Steven Coar did his first show since the announcement of its cancellation last night. He's got about a year to go until CBS shuts it down for good. The cancellation immediately raised suspicions because Paramount, the owner of CBS, is desperate for the Trump administration to appro approve its proposed merger with Sky Dance.It agreed to pay Trump $16 million to settle an utterly baseless lawsuit. Today, we learned it may be a lot more than that. Trump bragging that in addition to the 16 million, he anticipa ...

Well, today in Louisiana, four former and current local law enforcement officers, including police chiefs, were federally charged in what prosecutors are describing as a decadesl long immigration visa scheme. Investigators alleged that these very officers committed conspiracy, immigration fraud, bribery, mail fraud, and money laundering. According to the 62count indictment that was unsealed this morning, the FBI and Homeland Security carried out the arrests and search warrants across the state yesterday.NBC ...

The SEC moved to dismiss a long-running bribery case against two former executives of Cognizant, the latest sign of the Trump administration’s shift away from enforcing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act https://t.co/IZh0OMuTGE ...

Core Viewpoint - The China Securities Association is seeking opinions on the revised "Securities Industry Professional Reputation Information Management Measures," which includes significant changes regarding bribery and advance compensation for investors [1][2]. Group 1: Key Adjustments in the Revised Measures - The revised measures now include provisions for recording bribery and other improper conduct that interferes with the regulatory enforcement of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) [2][10]. - A new provision grants "preferential treatment" for firms that proactively engage in advance compensation to mitigate or eliminate investor losses, allowing them to avoid having related penalty information recorded in the professional reputation information database [2][4]. - The source of information for the reputation database has shifted from the CSRC's integrity archive to self-reporting by members, which has a limited impact on overall operations [2][12]. Group 2: Regulatory Trends and Implications - The inclusion of bribery in the measures indicates that any form of bribery could negatively impact a firm's professional reputation, emphasizing the need for compliance [2][10]. - The encouragement of advance compensation reflects a regulatory trend aimed at promoting proactive measures by firms to address investor grievances, which may become a more favorable option for firms with sufficient capital [2][8]. - Recent revisions in other regulatory documents also highlight the importance of advance compensation, suggesting that firms engaging in such practices will receive benefits in evaluations and assessments [5][7]. Group 3: Additional Adjustments with Limited Impact - The revised measures no longer differentiate between "public information" and "limited public information," simplifying the classification of professional reputation information [12][13]. - The adjustments also enhance the autonomy of firms in reporting their integrity information, potentially increasing the volume of self-reported data [12][13].

Core Viewpoint - The potential $35 million settlement of President Trump's lawsuit against Paramount's CBS affiliate is delayed due to management's concerns over legal repercussions, impacting broader negotiations related to a significant merger with Skydance [1][4][5]. Group 1: Settlement Negotiations - Settlement discussions are ongoing, with both parties considering a $35 million deal, which represents a 30% reduction from the initial $50 million sought by Trump's legal team [6][10]. - Paramount's management is hesitant to agree to any settlement amount that could be perceived as a bribe, especially given the implications for the $8 billion merger with Skydance [5][12]. - The Trump legal team has maintained its bargaining position, indicating that they are not close to settling for the proposed $35 million [6][7]. Group 2: Legal Context and Implications - The lawsuit alleges that CBS News' "60 Minutes" program edited an interview with Kamala Harris in a biased manner ahead of the 2024 presidential election, raising concerns about regulatory approval for the merger [8][21]. - The Federal Communications Commission's approval of the merger is seen as contingent on resolving the lawsuit, although Trump’s representatives deny any connection between the two issues [5][12]. - If a settlement is not reached by October, the case may escalate significantly, potentially voiding the merger agreement with Skydance [22]. Group 3: Financial Stakes and Management Concerns - Shari Redstone, Paramount's controlling shareholder, stands to gain up to $2 billion from the sale to Skydance, but the ongoing lawsuit complicates this potential windfall [9][11]. - Redstone has recused herself from negotiations due to personal financial interests, which has added to the management's reluctance to settle [12]. - The financial pressures on Redstone include a looming tax bill related to her late father's estate, which could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars [23].

Core Viewpoint - Paramount Global is under scrutiny from US senators regarding its negotiations to settle a $20 billion defamation lawsuit filed by President Trump against CBS News, with concerns that such a deal may violate US anti-bribery laws [1][2]. Group 1: Legal and Regulatory Concerns - Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, and Bernie Sanders have expressed concerns that Paramount may be engaging in improper conduct with the Trump administration in exchange for merger approval with Skydance Media [2][4]. - The lawsuit originates from a 2024 "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which Trump claims was edited to favor her, a claim CBS has denied [5][6]. - The senators are requesting detailed information about any concessions discussed with Trump and any internal decisions affecting CBS programming, particularly "60 Minutes" [4][5]. Group 2: Corporate Governance and Management Changes - Shari Redstone, chair of Paramount Global, is reportedly eager to settle the lawsuit, which could impact the proposed $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, from which she stands to gain approximately $2 billion [7]. - Wendy McMahon, CEO of CBS News, resigned amid internal tensions regarding the handling of the Trump lawsuit, indicating a potential shift in corporate strategy [10][13]. - McMahon's departure follows that of Bill Owens, a longtime executive producer of "60 Minutes," raising concerns about editorial independence within CBS [16][20]. Group 3: Audience and Ratings Context - CBS's evening news program is currently averaging fewer than 4 million viewers, trailing behind competitors ABC and NBC, which have significantly higher viewership [17].