This Vox article discusses allegations that Paramount, the parent company of CBS News, is censoring 60 Minutes' coverage to appease the Trump administration. Scott Pelley, a 60 Minutes journalist, suggests this increased scrutiny is linked to Paramount's desire for FCC approval of its merger with Skydance Media.
The article highlights President Trump's call for CBS's punishment due to a 60 Minutes episode he disliked, and his lawsuit against CBS and Paramount over a Kamala Harris interview. Paramount's consideration of settling the lawsuit, despite its flimsy legal basis, further fuels concerns.
FCC chair Brendan Carr, a Trump ally, has a history of accusing major networks of anti-Trump bias and vaguely threatened another company's broadcast license. The FCC's inquiry into CBS' campaign coverage adds to the pressure.
The article argues that if the FCC considers CBS' coverage of Trump in its merger decision, it would constitute government threat of financial penalties for disfavored political speech—a violation of the First Amendment. This situation echoes practices in autocratic regimes.
While the article doesn't definitively prove censorship, the confluence of Trump's actions, Paramount's concerns, and the FCC's inquiry raises significant questions about media independence and the potential chilling effect on critical journalism.