Disgraced ex-CBS News anchor Dan Rather condemned the $16 million settlement between Paramount Global and Donald Trump as a ‘sad day for journalism.’ Rather, who left CBS in 2005 and 2006 after reporting on the discredited story about former President George W. Bush, argued that the network had no reason to settle with Trump, who had filed a lawsuit over the editing of an interview with Kamala Harris. The settlement, reached after Trump’s $20 billion lawsuit, involved a $16 million payout to cover legal fees, costs of the case, and contributions to Trump’s presidential library or charitable causes. Additionally, the settlement included a clause requiring CBS to release full, unedited transcripts of future presidential candidates’ interviews, potentially affecting the network’s editorial policies.
Rather, in an interview with Variety, criticized the move as a capitulation to Trump’s pressure.