President Trump and CBS are set for mediation in the hopes of bringing an end to the president’s massive defamation lawsuit against the company.
Paramount Global and representatives for President Donald Trump are scheduled to meet before a mediator on Wednesday in an effort to resolve Trump’s $20 billion lawsuit against CBS, according to sources familiar with the matter. The mediation session comes at a pivotal time for Paramount, as the company seeks federal approval for its $8 billion merger with Skydance Media.
Donald Trump clasps hands with Sylvester Stallone – YouTube, SkyNews Australia
At the center of the lawsuit is a 60 Minutes interview conducted with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in October 2024. Trump’s legal team claims that CBS deceptively edited Harris’ responses to portray her more favorably during the closing stages of the presidential election. Trump has demanded a retraction from CBS and has suggested that the network’s broadcast license could be at risk.
Paramount has not publicly commented on the mediation, though a spokesman did not deny its scheduled occurrence. Trump’s legal representatives similarly declined to respond. Industry insiders suggest that resolving the lawsuit could help accelerate regulatory approval for the Skydance merger, which is currently under review by Trump-appointed leadership at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Shari Redstone, controlling shareholder of Paramount Global, has reportedly signaled her desire to settle the case. Sources indicate that Redstone has been working to meet other expectations set by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, including assurances that CBS will comply with fairness standards required of broadcasters who use public airwaves.
The logo for 60 Minutes – YouTube, CBS Evening News
Carr has emphasized that networks must refrain from political bias in their news coverage to maintain their licenses. These regulatory expectations are now part of broader discussions surrounding the Skydance merger, as the FCC scrutinizes CBS’s adherence to public interest obligations. Paramount leadership appears to view settlement with Trump and meeting regulatory expectations as key steps toward finalizing the deal.
While legal experts have expressed skepticism about the strength of Trump’s lawsuit—noting that proving tangible election-related damages would be challenging given Trump’s 2024 victory—the political and regulatory context around the case has raised the stakes significantly. Even a modest settlement could help clear regulatory hurdles more quickly.
According to sources, Redstone is hoping for a resolution similar to previous defamation cases, such as ABC’s $16 million settlement with Trump’s legal team over inaccurate reporting. However, the exact demands on the table, including whether an apology from CBS might be required, remain unclear.
“Vaulting Ambition” — Episode 112 — Pictured: Michelle Yeoh as Philippa Georgiou of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. Photo Cr: Ben Mark Holzberg/CBS é 2017 CBS Interactive. All Rights Reserved.
The mediation follows a series of rapid developments within CBS and its parent company. Earlier this week, CBS Studios quietly settled a discrimination lawsuit filed by freelance writer Brian Beneker, who alleged that he was denied a permanent position on SEAL Team due to CBS’s internal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. While the terms of the settlement remain confidential, reports suggest that it included a financial payout to Beneker. No official retraction or rollback of CBS’s DEI initiatives has been announced publicly.
That settlement marked a significant moment, as it represented one of the first successful legal challenges from a White professional alleging discriminatory treatment based on DEI-focused hiring practices within a major entertainment company.
Bill Owens, the former producer of 60 minutes – YouTube, CBS Evening News
Compounding the sense of upheaval at CBS, longtime 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens announced his resignation on Tuesday. In a memo to staff, Owens cited a loss of editorial independence, stating, “Over the past months, it has become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it, to make independent decisions based on what was right for 60 Minutes, right for the audience.”
Owens’ departure comes amid mounting internal speculation that Shari Redstone and CBS leadership were dissatisfied with the network’s handling of recent news coverage, particularly surrounding the Harris interview and other political reporting. Sources within CBS suggest that Owens stepped down under pressure, though CBS has publicly praised his leadership and contributions.
Owens, only the third person to lead 60 Minutes in its 57-year history, will stay on through the end of the current season. Tanya Simon, daughter of the late 60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon, will serve as interim executive producer.
Bill Owens, the former producer of 60 minutes – YouTube, CBS Evening News
The overlapping legal disputes, settlements, and leadership changes suggest a broader recalibration at CBS as Paramount works to secure its future. With Trump’s FCC taking a more aggressive approach toward corporate media oversight, the network’s actions in the coming weeks could shape not only the outcome of its merger but also its standing in an increasingly scrutinized media landscape.
A source involved in the Skydance transaction summed up the stakes: “Finally we can see light at the end of the tunnel. But the price might be high.”
William Shatner as James T. Kirk in Star Trek Generations (1996), Paramount Pictures
The outcome of Wednesday’s CBS Trump mediation could play a critical role in determining whether Paramount’s future remains tied to the Skydance merger—and whether CBS can weather the internal and external pressures it now faces.
Do you believe the Trump CBS mediation will finally bring this saga to a close? Sound off in the comments below and let us know your thoughts!
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Paramount has to negotiate a settlement that won’t upend the merger. Also, whatever amount is paid out will come out of Shari Redstone’s $2.4 billion portion of the $8 billion Skydance is paying, given this is her responsibility. It’s karmic, really. She was the one who mucked up the merger for years prior by demanding insane buyout prices. If she can’t settle, the ensuing lawsuit promises to destroy the merger and cost Paramount and CBS a lot more than money. The most obvious being the FCC revokes their news credentials.
If CBS loses their news credentials, they’ll be limited to prerecorded videos online and hit piece articles as well as losing press passes to everything. No “broadcasts,” no more access to events as they happen, it would destroy their news network.