Investigate Whether CBS News Merger Conditions Were Violated

$166 million in transactions put CBS News under new leadership with no broadcast experience.

A letter to your members of Congress. Facts checked June 2, 2026.

The Letter

Subject Hold Hearings on Media Consolidation and Editorial Independence

Paramount paid $16 million to settle Trump's lawsuit against CBS over a 60 Minutes interview. The FCC, chaired by Trump appointee Brendan Carr, approved the Paramount-Skydance merger weeks later. The new owners spent $150 million to acquire a political commentator's website and install her as editor-in-chief of CBS News. She had no broadcast journalism experience.

In the 8 months since, at least 70 CBS News journalists have been fired, laid off, or pushed out. The firings included correspondents whose reporting challenged the administration and the most decorated journalist in 60 Minutes' 58-year history. The merger was approved on the condition that CBS News maintain editorial independence.

Hold oversight hearings on whether the Paramount-Skydance merger conditions have been violated. Support the PRESS Act to create a federal shield law for journalists. Investigate whether media consolidation is being used to suppress editorial independence at the networks the public depends on for accountability journalism.

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Call Your Representative

U.S. Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121

I'm calling about editorial independence at CBS News.
Paramount settled a Trump lawsuit for $16 million, then the FCC approved their merger. The new owners installed a political commentator with no broadcast experience as editor-in-chief. 70 journalists have been fired in 8 months.
The merger was approved on the condition that CBS maintain editorial independence. The firings suggest that condition was violated.
Hold oversight hearings and support the PRESS Act to protect journalists from political retaliation.
I'm a constituent and I vote.

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The Facts Behind the Ask

$166M total: $16M Trump settlement + $150M Free Press acquisition enabled the CBS News overhaul (source)
70+ CBS News journalists fired, laid off, or pushed out in 8 months under Weiss (source)
51 Emmy Awards won by Scott Pelley, the most decorated correspondent fired (source)

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