CBS's 60 Minutes Executive Producer Resigns Amid Trump Lawsuit and Internal Pressure
Bill Owens resigns as 60 Minutes executive producer, citing loss of independence, amidst ongoing tensions with Trump and internal CBS disputes.
Subscribe to unlock this story
We really don't like cutting you off, but you've reached your monthly limit. At just $5/month, subscriptions are how we keep this project going. Start your free 7-day trial today!
Get StartedAlready subscribed? Sign in
Overview
Bill Owens has announced his resignation as executive producer of CBS's 60 Minutes, citing a loss of independence in decision-making and increased pressure from President Trump's ongoing $20 billion lawsuit against CBS, which alleges biased editing in an interview with Kamala Harris. Trump's intense criticism of the program, including accusations of fraud and calls for regulatory repercussions, coincides with a tumultuous internal atmosphere at CBS, exacerbated by corporate interests surrounding a potential merger involving its parent company, Paramount Global. Owens stated he could no longer run the show as he has traditionally, raising concerns about the future of the program.
Content generated by AI—learn more or report issue.
Get both sides in 5 minutes with our daily newsletter.
Analysis
Analysis unavailable for this viewpoint.
Articles (17)
Center (6)
No highlight available for this article.
Straight Arrow News·2M·No highlight available for this article.
NPR·2M·No highlight available for this article.
ABC News·2M·No highlight available for this article.
NBC News·2M·No highlight available for this article.
Associated Press·2M·No highlight available for this article.
Deadline·2M·FAQ
Bill Owens resigned because he felt he was losing editorial independence and could no longer run the show as he traditionally had due to increasing political and corporate pressures, including the ongoing $20 billion lawsuit from President Trump against CBS.
President Trump filed a $20 billion lawsuit alleging that 60 Minutes intentionally misled the public by editing an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in a biased and misleading way, which Trump claims confused millions of Americans.
The lawsuit and Trump's harsh criticism have created a tumultuous internal atmosphere at CBS, with increased political and corporate pressure, including concerns about editorial independence and the potential impact on a pending merger involving CBS's parent company, Paramount Global.
The potential merger of CBS's parent company, Paramount Global, with Skydance Media has heightened corporate pressures on CBS News, complicating the situation amid the lawsuit and contributing to the loss of editorial independence cited by Owens.
Legal experts have widely described Trump's lawsuit as frivolous and an infringement on First Amendment rights, indicating little legal merit to the claims that 60 Minutes engaged in unlawful editing.
History
- 2M3 articles
- 2M
6 articles