Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• US Treasury Department demands Financial Times retraction of Federal Reserve oversight story — On Friday, 28 March, the US Treasury Department issued a formal complaint to the Financial Times and its parent company Nikkei Inc., demanding retraction of a 26 March article reporting that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had discussed increasing oversight of the Federal Reserve modeled on the Bank of England system. Treasury officials, via acting assistant secretary Elliott Hulse, denied Bessent made any such statements publicly or privately and accused the FT of publishing "false claims" and a misleading headline. The FT stood by its reporting and included Treasury responses in the article.

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• White House launches official mobile application — The White House issued a release announcing the launch of an official mobile app designed to deliver "unfiltered, real-time updates" directly to users. The app offers breaking news alerts, live streams of briefings and speeches, a media library, policy updates, and a channel for users to send feedback to the administration. The release frames the app as a direct communication channel "cutting through the noise" and positions it as the "fastest, most powerful way to stay informed and engaged with the Trump Administration."

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• Trump endorses FCC chair's threat to revoke broadcast licenses over Iran war coverage — Donald Trump posted on Truth Social expressing he was "thrilled" that FCC Chair Brendan Carr was "looking at the licenses" of news organizations reporting unfavorably on the Iran war. Carr had stated on X that broadcasters running "hoaxes and news distortions" should "correct course before their license renewals come up" or "lose their licenses." In a Reuters interview, Carr said license revocations were "on the table" and accelerated reviews were possible. Trump claimed news outlets "knowingly" disseminated false information and should face treason charges, while Defense Secretary Hegseth barred press photographers and singled out CNN.
• Trump posted social media attacks on New York Times and Wall Street Journal — President Trump posted on social media that the New York Times and Wall Street Journal "actually want us to lose the War" and that their "terrible reporting is the exact opposite of the actual facts." Trump called the outlets "Lowlife 'Papers' and Media" and characterized journalists as "truly sick and demented people that have no idea the damage they cause the United States of America," citing his 2024 election victory as proof that Americans understand events better than "Fake News Media."
• Trump posted that media outlets should face treason charges for false reporting — President Trump posted on social media that media outlets generating stories he characterized as "FAKE" "should be brought up on Charges for TREASON for the dissemination of false information." Trump reiterated support for FCC Chair Brendan Carr's attack on the media and insisted he won the presidential election "IN A LANDSLIDE."

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• FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened broadcast licenses of media stations — Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr posted a threat to the broadcast licenses of media stations, stating that "Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions—also known as the fake news—have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up." Carr claimed "The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not." Carr also falsely claimed Trump won "a landslide election victory" when Trump received less than 50% of the vote.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth complained about war coverage at press briefing — On March 14, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a press briefing at the Defense Department in which he spent significant time complaining about headlines reporting that the war is widening and that the administration underestimated Iran's ability to close the Strait of Hormuz. He called for a "patriotic press" that would report Iran is weakening, criticized CNN's reporting, and stated "The sooner [right-wing Trump ally] David Ellison takes over that network, the better." He claimed the Strait of Hormuz is open and that Iran can "barely communicate, let alone coordinate."

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• Senate Democrats launch investigation into CBS/FCC over blocked Colbert interview — Senator Richard Blumenthal, ranking Democrat on the Senate's permanent subcommittee on investigations, initiated a formal inquiry into whether the FCC and CBS parent company Paramount suppressed a Stephen Colbert interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. Blumenthal sent letters to the FCC's enforcement bureau and Paramount CEO David Ellison demanding documents and communications with the Trump White House, alleging a "partisan censorship scheme" by FCC Chair Brendan Carr and suggesting Paramount silenced speech to secure federal approval for its $108 billion Warner Brothers Discovery acquisition.

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• FCC Chairman Brendan Carr signals enforcement of equal-time rule against talk shows — FCC Chairman Brendan Carr issued new guidance signaling that late-night and daytime talk shows can no longer assume they fall under the "bonafide news" exemption from the equal-time rule. Carr indicated that exemption determinations would depend on multiple factors, including whether there was "partisan motivation" in featuring political candidates as guests. The guidance prompted stations to seek pre-approval before booking candidates, effectively making the FCC a de facto guest-booking authority.
• FCC Chair Carr opened investigation of The View — FCC chair Brendan Carr opened an investigation of the morning talk show The View after Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico appeared on the show earlier this month. Carr changed the FCC's enforcement of the Equal Time Rule to apply to non-news talk shows that appear to be "motivated by partisan purposes," requiring networks to give equal time to all candidates for an office if they interview one candidate.
• FCC chair investigates talk show for Equal Time Rule violation — FCC chair Brendan Carr opened an investigation into the talk show "The View" after it featured Democratic candidate James Talarico, suggesting that the show may have violated the Equal Time Rule by not providing equal airtime to other candidates.
• FCC launches investigation into ABC's interview with Democratic candidate — After ABC's The View interviewed Texas State Representative James Talarico on February 2, 2026, an anonymous FCC source leaked to Fox News that the Commission had launched an investigation into the interview. The FCC source stated, "Fake news is not getting a free pass anymore," signaling that the investigation was retaliatory and politically motivated.
• FCC investigated San Francisco radio station over ICE coverage — Early in Trump's second term, the FCC launched an investigation into San Francisco radio station KCBS over its coverage of ICE operations in San Jose. According to the Associated Press, the station's news directors told employees to ensure that the station's coverage did not anger the FCC, demonstrating that regulatory threat had a chilling effect on editorial independence.

