This podcast episode discusses Donald Trump's $20 billion lawsuit against CBS, stemming from allegedly deceptive editing of a Kamala Harris interview on 60 Minutes. The lawsuit's impact on a pending $8 billion merger between CBS's parent company, Paramount Global, and Skydance is examined, highlighting the FCC's review of CBS News for potential bias as a factor in the merger approval process. Legal experts' opinions on the lawsuit's merit and potential settlements are presented, along with internal Paramount discussions about settling to avoid prolonged litigation. The episode concludes by emphasizing the intertwined nature of media, business, and political aspects of the case and its potential ramifications for media outlets. The potential for criminal charges against Paramount executives if a settlement is viewed as a quid pro quo for merger approval is also discussed.
