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Jon Stewart doesn’t mince words about Paramount’s $16-million Trump settlement

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Jon Stewart criticized Paramount Global, his network’s parent company, for shelling out $16 million to resolve Donald Trump’s lawsuit against CBS News. He described this payment as essentially a bribe to secure approval for an upcoming merger.

In the Monday broadcast of “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central, Jon Stewart and his guest, ex-“60 Minutes” reporter Steve Kroft, discussed the intricacies of the ongoing legal dispute. They both expressed a sense that it resembled an extortion attempt by a criminal organization.

“I’m obviously not a lawyer, but I did watch ‘Goodfellas,’” Stewart said. “That sounds illegal.”

Previously, Paramount Global consented to a $16 million settlement regarding allegations made by Trump. He asserted that “60 Minutes” manipulated an interview between himself (as his 2024 election competitor) and then-Vice President Kamala Harris, in order to make her appear more favorable and boost her electoral prospects. CBS refuted these allegations, stating the edits were standard practice.

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Inside CBS News, the anger over a $16-million settlement that many view as a concession to Trump was somewhat moderated by a stark reminder: The situation could have turned out even more unfavorably.

However, a lawsuit, deemed as baseless by 1st Amendment specialists, was perceived as an impediment to Paramount Global’s proposed $8-billion union with David Ellison’s Skydance Media, a deal that awaits approval from the Federal Communications Commission under the leadership of Trump supporter Brendan Carr.

Stewart posed a question to Kroft, implying that the settlement might have been a way to ensure the merger wasn’t obstructed by the FCC under Trump’s administration.

Kroft, verifying that Shari Redstone, the main shareholder of Paramount Global, supports the proposed sale, agreed with Stewart’s evaluation.

Kroft noted that “60 Minutes” never said it screwed up, “they just paid the money.”

“So just flat-out protection money,” Stewart said.

“Yeah, it was a shakedown,” Kroft said.

In simpler terms, the cable channel known as Comedy Central, where “The Daily Show” airs, is part of the Skydance acquisition. However, during that discussion, Jon Stewart maintained a persistent and unyielding stance.

Stewart stated, ‘It seems more like loyalty than examination on the news channels.’ They’re constantly held to a standard that Trump never approves of. No one could ever be loyal enough for him.

On “The Daily Show,” Stewart has never shied away from expressing blunt opinions about Trump. Whether he’ll maintain the same openness to speak freely is uncertain as Skydance, a company backed by Trump supporter Larry Ellison and his son David, eventually gains control.

In the year 2023, Jon Stewart moved back to Comedy Central following a separation with Apple TV. His previous show titled “The Problem With Jon Stewart” came to an end due to Apple’s high-ups allegedly having worries about the comedian’s approach to certain show subjects such as China and artificial intelligence.

Apple boasts strong connections with China and has introduced an artificially intelligent tool that’s integrated within their system software.

I showcased the questionable validity of Trump’s lawsuit assertions by skillfully editing a Fox News interview featuring Trump from last year. As a movie buff, I appreciate the art of crafting compelling narratives, and this edit proved to be an intriguing piece of work.

Trump seemed to confirm, in a straightforward manner during “Fox & Friends Weekend,” that he might release classified documents regarding Jeffrey Epstein, a known convict for pedophilia. Yet, when given more time to respond on the same network, his statement became less definite.

In response to an interview with Harris, CBS News divided her response about Israel into two parts. One part was shown during their Sunday discussion panel on “Face the Nation,” while another segment appeared on the original broadcast itself. This discrepancy, where one section aired separately, has sparked accusations from Trump supporters that there’s been some underhandedness at play.

As a devoted viewer, I’m curious to understand why the edit on ’60 Minutes’ deserved an impressive $16-million concession from what is renowned as the Tiffany network, the gold standard in news broadcasting… when it appears to me that Fox News made an even more questionable edit.

A representative for Paramount Global had no comment on Stewart’s remarks.

Kroft said the the mood is bleak at “60 Minutes” in the aftermath of the settlement.

In my opinion, the air is thick with apprehension over there. It’s a blend of anxiety about potential job loss, concern for the preservation of their nation, and worry over safeguarding the 1st Amendment.

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2025-07-08 20:31

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