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Trump's Mob-like Shakedown: A Scandal Starring "60 Minutes," Paramount, and the FCC - David Corn
Once upon a time, but not so long ago, if an American president was involved with a company that had vital business before a federal agency, it would be expected that the chief executive would steer clear of all government deliberations about that firm and that his political appointees at this department would hand over the matter to career officials. But no more.
In yet one more chapter of the never-ending tale of brazen Trump corruption, the Federal Communications Commission chairman whom Trump installed, Brendan Carr, is overseeing both an investigation of CBS News and the ongoing $8 billion sale of the network’s parent corporation, Paramount, to Skydance Media—while simultaneously Trump is suing CBS News for $20 billion, alleging 60 Minutes deceptively edited an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris during last year’s presidential campaign.
Ponder this convoluted circumstance for a moment.
Carr, a MAGA ideologue who wears a gold lapel pin in the shape of Trump’s profile, has to okay the Paramount-Skydance deal for it to be consummated because it involves the transfer of CBS broadcast licenses. And at the same time, Trump is negotiating a settlement with Paramount over his absolutely frivolous lawsuit against CBS News. If there’s no firewall between Trump and the FCC—and there isn’t, with Carr at its helm—Paramount has a powerful incentive to reach an agreement with Trump in order to gain approval from Carr for this mega-sale that would net mogul Shari Redstone’s family holding company, which controls Paramount, $2.4 billion.
Redstone herself will reportedly pocket over $500 million if the deal is okayed by the Trump administration. She recently recused herself from deliberations regarding the Trump-CBS News lawsuit, but she has certainly signaled her wish for the company to reach a settlement with Trump, which would probably entail some concessions from Paramount, including perhaps a payment to Trump and possibly an admission of wrongdoing. Many legal experts have declared that Trump’s lawsuit is without merit and that CBS News can easily win in court. Still, Paramount, by engaging in negotiations with Trump, has showed it would rather bend than battle while approval for the sale is pending.
In yet one more chapter of the never-ending tale of brazen Trump corruption, the Federal Communications Commission chairman whom Trump installed, Brendan Carr, is overseeing both an investigation of CBS News and the ongoing $8 billion sale of the network’s parent corporation, Paramount, to Skydance Media—while simultaneously Trump is suing CBS News for $20 billion, alleging 60 Minutes deceptively edited an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris during last year’s presidential campaign.
Ponder this convoluted circumstance for a moment.
Carr, a MAGA ideologue who wears a gold lapel pin in the shape of Trump’s profile, has to okay the Paramount-Skydance deal for it to be consummated because it involves the transfer of CBS broadcast licenses. And at the same time, Trump is negotiating a settlement with Paramount over his absolutely frivolous lawsuit against CBS News. If there’s no firewall between Trump and the FCC—and there isn’t, with Carr at its helm—Paramount has a powerful incentive to reach an agreement with Trump in order to gain approval from Carr for this mega-sale that would net mogul Shari Redstone’s family holding company, which controls Paramount, $2.4 billion.
Redstone herself will reportedly pocket over $500 million if the deal is okayed by the Trump administration. She recently recused herself from deliberations regarding the Trump-CBS News lawsuit, but she has certainly signaled her wish for the company to reach a settlement with Trump, which would probably entail some concessions from Paramount, including perhaps a payment to Trump and possibly an admission of wrongdoing. Many legal experts have declared that Trump’s lawsuit is without merit and that CBS News can easily win in court. Still, Paramount, by engaging in negotiations with Trump, has showed it would rather bend than battle while approval for the sale is pending.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/05/trump-paramount-skydance-60-minutes-cbs-brendan-carr-fcc-bill-owens/