Democrats Launch New Investigation
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) is taking an aggressive step against CBS and its parent company Paramount, demanding answers over how the network edited its recent “60 Minutes” interview with President Donald Trump. The Maryland Democrat claims the network allowed Trump to “influence” its editorial decisions—an accusation raising eyebrows given CBS’s long history of left-leaning coverage.
Raskin sent a heated letter to newly appointed CBS News ombudsperson Ken Weinstein, blasting the network for what he described as “improper influence” by Trump. The letter, first obtained by The Hill, paints a picture of a Democrat furious that CBS may finally be opening the door to political balance under its new leadership.
Democrat Outrage After CBS Leaves Out Part of Trump’s Comments
Raskin is especially angry that CBS did not broadcast a segment where Trump mentioned a $16 million settlement Paramount paid his presidential foundation earlier this year. That settlement closed a lawsuit Trump filed over CBS’s editing of a previous interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris before the 2024 election.
The comments weren’t aired, but they were included in the official transcript posted online—something CBS promised after backlash over its edits to the Harris interview.
In the unaired portion, Trump told interviewer Norah O’Donnell:
“And, actually, ‘60 Minutes’ paid me a lot of money… You don’t have to put this on… I think you have a great, new leader.”
The “new leader” Trump referenced was Bari Weiss, the former New York Times columnist brought in as CBS’s new editor-in-chief by incoming Paramount CEO David Ellison.
CBS Under New Conservative-Leaning Leadership—and Democrats Are Nervous
Ellison, the son of billionaire tech mogul Larry Ellison, has publicly committed to steering CBS toward greater ideological diversity after years of complaints from viewers who felt the network leaned too far left. As part of that shift, he hired Weinstein—formerly with the conservative Hudson Institute—to oversee fairness and standards.
Trump has openly praised the Ellison family for reshaping Paramount and CBS. The White House has also reportedly signaled approval as Paramount eyes a possible acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, parent company of CNN.
This shift toward broader viewpoints appears to be exactly what is fueling Democrat anger.
Raskin Claims CBS Is Part of a “Pattern” of Trump Influence
In his letter, Raskin accused CBS of being “one victim” in what he called President Trump’s supposed “campaign of intimidation” against media outlets. He even cited the BBC, which Trump criticized for selectively editing his comments about January 6 in a documentary.
Raskin’s demands include:
- A written explanation of CBS’s current editorial-review standards
- A determination on whether Trump’s requests to omit portions of the interview violated CBS rules
- All communications and editorial instructions related to the “60 Minutes” Trump interview
The Democrat went as far as warning Weinstein that his job is to “defend CBS’s editorial independence,” not support what he calls “President Trump’s influence.”
Media Landscape Shifts—and Democrats Push Back Hard
Behind the scenes, the real story may be the transformation taking place inside CBS. With Weiss and Ellison pushing for more viewpoint diversity, older Americans—especially conservative viewers—are noticing the change.
Democrats, meanwhile, appear increasingly uncomfortable as major networks move away from the progressive narratives that dominated the Trump and Biden years.
Raskin’s attack on CBS reads less like a defense of journalism and more like frustration that a long-trusted liberal outlet might finally be allowing balanced coverage.
