Jake Tapper Slams Paramount Boss as CBS Faces Off With Trump in Mega-Lawsuit Drama

CNN anchor Jake Tapper took aim at Shari Redstone, the woman at the helm of Paramount (the parent company of CBS), accusing her of putting CBS’s journalistic reputation on the chopping block just to secure a massive merger payout. Tapper didn’t mince words, suggesting Redstone might settle a headline-grabbing lawsuit that former President Donald Trump filed against CBS – all to clear the runway for a merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media.

This isn’t your average courtroom spat. Trump is suing CBS for a jaw-dropping $20 billion, claiming the network meddled in the 2024 election. He alleges that a "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris was deceptively edited, supposedly giving an edge to his Democratic rival – just weeks before voters hit the polls. With Paramount Global agreeing to mediation, there’s a strong whiff of settlement in the air, and Tapper believes it’s all about keeping the merger on track and the billions rolling in.

Tapper spelled it out: "Now, Shari Redstone is the majority owner of Paramount, and she stands to make a fortune if this multibillion-dollar deal, if this merger goes through." He went on to say, "It seems as if Shari Redstone is likely to bend the knee to Trump and settle this allegedly frivolous lawsuit." A source from "60 Minutes" told CNN that Redstone and her team appear ready to bow to presidential pressure, prioritizing the deal over press freedom.

As if the plot wasn’t thick enough, the drama at CBS hit another level when "60 Minutes" executive producer Bill Owens abruptly resigned, citing a lack of independence. In a memo to colleagues, Owens lamented that he could no longer run the show the way he believed was right for the audience and the program’s legacy. Owens’s exit comes as the network faces growing scrutiny and accusations of caving to outside pressures to silence criticism.

Tapper framed the situation as part of a broader battle between journalists and powerbrokers, arguing that the war on independent reporting is alive and well. He pointed to shifts in how government institutions like the Pentagon and the White House handle media access, claiming they’re now favoring friendlier outlets and sidelining traditional newsrooms.

While CBS and Paramount have yet to comment publicly on the dust-up, one thing is clear: the crossroads of big money, political influence, and press freedom never fails to produce fireworks in the American media circus. And if you thought "60 Minutes" was dramatic before, just wait until you see how this legal thriller plays out.