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• Stephen Colbert reports CBS blocked Talarico interview — The Trump administration issued new guidance in January 2026 reinterpreting the "equal-time rule" to apply to daytime and late-night talk shows, reversing the longstanding assumption that interviews with politicians conducted by talk show hosts would be exempt from the rule. This guidance became the legal basis cited by CBS for blocking the Colbert-Talarico interview.
• Texas Democratic Senate primary between Talarico and Crockett — James Talarico and Jasmine Crockett are competing in the Texas Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat scheduled for March 3, 2026. On February 16, CBS refused to air Stephen Colbert's interview with Talarico, citing Trump administration FCC guidance concerns. The incident generated widespread censorship allegations and boosted Talarico's campaign through viral YouTube views and fundraising. Both candidates present contrasting strategies: Crockett emphasizes partisan confrontation of Trump; Talarico pursues cross-partisan economic messaging to appeal to disaffected Trump voters and independents.
• Stephen Colbert reports network legal censorship of Texas state representative — Late-night host Stephen Colbert announced on air that his network's legal team had prohibited him from interviewing Texas state Representative James Talarico, who was scheduled as a guest. Colbert stated he was told "in no uncertain terms" that he could not have Talarico on the broadcast and was further instructed not to mention the prohibition itself. Colbert then proceeded to discuss the censorship on air, citing the network's apparent unwillingness to address the matter.
• CBS refused to air Colbert interview with Democratic candidate over FCC equal-time rule — Late-night host Stephen Colbert reported that CBS refused to broadcast an interview he conducted with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, citing legal concerns about FCC chair Brendan Carr's regulatory guidance issued in January requiring equal airtime for political candidates on daytime and late-night talk shows. CBS claimed the broadcast "could trigger" the equal-time rule, though the network stated the program was not prohibited. Colbert's team found no historical enforcement of the rule on late-night shows dating to the 1960s. The interview was uploaded to YouTube instead.
• CBS Blocks Stephen Colbert Interview with Texas State Representative — CBS network legal counsel blocked Stephen Colbert from airing an interview with Texas State Representative James Talarico and instructed him not to mention the cancellation. The network cited concerns about retaliation from FCC Chair Brendan Carr. Colbert disclosed the censorship on-air and subsequently released the interview independently online, revealing the chilling effect of government pressure on editorial decisions.
• CBS prohibits Colbert interview with Democratic candidate under FCC pressure — CBS forbade Late Show host Stephen Colbert from interviewing Texas State Representative James Talarico, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate, citing the FCC's January 21 "equal time rule" reinterpretation. The FCC declared that talk-show interviews with political candidates would no longer have blanket news exemptions and would be evaluated case-by-case for "bona fide" news purposes versus "partisan purposes." CBS also instructed Colbert's lawyers to prevent him from discussing the censorship decision. Colbert aired the incident anyway on his February 17 show, calling it an effort to silence Trump critics on television.
• Colbert's interview with Talarico received 3.8 million YouTube views — As of 10:00 p.m. on February 18, Colbert's 15-minute interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico had been viewed on YouTube 3.8 million times. Forbes reported it is Colbert's most watched interview in months, indicating significant public interest in Talarico's message criticizing Republican use of Christianity as a political weapon.
• CBS blocked interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico — Late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert told viewers he had been unable to air an interview he did with Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Texas James Talarico. Colbert stated: "I was told…that not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on." CBS chose not to challenge the FCC's reinterpreted Equal Time Rule, which FCC chair Brendan Carr had changed to apply to non-news talk shows deemed "motivated by partisan purposes."

