Despite private cautions from Paramount executives and host Scott Pelley’s own on‑air admission that political pieces were being “supervised,” CBS’s flagship newsmagazine aired a hard‑hitting segment on President Donald Trump that has sent shockwaves through both Washington and the network.
Insiders say Paramount Global, eager to secure FCC approval for its $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, had urged “60 Minutes” to tread lightly on any stories involving the Trump administration. But on May 4, the program ran an investigative report dissecting Trump’s use of executive orders to target law firms, featuring interviews with former campaign lawyer Marc Elias and excerpts from the now‑famous $20 billion lawsuit Trump filed against CBS over a 2024 Kamala Harris interview.
In a final segment of the news magazine show, Scott Pelley revealed that Paramount “began to supervise our content in new ways.” https://twitter.com/WXOW/status/1916929923052130785— WXOW 19 News (@WXOW) April 28, 2025
During the broadcast, Pelley prefaced the Trump exposé with a rare on‑air critique of his bosses: “Our parent company is pursuing a merger that requires this administration’s approval,” he said. “Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways—none of our stories have been blocked, but our independence was compromised.”
The segment delved into Trump’s controversial orders against Perkins Coie and other firms, with Democratic attorney Marc Elias warning that such actions threaten the “rule of law” and could pave the way for authoritarian control. “Today it’s law firms; tomorrow it could be contracts or elections,” Elias cautioned.
“60 Minutes” host Scott Pelley rebukes CBS’s parent company on air for capitulating to Trump. https://twitter.com/BTnewsroom/status/1916906875330630060— BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) April 28, 2025
Veteran executive producer Bill Owens resigned just days earlier, citing a “loss of editorial autonomy” amid what he called “unprecedented corporate oversight.” His departure underscored growing fears that news distortion complaints and high‑stakes legal battles could chill fearless reporting.
Viewers on social media were quick to praise the show’s defiance. One X user quipped, “They risked the merger to serve the truth—now that’s journalism.” Meanwhile, critics accuse CBS of drawing out the segment as a publicity stunt to boost ratings.
“Pelley’s on‑air warning was the most honest thing we’ve heard on TV in years.” https://twitter.com/LaMondROCKS/status/1916812086652407875— John LaMond (@LaMondROCKS) April 28, 2025
As Paramount and Trump’s legal teams prepare to enter mediation, CBS executives face a tough choice: yield to political and corporate pressure or continue the network’s legacy of unflinching investigative reporting.
