XPost: alt.politics.trump, alt.cbs-sucks, alt.politics.republicans
XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, sac.politics

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3w4n8778q2o

US media company Paramount Global has agreed to pay $16 million (£13.5m)
to settle a legal dispute with US President Donald Trump regarding an
interview it broadcast on CBS with former Vice-President Kamala Harris.

Trump filed a lawsuit last October, alleging the network had deceptively
edited an interview that aired on its 60 Minutes news programme with his presidential election rival Kamala Harris, to "tip the scales in favour of
the Democratic party".

Paramount said it would pay to settle the suit, but with the money
allocated to Trump's future presidential library, not paid to him
"directly or indirectly".

The company noted the settlement does not include a statement of apology
or regret.

A spokesperson for Trump's legal team swiftly hailed the settlement as a
"win for the American people" over the "fake news media".

"CBS and Paramount Global realised the strength of this historic case and
had no choice but to settle," the spokesperson added. "President Trump
will always ensure that no one gets away with lying to the American
people."

CBS, which is owned by Paramount, previously said the case was "completely without merit" and had asked a judge to dismiss it. It stressed the
broadcast was "not doctored or deceitful".

The settlement marks the latest concession by a US media company to a
president who has targeted outlets over what he describes as false or misleading coverage.

According to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Texas, CBS aired two versions of the Harris interview in which she appeared to give different answers to the same question about the Israel-Gaza war.

Interviewer Bill Whitaker asked the Democratic nominee about the Biden administration's relationship with Israel. The network later aired two different versions of her response, according to the claim.

One clip aired on Face the Nation and the other on 60 Minutes. Trump
claimed Harris's "word salad" answer had been deceptively edited in one
version to shield her from backlash.

CBS, which is the BBC's US news partner, said it edited Harris's answer
for time, in accordance with television news standards.

Trump sued, originally claiming for $10bn (£8.5bn) but that figure was
later increased to $20bn ($17bn) for damages.

In May this year, the company offered $15m (12.7m) to settle the suit but
Trump wanted more than $25m (£21m).

In a statement released on Tuesday, Paramount confirmed the settlement fee included the president's legal fees, and that it had agreed that 60
Minutes will release transcripts of interviews with future presidential candidates.

Settled ahead of planned merger
According to both the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, the
settlement was agreed - with the help of mediator - so as to not affect Paramount's planned merger with Skydance Media, which the Federal Communications Commission has been reviewing and therefore Trump
technically has the power to halt.

During the month-long settlement talks, some CBS News executives including chief executive Wendy McMahon have left their roles, due to their
unwillingness to issue an apology to Trump.

There were also reportedly concerns over whether paying to settle the
lawsuit could be viewed as bribing a public official.

The Paramount settlement follows a decision by Walt Disney-owned ABC News
to settle a defamation case brought by Trump.


--
November 5, 2024 - Congratulations President Donald Trump. We look
forward to America being great again.

We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.

Every day is an IQ test. Some pass, some, not so much.

Thank you for cleaning up the disasters of the 2008-2017, 2020-2024 Obama
/ Biden / Harris fiascos, President Trump.

Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)