Despite growing pressure from inside its own network, 60 Minutes went ahead with a report scrutinizing Donald Trump’s legal war against U.S. law firms—even as its long-time host claimed political coverage at CBS is being closely “supervised.” The segment aired just days after Scott Pelley took a public stand against what he called editorial interference from CBS’ parent company, Paramount.
Pelley recently acknowledged that Paramount began “supervising” content on the show more aggressively following Trump’s ongoing lawsuit against CBS. That lawsuit stems from a 2024 interview with Kamala Harris, which Trump’s legal team alleged was meant to sway the election unfairly. According to Pelley, the increased oversight created a chilling effect, eventually leading to the resignation of 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens.
Still, the network aired the controversial piece. Titled How Law Firms Targeted by Trump Are Responding to White House Pressure, the report focused on Trump’s recent legal efforts against firms he accuses of bias and misconduct. It wasn’t easy to assemble—Pelley admitted that most people contacted for interviews declined to participate, calling it “near impossible” to get anyone on the record.
The only legal figure who agreed to appear was Mark Alias, a longtime critic of Trump and one of the attorneys named in the lawsuits. Alias was the sole individual interviewed on camera for the story, underscoring the tense climate surrounding the topic. “He was the only lawyer the president has named willing to appear,” Pelley noted during the broadcast.
The segment arrives amid reports that the Trump administration holds influence over Paramount’s pending merger—raising further questions about the timing and content of political coverage at CBS. Yet despite internal friction and legal battles, 60 Minutes is pressing on, for now, with its editorial independence intact.
