Why has Paramount paid Donald Trump $16 million over a CBS interview?
Americast
BBC
4.2 • 2.8K Ratings
🗓️ 2 July 2025
⏱️ 28 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In the latest instalment of Donald Trump's battle with the U.S. media, Paramount - the parent company of CBS News - has agreed to pay $16 million to Donald Trump's future presidential library. The company noted the settlement does not include a statement of apology or regret.
Trump filed the 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 becomes the latest media company to make concessions to the president, who has targeted various media outlets over what he describes as false or misleading coverage.
Sarah, Anthony and Marianna discuss why Paramount has chosen to settle the case, and how will it affect political interviews - by TV networks - in future elections. We also unpack why senators have voted for Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, and how Anthony is enjoying his rare week in London.
HOSTS: • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Correspondent
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This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Jonny Baker. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | On Newscast, we are not in the business of telling you how to think. |
| 0:05.6 | We get the brightest minds from across the BBC to chat through the biggest stories. |
| 0:10.2 | You should leave feeling smarter about all the bonkers things in the news. |
| 0:13.8 | Listen to Newscast every day on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:18.5 | BBC Sounds, music, Radio, podcasts. |
| 0:21.6 | Donald Trump really believes that he is the greatest deal maker in the world, |
| 0:26.6 | whether it comes to peace deals or trade deals, whatever he's negotiating, |
| 0:30.6 | he really does think that he is the best. |
| 0:32.6 | And there have been a couple of huge negotiations in Washington, D.C. this week |
| 0:36.6 | that we are going to delve into to see if he really has cut a deal as good as he likes to think. |
| 0:41.9 | First of all, he's reached a settlement with Paramount, who've agreed to pay his future presidential library $16 million to settle a case over a CBS interview with Kamala Harris during the presidential election campaign. |
| 0:54.4 | And the negotiations have been ongoing over his big, beautiful bill that has passed its |
| 0:59.4 | little turtle and got through the Senate, now gone back to the House of Representatives. |
| 1:03.1 | But could one of the president's old buddies be about to blow it all up? |
| 1:07.7 | Welcome to AmeriCast. |
| 1:11.3 | AmeriCast. AmeriCast from BBC News. |
| 1:14.6 | You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War |
| 1:18.9 | 3. President Trump's message is very simple. We are done being taken advantage of. |
| 1:23.4 | Mr. President, in the name of our God, have mercy upon the people, and we're scared now. |
| 1:29.0 | Are you supportive of these onesies? |
| 1:30.9 | I'm supportive of vaccines. |
| 1:32.5 | What is happening? |
... |
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