“Dark Times at CBS”: Lesley Stahl Unleashes Scathing Criticism of Shari Redstone, Network Leadership Amid Trump Lawsuit

In a dramatic public rebuke that has rattled the foundations of CBS News, longtime 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl has broken her silence—directly criticizing Paramount Global chair Shari Redstone and calling into question the corporate interference gripping one of America’s most iconic news institutions.

Speaking on The New Yorker Radio Hour, Stahl—known for her fearless interviews and decades of journalistic excellence—pulled no punches as she addressed the “hard” and “painful” reality unfolding behind the scenes at CBS. Her candor revealed deep fractures at the network as it faces simultaneous leadership shakeups and a staggering $20 billion lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump.

“It steps on the First Amendment,” Stahl declared. “It steps on what we stand for. It makes me question whether any corporation should own a news operation.”

A Network Under Siege

The turmoil at CBS intensified following the resignation of 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens, a move Stahl described as “a gut punch.” Owens, long regarded as a pillar of editorial integrity at the network, reportedly left due to mounting corporate pressure to influence coverage and story selection.

“That was just painful. Everyone at 60 Minutes valued his courage,” Stahl said. “When he resigned, it felt like the wind had been knocked out of the room.”

Owens’ departure followed closely on the heels of CBS News President Wendy McMahon’s abrupt resignation, further fueling concerns of editorial erosion and corporate meddling.

“To have a news organization told by a corporation, ‘Do this, do that, change this story, don’t run that piece’—that’s not journalism. That’s propaganda,” Stahl lamented.

The Trump Lawsuit and the Redstone Rift

As if the internal strife wasn’t enough, CBS is embroiled in one of the most high-stakes lawsuits in network history. Donald Trump has sued Paramount and CBS for $20 billion, alleging defamation and “election interference.” The lawsuit stems from reporting done during and after the 2020 election, which Trump argues unfairly damaged his reputation.

News broke Friday that Trump had rejected a proposed $15 million settlement, with his legal team holding out for at least $25 million and a public apology. The former president’s legal team has described the settlement proposal as “insulting.”

Stahl made no attempt to hide her frustration with the possibility of CBS capitulating to Trump.

“I’m aggravated at the idea we’d settle with him at all. And yes, I think I’m angry at Shari Redstone. I think I am.”

Her comment marks one of the most direct internal rebukes of Redstone since the lawsuit began—and highlights growing unease about Redstone’s leadership and willingness to compromise journalistic values in favor of legal and financial expedience.

A Bleak Outlook for Journalism

The fallout at CBS is part of a broader reckoning in American journalism, as news outlets struggle with declining public trust, corporate consolidation, and increasing political polarization.

Stahl’s interview struck a somber tone on the future of the free press.

“I’m not optimistic,” she confessed. “The public doesn’t trust us. They’ve lost faith in the press as an institution. We’re in very dark times.”

Reflecting on her decades in journalism, Stahl warned that even the Founding Fathers recognized the essential role of a strong, adversarial press.

“We’re supposed to be the watchdogs. We’re supposed to cleanse the system. But increasingly, the public doesn’t want us in the room anymore.”

A Fractured Fourth Estate

The crisis at CBS—and Stahl’s unusually raw testimony—has reignited debate over the role of corporations in journalism. Critics argue that as profit-driven conglomerates acquire and control news outlets, editorial independence is sacrificed in favor of shareholder interests.

For journalists like Stahl, the issue is deeply personal—and deeply alarming.

“When a newsroom is forced to bow to corporate interests, we all lose. The press loses. Democracy loses.”

As 60 Minutes tries to weather this internal storm, the departure of trusted leaders like Owens and the looming threat of Trump’s legal assault raise pressing questions about the soul of American journalism—and whether it can survive intact.