Bari Weiss's CBS Leadership Sparks Media Independence Fears

President Donald Trump returned to CBS News' 60 Minutes for his first interview since settling a $16 million lawsuit with the network over its 2024 interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which he claimed was deceptively edited to boost her election prospects, according to a Reuters report. The interview, conducted by anchor Norah O'Donnell at Mar-a-Lago and set to air Sunday, marks a symbolic thaw in relations between Trump and CBS following the summer settlement, as described in a U.S. News story. The network, now under the control of Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison—a media mogul whose father, Larry Ellison, is a longtime Trump ally—has undergone significant leadership changes, including the appointment of Bari Weiss as CBS News editor-in-chief, per an Investing.com report. Weiss, a founder of the conservative-leaning Free Press, has drawn criticism for her editorial approach, which some argue aligns with Trump's political interests, according to AOL News.

The lawsuit, which Trump filed in October 2024, alleged that 60 Minutes manipulated an interview with Harris, The Guardian reported. While legal experts widely dismissed the case as "meritless," CBS agreed to the settlement in July, which did not include an apology or admission of wrongdoing. The resolution came amid broader restructuring at Paramount Skydance, which merged with CBS' parent company in August and announced plans to cut 1,000 jobs, according to Daily Voice. The network also appointed a new ombudsman affiliated with the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank, further fueling debates over editorial independence.

The recent interview has reignited scrutiny over 60 Minutes's editing practices. A full transcript and extended 73-minute version of the conversation were published online, revealing that Trump criticized CBS for the prior settlement. "60 Minutes was forced to pay me a lotta money," he said, accusing the network of "fake news" for altering the Harris interview, as reported by The Guardian. Democrats have since called for an FCC investigation into whether the editing of Trump's own interview—omitting his praise for Weiss and claims about financial gains from the settlement—violates broadcast fairness standards, and PrimeTimer reported that MSNBC analyst Tim Miller threatened to sue over the alleged omission. Tim Miller, an MSNBC analyst and Trump critic, called the edit "harmful."

The political ramifications of the Paramount Skydance merger continue to ripple through the media landscape. The network's shift toward conservative voices has raised concerns among journalists and viewers about a potential "right-wing pivot," a trend critics have pointed to in recent coverage. Critics note Weiss's role in booking high-profile conservative figures, such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, as evidence of this trend. Meanwhile, the Trump administration's influence over media deals remains evident: the president has reportedly advocated for Warner Bros. Discovery to be acquired by the Ellisons, leveraging the DOJ's antitrust division to advance the bid, according to EM Egypt.

As the FCC weighs its response to the editing controversy, the 60 Minutes interview underscores the fragile relationship between political power and media credibility. With Trump's comments on Venezuela, immigration, and other hot-button issues dominating the conversation, the episode highlights the ongoing tension between journalistic integrity and partisan influence in an era of polarized media ownership.