Pressure of Truth
Exposing the spin on all sides of the news.
Outlet profile

CBS News

U.S. center-left (historically), shifting under new ownership

Owned byParamount Skydance Corporation, controlled by the Ellison family (Larry and David Ellison), who hold roughly 77.5% of voting stock through Harbor Lights Entertainment
FundingAdvertising revenue, retransmission/carriage fees, and streaming subscriptions (Paramount+), as part of a publicly traded media conglomerate
On the administrationmixed

Background

CBS News traces back to CBS radio and television broadcasts starting in the 1920s-1940s and built a reputation through figures like Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite. For decades it was part of CBS Corporation, later merged into ViacomCBS and then Paramount Global. In August 2025, Paramount Global merged with David Ellison's Skydance Media to form Paramount Skydance Corporation, with the Ellison family (backed by Larry Ellison's fortune) taking majority control. The merger triggered major upheaval: CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon was forced out, and Bari Weiss, a media figure known for criticizing what she calls liberal media bias, was installed as editor-in-chief in October 2025. Since then, numerous journalists, including senior '60 Minutes' producers, have resigned citing editorial interference, and a Colbert interview with a Democratic Senate candidate was reportedly blocked from airing. Critics say these moves reflect an effort by the new ownership to shift the network's coverage to appease the Trump administration, following a lawsuit and FCC pressure tied to the merger approval, though Trump has continued to publicly call CBS News coverage 'crooked.' The network's news output still includes flagship programs like 'CBS Evening News,' 'Face the Nation,' and '60 Minutes,' which retain a broadly mainstream, fact-based news orientation despite the ownership turmoil.

Sources

  1. Paramount Global to merge with Skydance Media - CBS News
  2. CBS in turmoil as US media feels pressure under Trump
  3. Exclusive / CBS News in the crossfire
  4. CBS News controversies and criticism
  5. CBS News Media Bias | AllSides
  6. Major damage has been done to the journalistic brand of CBS News and '60 Minutes' — Overby Center

Profile compiled 2026-09-24; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.

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