Colbert Speaks Out Against CBS Over Trump Lawsuit
CBS corporate pressures '60 Minutes' is addressed by Colbert
Stephen Colbert, host of Late Night, didn't shy away from calling out CBS, his employer, in a recent conversation with MSNBC host Rachel Maddow. The controversy surrounds President Donald Trump's lawsuit against their parent company, Paramount Global, over an edited "60 Minutes" interview.
In the conversation, Colbert brought up reports that Shari Redstone, controlling shareholder of Paramount, put pressure on "60 Minutes" to tone down negative coverage of Trump, allegedly stating "You've got to get the news to lay off any bad Trump stories." However, Colbert mentioned that "there's word" that this message did not reach the news division.
Maddow responded by praising CBS' leadership for hearing about the alleged political pressure and ensuring their employees were not affected. She also revealed that she will now return to hosting her MSNBC program once a week, with MSNBC host Jen Psaki taking over the 9 PM slot Tuesday through Friday.
Trump's lawsuit seeks $20 billion from CBS News and its parent company, alleging election interference through deceptive editing in an interview with Harris in the lead up to the presidential election. Since the legal dispute between the two parties, mediation has been underway in hopes of reaching a settlement.
Several experts have questioned the lawsuit's validity, labeling it "frivolous" due to the freedom of speech and press protections in place for journalists. Mediation sessions began in late April 2025, with no official announcement on its outcome. While the lawsuit remains unresolved, the controversy surrounding CBS and Trump's claims is gaining attention in the media.
Hanna Panreck, an associate editor at Digital, contributed to this report.
[1] Background and Origins, Legal Arguments and Nature of the Claim, Current Status and Mediation, Summary Table – Enrichment Data.
- Colbert, during his Late Night show, has shown his dissent towards CBS over the lawsuit filed by President Trump, alluding to alleged political pressure on the news division.
- The controversy revolves around Trump's $20 billion lawsuit against CBS News and Paramount Global, alleging election interference through deceptive edits in an interview prior to the presidential election.
- The mediation sessions aimed at settling the dispute began in late April 2025, but no official resolution has been announced as yet.
- Experts have labeled Trump's lawsuit as "frivolous," given the freedom of speech and press protections for journalists.
- Amidst this, the general news landscape has been fascinated by the unfolding controversy between CBS and Trump's claims.
- As the entertainment world keeps a close eye on the ongoing court case, it also serves as a platform for discussions on policies and legislation related to entertainment, celebrities, and journalism.
