Trump’s Most *Blatantly* Corrupt Action? (Paramount)

[Analytics]

Two large companies, Skydance and Paramount Global, want to merge into a new company worth about $8 billion. Skydance is bringing cash, youthful energy, and technology into the deal, and Paramount is bringing its networks, streaming services, and back catalog. One of the things Paramount owns is CBS, which is home to "60 Minutes" and Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show". Because of the size and nature of the deal, the DOJ, FTC, and FCC all have to sign off on it.

In October 2024, CBS’s “60 Minutes” did a sit-down interview with Kamala Harris. Trump didn’t like it, so he sued Paramount for $20 billion.

Now, the Federal Government is saying that in order to approve the merger between Skydance and Paramount, Paramount must do two things:

• Cut Donald J. Trump a check for $16 million under the guise of settling his frivolous lawsuit
• Cancel “The Late Show” because Trump doesn’t like Stephen Colbert

In terms of bald-faced, easy-to-understand corruption where a sitting president uses his power to directly enrich himself, to say nothing about the chilling effect on free speech and freedom of the press, is this the most blatantly corrupt thing any president has done, ever?

[Moksha]

It has already been announced that Paramount is cancelling The Steven Colbert Show.

[Gunnar]

Two large companies, Skydance and Paramount Global, want to merge into a new company worth about $8 billion. Skydance is bringing cash, youthful energy, and technology into the deal, and Paramount is bringing its networks, streaming services, and back catalog. One of the things Paramount owns is CBS, which is home to "60 Minutes" and Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show". Because of the size and nature of the deal, the DOJ, FTC, and FCC all have to sign off on it.

In October 2024, CBS’s “60 Minutes” did a sit-down interview with Kamala Harris. Trump didn’t like it, so he sued Paramount for $20 billion.

Now, the Federal Government is saying that in order to approve the merger between Skydance and Paramount, Paramount must do two things:

• Cut Donald J. Trump a check for $16 million under the guise of settling his frivolous lawsuit
• Cancel “The Late Show” because Trump doesn’t like Stephen Colbert

In terms of bald-faced, easy-to-understand corruption where a sitting president uses his power to directly enrich himself, to say nothing about the chilling effect on free speech and freedom of the press, is this the most blatantly corrupt thing any president has done, ever?

That's both sad and outrageous! I think it both foolish and cowardly of Paramount and CBS to have settled that frivolous lawsuit out of court that most legal experts say they could have easily won. Trump's lawsuit was a blatant violation of the 1st Amendment's right of freedom of speech and the press and virtually set the stage for a guaranteed future succession of limitless unconstitutional attacks on our 1st amendment rights by Trump and other hard-right, would-be tyrants.

But, then again, with the current Supreme Court currently dominated by a majority of 6 corporately bought-and-paid-for-hard-right, arguably anti-democracy justices, maybe the 1st amendment's freedom of speech guarantee effectively no longer applies to anyone other than ultra-right conservative despots and their apologists.

[Jersey Girl]

If Colbert can't get another gig he'll probably show up on youtube and Substack, and folks will follow him. He's that good.

[Gunnar]

If Colbert can't get another gig he'll probably show up on youtube and Substack, and folks will follow him. He's that good.

I expect and hope you're right.

[Dr Exiled]

I liked the Colbert Report a lot back in the day. He should do a show lampooning Trump on YouTube, maybe resurrecting the Colbert Report character.

[Jersey Girl]

If Colbert can't get another gig he'll probably show up on youtube and Substack, and folks will follow him. He's that good.

I expect and hope you're right.

Jim Acosta has done it.

[Moksha]

The Steven Colbert Show is the top late-night show. But it is also at the top of Trump's most disliked list.

[Dr. Shades]

Now, the Federal Government is saying that in order to approve the merger between Skydance and Paramount, Paramount must do two things:

• Cut Donald J. Trump a check for $16 million under the guise of settling his frivolous lawsuit
• Cancel “The Late Show” because Trump doesn’t like Stephen Colbert

I'm highly confused over the fact that Trump has the power to require those things at all. Under what authority?

In terms of bald-faced, easy-to-understand corruption where a sitting president uses his power to directly enrich himself, to say nothing about the chilling effect on free speech and freedom of the press, is this the most blatantly corrupt thing any president has done, ever?

To my knowledge, yes.

[Jersey Girl]

Now, the Federal Government is saying that in order to approve the merger between Skydance and Paramount, Paramount must do two things:

• Cut Donald J. Trump a check for $16 million under the guise of settling his frivolous lawsuit
• Cancel “The Late Show” because Trump doesn’t like Stephen Colbert

I'm highly confused over the fact that Trump has the power to require those things at all. Under what authority?

This part: Because of the size and nature of the deal, the DOJ, FTC, and FCC all have to sign off on it.

It's extortion. Paramount (which owns CBS) and Skydance either pay up and do what he wants or he exacts revenge by nixing the merger. Under what authority? His own authority. Because the DOJ, FTC, and FCC are all headed by Trump appointees and if the appointees don't do what he wants, he nixes them out of their positions. He was trying to get at his political opponent Harris and apparently cancelling Colbert was part of the arrangement or a peace offering to make Trump go away by Paramount and Skydance.

It's pretty remarkable when you think about it. He tries to weaken his political opponent, gets Colbert out of the way, and makes 16 million all at the same time.

In any case if I haven't got that right, hopefully someone will give us a more correct explanation.