Trump-Era FCC Attack on CBS Draws Fire, Even From Traditional GOP Allies

A Baseless Lawsuit and Regulatory Overreach

In October 2025, former President Trump launched a lawsuit against CBS, falsely claiming that a 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris had been deceptively edited. The lawsuit, which challenged the network's editorial discretion, was widely criticized as baseless and a blatant attack on the First Amendment. News outlets routinely condense interviews for brevity, a standard journalistic practice.

Weaponizing Merger Approvals

At the time, CBS/Paramount was seeking regulatory approval for an $8 billion merger with Skydance. Seizing this opportunity, Trump and his FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, began leveraging the merger approval process to pressure CBS into providing more favorable coverage of the administration.

Simultaneously, Carr initiated a flimsy investigation into CBS over the 60 Minutes interview, citing an obscure and rarely enforced "Broadcast News Distortion" policy. This policy, typically reserved for cases involving significant distortions like bribery, hardly seemed applicable to routine editing practices.

Hypocrisy and Abuse of Power

Academics and free speech experts condemned Carr's actions as an unprecedented abuse of power, particularly given his previous criticisms of consumer protection efforts against telecom monopolies as "radical overreach."

Trump's strategy, even if CBS wasn't found guilty, was to generate a news cycle implying wrongdoing by 60 Minutes, feeding the GOP propaganda machine. This tactic allowed them to cast doubt on legitimate journalism without needing actual proof.

Conservative Backlash

Surprisingly, even conservative groups traditionally aligned with the GOP, such as the Center for Individual Freedom, Americans for Tax Reform, and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, spoke out against Carr's actions. They denounced the investigation as "regulatory overreach," a term often used by these groups to criticize regulations they oppose.

The Puppet Masters Speak

These "taxpayer" groups often serve as lobbying tools for industries like big telecom, giving the appearance of broad public support for unpopular policies. Typically funded by corporate giants like AT&T, they present themselves as independent while advocating for their benefactors' interests.

While initially echoing conservative concerns about censorship, the groups ultimately suggested eliminating the rarely-enforced "Broadcast News Distortion" rule altogether. This stance aligns with their broader preference for deregulation and a hands-off approach to corporate power.

While major corporations like AT&T and Verizon were hesitant to directly criticize the Trump administration for fear of jeopardizing their own interests, the public complaints from their affiliated organizations spoke volumes.