DJT Threatens CBS Broadcasting License Over 60 Minutes Stories He Dislikes

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Donald Trump ranted that the Federal Communications Commission should revoke the broadcasting license for CBS and the network should “pay a big price” after its latest episode of 60 Minutes included segments about Greenland and Ukraine that angered him.

The FTC is an independent agency. It issues broadcasting licenses to stations, not networks to which stations belong.

Trump was already pressuring CBS with a $20 billion lawsuit over an interview with former Vice President and Presidential candidate Kamala Harris that 60 Minutes aired in October 2024. He claims CBS edited Harris’ answer to make the interview more detrimental to him. CBS said its editing was normal. Currently he and CBS are in mediation about settling that lawsuit.

Sunday evening’s episode included an interview with Ukraine’s President Volodimyr Zelenskyy. About the Oval Office ambush of him by Trump and J.D. Vance, he said, “It seems to me that the vice president is somehow justifying [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s action [invading Ukraine in 2022].” Zelenskyy went on to say the USA remains a strong strategic partner despite shifted “tone” and “reality.” He invited Trump to Ukraine for a firsthand look at what Russia has wrought there.

Another segment in the episode concentrated on Greenland, which Trump says he will take over for the USA by any means necessary, including military force. Greenland belongs to Denmark, a NATO ally.  CBS correspondent Jon Wertheim interviewed locals in Greenland who rebuked Trump for his takeover threats.

FTC Chair Brendan Carr has accommodated Trump by opening investigations into:

  • CBS over its interview of Harris
  • ABC over its moderation of a pre-election debate between Trump and then-President Joe Biden
  • NBC over Harris’ appearance in an episode of Saturday Night Live before the 2024 election
  • National Public Radio (NPR)
  • Public Broadcasting System (PBS)
  • Walt Disney Company
  • and more

Taking control of the media is a key element of authoritarianism.

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