout could be seen as a bribe, fueling allegations of media bias. The conversation explores the challenges major news organizations face in maintaining journalistic integrity amid corporate pressures and examines the implications for trust in traditional media versus alternative outlets. Tani also highlights the broader impact of such settlements on political discourse.
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News Distortion Lawsuit Uncommon
- Trump's lawsuit sued for "news distortion," a rarely used legal theory, not defamation.
- 60 Minutes editing was standard journalistic practice, yet the lawsuit pressured a costly settlement.
Settlement Influenced by Business Deals
- Paramount paid $16 million to settle despite likely winning in court.
- The payout appears linked to the pending $30 billion Skydance merger approval.
Settlements Don't End Conflicts
- Settlements like this don't stop regulatory scrutiny or prevent future lawsuits.
- Trump could sue again anytime, creating ongoing risk for media companies.