Paramount infighting stalls Shari Redstone's push to settle $20B Trump suit: ‘Decision constipation'

Core Viewpoint - Paramount, controlled by Shari Redstone, is considering a settlement in a legal dispute with President Trump over alleged deceptive editing of a "60 Minutes" interview, but internal conflicts are delaying the decision [1][3][6]. Financial Implications - Paramount is reportedly willing to spend up to $50 million to settle the $20 billion lawsuit filed by Trump, which is affecting Redstone's plans to sell Paramount and its CBS News subsidiary to Skydance for $8 billion [2][17]. - If the sale goes through, Redstone and her family could receive approximately $2 billion, a significant drop from Paramount's previous valuation of nearly $40 billion [20]. Internal Conflicts - Infighting within Paramount has led to indecision regarding the settlement, with management and board members experiencing "decision constipation" due to conflicting advice [5][11]. - There is significant internal pressure against settling, with some arguing that it would undermine press freedom and be seen as capitulating to Trump's demands [6][7][10]. Legal Context - The Trump lawsuit is viewed as a critical factor in facilitating Redstone's planned sale to Skydance, as regulatory challenges from Trump's administration are complicating the merger [17][18]. - A federal judge has refused to dismiss the case, and even a potential victory on First Amendment grounds could incur costs exceeding $50 million in legal fees [13][19]. Industry Reactions - Prominent figures, including Senator Bernie Sanders, have publicly urged Redstone not to settle, framing the lawsuit as an attack on press freedom [10]. - Settling with Trump would align Paramount with other media companies that have previously paid him to resolve legal disputes [19].