Mediation is scheduled to begin this Wednesday between lawyers representing former President Donald Trump and Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS News, concerning a lawsuit filed by Trump. The suit alleges that the program ‘60 Minutes’ deceptively edited an interview involving Trump’s 2024 Democratic rival, Kamala Harris.
Although legal analysts widely view the lawsuit as lacking merit and favoring CBS for an easy win, Paramount is approaching the mediation prepared to negotiate a possible resolution.
During a board meeting on April 18, Paramount’s directors established acceptable financial parameters for a potential settlement with Trump, based on accounts from individuals familiar with the discussions. While the specific settlement amounts have not been disclosed, the board’s decision effectively opens the door for an out-of-court agreement.
Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, has voiced support for settling the dispute. She stands to benefit significantly from an imminent sale of Paramount to the Hollywood studio Skydance, a transaction requiring approval from the Trump administration. Redstone has informed the board that she will recuse herself from any deliberations concerning the lawsuit.
Paramount has declined to provide a public comment on the matter.
Paramount’s willingness to settle has caused unease within CBS News, particularly among the staff of ‘60 Minutes,’ the network’s flagship weekly news program. Shortly after the board’s April 18 meeting, Bill Owens, the show’s executive producer, resigned abruptly, citing concerns about threats to the program’s journalistic independence and stating that Paramount ‘is done with me.’
Owens’ departure sent ripples throughout the media landscape, which has been increasingly targeted by legal and rhetorical challenges from Trump. These include lawsuits against various networks, threats to revoke broadcast licenses, and barring reporters from certain news outlets from attending White House events.
In a related development, ABC News, owned by the Walt Disney Company, settled a defamation lawsuit filed by Trump in December for $16 million, a case many legal experts deemed frivolous. This settlement foreshadowed a series of other prominent agreements involving corporate law firms and major academic institutions.
Within ‘60 Minutes,’ Owens confided to colleagues about mounting pressure from Paramount in recent months. In January, Redstone expressed dissatisfaction to CBS executives regarding a ‘60 Minutes’ segment about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Subsequently, a senior CBS News executive was tasked with reviewing upcoming ‘60 Minutes’ stories related to the Middle East or the Trump administration.
Although no segments were ultimately canceled, Owens was troubled by this new oversight. ‘60 Minutes’ has traditionally operated with a high degree of autonomy from the broader CBS News division, and Owens warned his team that this additional layer of scrutiny could lead to a precarious precedent.
Tensions escalated again on April 13 when ‘60 Minutes’ aired reports on Trump’s efforts to claim Greenland and a confrontation in the Oval Office with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump responded angrily on social media, calling for sanctions against ‘60 Minutes,’ CBS, and Paramount for what he described as unlawful conduct.
Alarmed by Trump’s social media outburst, Redstone requested a briefing from Paramount co-CEO George Cheeks regarding politically sensitive segments scheduled for the remainder of the ‘60 Minutes’ season, which concludes in May, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Redstone voiced concerns about several upcoming stories and urged Cheeks to ensure the news division maintained fairness toward those featured. However, ‘60 Minutes’ did not alter its planned content following her comments.
By this point, Owens had decided that remaining at ‘60 Minutes’ was no longer sustainable. Redstone’s inquiry into future segments contributed to his decision to resign sooner, partly to draw public attention and discourage further interference by Paramount in the show’s editorial independence.
Owens announced his resignation during an emotional meeting last Tuesday, where correspondent Lesley Stahl became visibly moved and Owens struggled to speak. He acknowledged, “It’s clear that I’ve become the problem — I’m the corporation’s problem,” referencing the increased oversight. Owens lamented the presence of a ‘minder’ and implied Redstone’s involvement, stating, “In a million years, the corporation didn’t know what was coming up.”
The tension over corporate influence surfaced during the show’s Sunday broadcast when correspondent Scott Pelley, a former CBS Evening News anchor and longtime ally of Owens, told viewers that Owens had resigned because he “felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires.” Pelley openly criticized Paramount’s role.
Concerns about interference remain palpable within ‘60 Minutes’ offices in midtown Manhattan.
This week, several producers expressed worries that corporate executives might intervene in an upcoming segment exploring conflicts between major law firms and the Trump administration, according to individuals familiar with the discussions.
That segment, hosted by Scott Pelley, is expected to air as early as this Sunday.
