Trump's FCC Chairman Gloating Over Colbert's Show Cancellation Amid Controversy

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr seemingly gloated over the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's late-night show, The Late Show, on CBS, as the network's parent company Paramount prepares to merge with Skydance Media, a company with ties to the Trump administration. Carr's comments came on Fox News, where he was asked directly whether President Trump played a role in the show's demise, but he failed to give a clear answer. The controversy surrounds the fact that Skydance's general counsel recently sent letters to Carr confirming the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and the hiring of an ombudsman to review complaints of bias at CBS News once the merger is complete.

Key Takeaways:

• FCC Chairman Brendan Carr refused to directly answer whether President Trump played a role in the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's show, The Late Show.
• Carr suggested that Trump's ongoing war with the legacy media was the key factor in the decision to cancel The Late Show, pointing to the defunding of NPR and PBS as well as the cancellation of Colbert's show.
• Carr stated that "it's entirely possible" that ABC's The View could be in the Trump administration's "crosshairs" after the White House called View host Joy Behar an "irrelevant loser" and suggested "her show is next to be pulled off air."
• Carr met with Skydance CEO David Ellison days before it was announced that Colbert was leaving and The Late Show franchise would come to an end, where Ellison asked Carr to "promptly grant" Paramount's request to transfer over its broadcast licenses.
• The meeting occurred shortly after Paramount agreed to pay Trump $16 million to settle his "meritless" lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris.
• Trump has repeatedly claimed that he reached a side deal with Skydance as part of the settlement, asserting that Ellison has promised him as much as $20 million in pro-Trump advertisements and PSAs on CBS programming once the merger is complete.
• Paramount has denied knowledge of any secret behind-the-scenes arrangement with the incoming owner.
• Carr has faced criticism for his comments on The View, with some accusing him of opening an investigation into ABC and its parent company Disney over its DEI policies, claiming that the corporation may have violated the FCC's equal employment opportunity regulations.

Statistics:

• $16 million: The amount Paramount agreed to pay Trump to settle his "meritless" lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris.
• $20 million: The amount Trump has repeatedly claimed that he reached a side deal with Skydance as part of the settlement, in exchange for pro-Trump advertisements and PSAs on CBS programming once the merger is complete.
• 1: The number of letters sent by Skydance's general counsel to Carr confirming the elimination of DEI policies and the hiring of an ombudsman to review complaints of bias at CBS News once the merger is complete.
• 1: The number of days before the meeting with Skydance CEO David Ellison where Ellison asked Carr to "promptly grant" Paramount's request to transfer over its broadcast licenses.
• 1: The number of time Skydance CEO David Ellison met with Carr before the merger was announced.
• 1: The number of investigations opened by Carr into ABC and its parent company Disney over its DEI policies, claiming that the corporation may have violated the FCC's equal employment opportunity regulations.

Sources:

• Fox News
• The Independent
• Trump's FCC chairman gloats over Colbert's cancellation days after meeting soon-to-be CBS owner Paramount accused of 'bribery' for paying Trump $16 million to settle 'patently unconstitutional' lawsuit
• Incoming CBS owner promises Trump's FCC it will review 'complaints of bias' at news network and eliminate DEI policies