Paramount in Talks to Settle Trump's $10 Billion Lawsuit Over 60 Minutes Interview

Paramount in Talks to Settle Trump's $10 Billion Lawsuit

Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, is considering settling a $10 billion lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump. The lawsuit stems from a 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris that Trump claims was manipulated to make him look bad.

The potential settlement comes as Paramount seeks to merge with Skydance Media. This deal requires approval from the FCC, which is now led by Trump-appointed Brendan Carr. Carr has already indicated that the 60 Minutes interview with Harris would be part of the agency's review of the merger.

Any settlement with Trump would be seen as a major concession to the former president, especially given his history of using the government to punish his critics. It would also follow similar settlements by ABC News and Facebook, which paid Trump $15 million and $25 million respectively to settle lawsuits.

While there is no guarantee that Paramount will agree to a deal, The New York Times reports that Paramount head Shari Redstone is fully behind settling. Redstone would make billions of dollars off the merger with Skydance, which is backed by Trump-boosting billionaire Larry Ellison.

However, the newsroom at CBS is reportedly opposed to any settlement. They believe the lawsuit is meritless and that settling would be seen as caving to Trump's pressure.

Legal experts have also criticized the lawsuit, calling it "frivolous and dangerous." They argue that the First Amendment protects the press from such litigation and that it is up to journalists, not the government or politicians, to decide how to report the news.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to settle with Trump lies with Paramount. However, the potential consequences of such a decision are significant, both for the company and for the future of press freedom in the United States.