Paramount Creates CBS News Ombudsman, Launches Bias Review & Scraps DEI for FCC Approval; Commits $20M to Trump PSAs

Key Takeaways

Skydance commits to 2-year CBS News ombudsman role reporting to Paramount’s president to evaluate bias complaints .
Paramount eliminated all DEI programs in February 2025, removing diversity hiring goals and its Office of Global Inclusion .
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr conditioned merger approval on DEI elimination, calling such programs “invidious discrimination” .
$16M Trump lawsuit settlement preceded the FCC deal, with rumors of $20M more in PSA commitments .

The Ombudsman Gambit

Skydance lawyer Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon put it in writing July 22. An ombudsman will take complaints about CBS News. Report straight to New Paramount’s president. For two years minimum. This person judges “bias or other concerns.” McKinnon cited Comcast’s NBCUniversal deal as precedent. Said the FCC liked this setup before. Called it a “mechanism effective in preventing editorial bias.” Jeff Shell becomes New Paramount’s president. David Ellison sits as CEO. They want this merger done .

DEI Dismantling

Paramount started killing DEI months ago. February 2025. After the Supreme Court’s Harvard decision. After Trump’s executive orders. The Office of Global Inclusion? Gone. Diversity hiring targets? Erased. Employee resource groups now report to HR. No more DEI messaging internally or publicly. No more supplier diversity programs. Skydance’s letter states: “We write to confirm the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.” Skydance claims they never had DEI programs. Vow never to create them. “Focus on attracting talent from all geographies” replaces race or gender goals .
Table: DEI Program Removal Timeline

Carr’s Litmus Test

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr carries Trump’s baton. He told Verizon and T-Mobile: Scrap DEI or lose merger approval. They scrapped. Now Paramount and Skydance kneel. Carr labels DEI “invidious discrimination.” His letters demand viewpoint diversity. Skydance’s filings echo his language verbatim. “Viewpoint diversity.” “Unbiased journalism.” “Diverse ideological perspectives.” Carr’s office investigates Disney and Comcast’s DEI policies now. He warned media companies: Abandon DEI or face consequences. Consequences mean blocked deals .

Trump’s Long Shadow

Trump sued CBS News over a 60 Minutes Kamala Harris edit. Called it “deceptive.” Paramount settled for $16 million. CBS News chief Wendy McMahon exited. 60 Minutes editor Bill Owens quit over “lost independence.” Trump then posted on Truth Social: Expect $20 million more in PSA ads from Skydance. Paramount denies this. Ellison met Trump at UFC fights. Ellison’s father Larry backs Trump. David donated to Biden. Money talks. Principles walk .

CBS News in the Crosshairs

The 60 Minutes settlement broke things. Owens resigned saying journalism lost. McMahon left weeks later. Now an ombudsman watches CBS News. Reports to corporate. Skydance pledges a “comprehensive review” of CBS. Says local affiliates matter. Over 200 stations. “Trusted voices.” But the ombudsman answers to Shell. Not the newsroom. FCC filings claim this ensures “fair, unbiased, fact-based” reporting. Staff call it a political leash .

The Legal Blueprint

Skydance cites Comcast’s 2011 NBCU deal as their model. The FCC accepted Comcast’s ombudsman as bias protection. No other news conditions attached. Skydance rejects conservative group demands for “viewpoint neutrality” benchmarks. Calls that unconstitutional. Says it “entangles the FCC with editorial policy.” Their lawyers call the ombudsman voluntary. A self-imposed solution. Carr’s office seems satisfied .

Fallout in the Ranks

CBS News staff see the pattern. $16 million paid to Trump. Ombudsman installed. DEI programs dismantled. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert canceled. Network claims $50 million annual losses. Colbert mocked Trump relentlessly. Now he’s off air. Employees question the timing. Skydance calls it business. Carr calls it compliance .

The New Paramount Doctrine

Ellison and Shell now shape news. Their FCC letters promise entertainment and news with “diversity of viewpoints.” Meaning conservative voices. Meaning Carr’s approval. Meaning Trump’s lawsuits disappear. Paramount’s DEI initiatives lie discarded. Replaced by “equal opportunity” in quotes. The merger closes soon. The ombudsman watches. The newsroom adapts. The FCC moves to the next deal .

Frequently Asked Questions

What powers will the CBS News ombudsman have?

The ombudsman evaluates bias complaints against CBS News for two years. Reports findings directly to Paramount’s president. No editorial control. Only advisory power .

Did Trump’s lawsuit influence the merger terms?

Paramount paid Trump $16M to settle his 60 Minutes lawsuit. Trump claims Skydance pledged $20M more in PSA ads. Paramount denies the PSAs. Timing suggests political clearance .

Does removing DEI affect content creation?

Skydance says storytelling will still reflect diverse audiences. Without “disparate treatment” in hiring. Talent searches shift to “all geographies and backgrounds” instead of identity targets .

Is the ombudsman permanent?

No. Guaranteed only for two years post-merger. Mirroring Comcast’s NBCU agreement with the FCC .

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