What would Edward R. Murrow think of CBS parent company caving in to Donald Trump?
But no doubt some measure of
the success of the play is also rooted in its relevance and resonance today.
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Murrow enhanced his credibility, and that of CBS, and showcased journalistic and personal courage by exposing McCarthy's anti-communist witch hunt as a reckless abuse of civil liberties and civility.
Murrow wouldn't back down in the face of McCarthy's threats or pressure from his corporate bosses after the loss of a major network sponsor.
Given all this, one has to wonder what Murrow would make of the decision by Paramount, CBS' parent company, to
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Trump's lawyer had claimed Trump suffered 'mental anguish' from a '60 Minutes' interview last October of then-Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump's Democratic opponent in the presidential election.
Trump and his lawyers maintained the editing of the interview made Harris appear more coherent and intelligent than she really is, that it amounted to false advertising, or deceptive trade practices.
Trump attorney Edward Andrew Paltzik said that beyond the mental anguish the interview caused Trump, it misled voters and led them to pay less attention to him and his regular assertions on Truth Social.
How Counselor Paltzik would prove this in a court of law where there are, unlike on Truth Social, rules of evidence would have made for some entertaining lawyering.
Alas, we'll never know. While CBS and Paramount initially came out swinging, insisting Trump's case was entirely without merit, the beancounters had the final say, as they are wont to do.
Paramount caving isn't very surprising, if still very depressing. Paramount chair and controlling shareholder Shari Redstone had made it clear she favored a settlement. Surely, her position had nothing to do with the fact that the
Meeting with shareholders Wednesday, George Cheeks, Paramount's co-CEO,
Somehow, Mr. Cheeks did not find the time to mention the word principle. My only surprise is that he didn't try to suggest the capitulation constituted a bargain, given that
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In a statement announcing the settlement, Paramount executives went to great length to portray their actions as somehow not amounting to a capitulation, pointing out that, aside from paying Trump's legal fees, the $16 million goes not to Trump but the fund to build his presidential library. Oh, and they were not required to apologize to Trump.
They might want to apologize to Murrow's memory and current 60 Minutes correspondents and viewers. In May, those
CBS is hardly the only media giant to turtle in its shell rather than stand up to a bully. Last year, ABC's parent company, Disney, agreed to donate $15 million to Trump's presidential library rather than go to trial after Trump sued them for defamation. Trump's claim was based on the fact that ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos had said on air that Trump had been found liable for rape when he was actually found liable for sexual abuse.
At the time, media law experts had warned that Disney's capitulation to Trump would embolden him and others to file dubious lawsuits against media companies that would rather settle than go all the way to trial.
One month later,
So, if you're keeping score at home, Trump has taken $56 million off craven media companies who don't have the guts to take him on in court. He'd be a fool to not keep suing.
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US Senator Elizabeth Warren has likened these payoffs to bribes. She wants
US Senator Ed Markey called Paramount's settlement 'a blow to journalistic independence.'
US Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont didn't pull any punches.
'It is a dark day for independent journalism and freedom of the press, an essential part of our democracy,' Sanders said. 'It is a victory for a president who is attempting to stifle dissent and undermine American democracy.'
Congress can investigate all it wants. Nothing will change until the big media companies care more about their audiences than their shareholders. Meaning nothing will change.
All this on the eve of July 4th, when we celebrate our country's independence, an independence that was underwritten by a free press which today is demonstrably less free that it was just a year ago.
Good night, and good luck.
Kevin Cullen is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at
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Hamilton Spectator
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The meeting also represents an opportunity to advance climate negotiations and commitments on protecting the environment before November's COP 30 climate talks in the Amazonian city of Belem . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
San Francisco Chronicle
2 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Brazil hosts BRICS summit, eager to avoid provoking Trump's ire
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil will play host to a summit of the BRICS bloc of developing economies Sunday and Monday during which pressing topics like Israel's attack on Iran, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and trade tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to be handled with caution. Analysts and diplomats said the lack of cohesion in an enlarged BRICS, which doubled in size last year, may affect its ability to become another pole in world affairs. They also see the summit's moderate agenda as an attempt by member countries to stay off Trump's radar. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will have some of his priorities, such as debates on artificial intelligence and climate change, front and center for the talks with key leaders not in attendance. China's President Xi Jinping won't attend a BRICS summit for the first time since he became his country's leader in 2012. 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2 hours ago
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Brazil hosts BRICS summit, eager to avoid provoking Trump's ire
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Consequently, observers expect a vague final declaration regarding Russia's war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East. As well as suiting Brazil, a watered-down and non-controversial statement may be made easier by the absences of Putin and Xi, Stuenkel said. Those two countries have pushed for a stronger anti-Western stance, as opposed to Brazil and India that prefer non-alignment. A Brazilian government official told The Associated Press Thursday that the group is expected to produce three joint statements and a final declaration, 'all of which less bounded by current geopolitical tensions.' The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the summit's preparations. João Alfredo Nyegray, an international business and geopolitics professor at the Pontifical Catholic University in Parana, said the summit could have played a role in showing an alternative to an unstable world, but won't do so. 'The withdrawal of Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the uncertainty about the level of representation for countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are confirming the difficulty for the BRICS to establish themselves as a cohesive pole of global leadership,' Nyegray said. 'This moment demands high level articulation, but we are actually seeing dispersion.' Brazil, the country that chairs the bloc, has picked six strategic priorities for the summit: global cooperation in healthcare; trade, investment and finance; climate change; governance for artificial intelligence; peace-making and security; and institutional development. It has decided to focus on less controversial issues, such as promoting trade relations between members and global health, after Trump returned to the White House, said Ana Garcia, a professor at the Rio de Janeiro Federal Rural University. 'Brazil wants the least amount of damage possible and to avoid drawing the attention of the Trump administration to prevent any type of risk to the Brazilian economy,' Garcia said. While Brazil will continue to advocate for the reform of Western-led global institutions, a cornerstone policy of the group, the country wants to avoid becoming the target of tariffs — a predicament it has so far largely escaped. Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs against the bloc if they take any moves to undermine the dollar. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Egypt's Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi will also be absent. Those two countries joined the BRICS in 2024, alongside Ethiopia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has been invited and is participating in member discussions, but it has yet to send its confirmation letter. As well as new members, the bloc has 10 strategic partner countries, a category created at last year's summit that includes Belarus, Cuba and Vietnam. That rapid expansion led Brazil to put housekeeping issues — officially termed institutional development — on the agenda to better integrate new members and boost internal cohesion. Despite notable absences, the summit is important for attendees, especially in the context of instability provoked by Trump's tariff wars, said Bruce Scheidl, a researcher at the University of Sao Paulo's BRICS study group. 'The summit offers the best opportunity for emerging countries to respond, in the sense of seeking alternatives and diversifying their economic partnerships,' Scheidl said. For Lula, the summit will be a welcome pause from a difficult domestic scenario, marked by a drop in popularity and conflict with Congress. The meeting also represents an opportunity to advance climate negotiations and commitments on protecting the environment before November's COP 30 climate talks in the Amazonian city of Belem.
