Viewers tuning into 60 Minutes last Sunday were met with more than just investigative journalism — they got a rare peek behind the curtain. In a segment now being widely talked about, veteran correspondent Scott Pelley closed the show by addressing the abrupt resignation of the program’s longtime executive producer, Bill Owens. What he revealed left many questioning: Is political pressure reshaping America’s most iconic news show?
Pelley’s remarks hinted at something deeper — and far more troubling — than a simple change in leadership. He implied that Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS News, may have started influencing editorial decisions on 60 Minutes to stay in the good graces of the Trump administration. Why? Because Paramount is currently chasing a massive merger deal with Skydance — a deal that needs a thumbs-up from the Trump-controlled FCC.
“Bill made sure our stories were accurate and fair,” Pelley told viewers, before noting that Paramount had recently begun supervising the show’s content “in new ways.” While he stressed that no stories were outright blocked, Pelley explained that Owens no longer felt free to make editorial decisions — a dealbreaker for any journalist with integrity.
Owens, a steadfast defender of journalistic independence, confirmed as much in his resignation memo, stating plainly that he could no longer “make independent decisions” or run the show the way he believed was right. “I’m stepping aside so the show can move forward,” he wrote — a quiet but powerful statement in an increasingly loud media landscape.
Behind the scenes, tensions have reportedly been mounting. President Trump’s rocky relationship with 60 Minutes has only grown more intense. He’s currently suing the network over a 2024 interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming that CBS News unfairly edited her answers. Although the network denied any wrongdoing, they ultimately released the full transcript after pressure from the FCC.
As the legal battle drags on, so does its impact. Paramount’s top shareholder, Shari Redstone, reportedly signaled a willingness to settle with Trump — a move some see as an attempt to smooth the path for the multibillion-dollar Skydance merger. Redstone stands to benefit significantly if the deal goes through.
Meanwhile, Trump hasn’t held back. In an April 13 post on Truth Social, he labeled 60 Minutes a “dishonest Political Operative” and called on the FCC to hit CBS with steep fines and even revoke its license. He’s made clear that he sees the show not as journalism, but as a political enemy.
As questions swirl, one thing is clear: the future of 60 Minutes — and possibly press freedom at large — may now hinge on corporate deals, presidential grudges, and the unseen battles taking place far from the public eye.
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