Rep. George Latimer (D-NY) laid into media outlets Wednesday for caving to President Donald Trump over several litigation threats.
“The news is louder than a toddler with a kazoo at a Metallica concert, so while the headlines scream, the internet screams even louder with a monologue known as ‘meanwhile,’” Latimer said, speaking on the House floor.
“Meanwhile, Paramount settles a lawsuit with President Trump over a dispute that could have been easily dismissed. Meanwhile, Paramount CBS is seeking a multimillion dollar merger with Skydance Media that requires the approval of the very same Trump administration. Coincidence? Surely not.”
Trump sued CBS – owned by Paramount – in 2024 over allegations that the network deceptively edited a “60 Minutes” interview with then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris. While experts called the lawsuit “outrageous” and without merit, Paramount ultimately offered Trump $16 million to settle the dispute, a settlement some critics say was done to buy favor for a proposed Paramount merger with Skydance, a merger that would need Trump’s blessing.
Latimer also ripped into CBS’ decision to axe Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” after the host openly criticized the network and Paramount for settling with Trump. While CBS executives called the move “purely a financial decision,” Latimer raised his doubts, and characterized it as another example of media companies caving to Trump’s demands.
“Meanwhile, the Trump administration calls for media fairness, perhaps the kind shown by Fox, OAN and Newmax,” Latimer said.
“Meanwhile, Stephen Colbert, host of the show Late Night, number one among hosts in his slot and Trump critic, has his show cancelled by CBS, a financial decision it has said. Oh yea. Meanwhile, CBS great news leader Edward R. Murrow rolls over in his grave.”
Other media companies have offered large payouts to Trump as well to settle litigation; ABC News agreed last December to pay $15 million toward Trump’s presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit; and Meta pledged to pay Trump $25 million in January to settle a lawsuit over suspending the president’s account following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