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• Washington Post announces layoff of approximately one-third of staff — The Washington Post announced on February 4, 2026 that it will cut roughly one-third of its staff, with entire departments being gutted. The decision was made by owner Jeff Bezos, who has simultaneously invested tens of millions in projects tied to Trump's orbit, including a reported $75 million for a Melania Trump documentary. The layoffs represent a dismantling of the paper's accountability journalism capacity at a time when Trump and allies demand less scrutiny.
• Jeff Bezos laid off one-third of Washington Post workforce — Jeff Bezos, owner of the Washington Post, laid off approximately one-third of the newspaper's workforce in what was described by critics as a "murder," "absolute bloodbath," and an effort to "ingratiate himself with Donald Trump." The layoffs effectively gutted the Post's sports, local news, and international coverage. Editor-in-chief Matt Murray characterized the decision as a "strategic reset." Former editor Marty Baron called it "among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
• Washington Post conducts mass layoffs of reporters and editors — The Washington Post laid off approximately one-third of its staff, including reporters and editors worldwide, on February 5, 2026. Nancy Pelosi characterized the layoffs as part of a "reprehensible pattern" of corporate decisions hollowing out newsrooms across the country and weakening the press's ability to fulfill its democratic mission.

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• Pete Hegseth announced Pentagon takeover of Stars and Stripes editorial content — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of War is taking over editorial content decision-making for Stars and Stripes, the military publication. Hegseth stated the publication would be refocused away from "woke distractions" and toward warfighting, weapons systems, and military lethality. The Pentagon's statement challenged the editorial independence of Stars and Stripes, which has long retained independence under a congressional mandate governed by First Amendment principles.
• Stars and Stripes Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin defended editorial independence — Stars and Stripes Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin responded to the Pentagon's takeover announcement by reaffirming the publication's commitment to First Amendment principles and editorial independence. Slavin stated that military personnel who risk their lives in defense of the Constitution have earned the right to press freedoms and accurate, balanced coverage with accountability for military officials.
• Pentagon strikes policy protecting Stars and Stripes editorial independence, seizes control of military newspaper — The Trump administration's Department of Defense published a final rule in the Federal Register on Thursday striking previous policy that required Stars and Stripes to have a civilian editor and independent ombudsman. Pentagon officials will now control content "custom tailored to our warfighters," with the outlet directed to avoid "woke distractions" and focus exclusively on military topics. The action eliminates protections mandated by Congress and a defense department directive guaranteeing "free flow of news and information" without censorship.

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• DHS and Trump administration frame shooting as self-defense and label victim as domestic terrorist — Within hours of the shooting, DHS and ICE officials characterized the incident as lawful self-defense. Trump amplified the narrative by posting that Good "violently, willfully, and viciously ran over" an ICE officer and that the agent "almost died." DHS leadership immediately began using the phrase "domestic terrorism" to describe Good's actions, establishing a federal narrative before full evidence was released to the public.
• DOJ civil rights division leader amplifies false claim about Renee Good shooting — Harmeet Dhillon, the Republican activist now leading the Justice Department's civil rights division, shared on X (formerly Twitter) Trump's false claim that Renee Good "violently, willfully and viciously ran over the ICE officer." Forensic analysis by the New York Times, Bellingcat, and other outlets has demonstrated this characterization is false. Dhillon's amplification of disproven claims while heading the civil rights division signals politicization of the office responsible for investigating police and federal law enforcement misconduct.
• Homeland Security Secretary Noem characterized Renee Good's actions as domestic terrorism — Following the fatal shooting of Renee Good on January 7, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly stated that Good had committed an act of "domestic terrorism," claiming she disobeyed officers' commands and attempted to "run a law enforcement officer over." This characterization preceded detailed video analysis that contradicted the account of the shooting.
• DHS Secretary Noem falsely labels Renee Good's death an "act of domestic terrorism" — Hours after the January 7 shooting, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed that Renee Good "attempt[ed] to kill or to cause bodily harm to agents" and described the incident as an "act of domestic terrorism." White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller also described the incident as "domestic terrorism" on X. Domestic terrorism is legally defined as a violent act intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or affect government conduct by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping. Good was driving home after taking her 6-year-old son to school, had no criminal record beyond a speeding ticket, and no known links to any terrorist group.
• Trump falsely claims Renee Good ran over ICE agent — On January 7, President Trump posted on Truth Social that Renee Good "violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer." Witness videos contradict this claim, showing the first shot occurred while Ross stood in front of Good's vehicle as she turned to avoid him, and subsequent shots while he stood to the side. Trump repeated the false claim to New York Times reporters the same day, claiming Good "ran him over," and showed reporters a video he said supported his narrative. When reporters noted the video did not show Good running over Ross, Trump called it a "terrible scene."
• ICE agent shoots and kills Minneapolis resident; Trump administration launches coordinated disinformation campaign — An ICE agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and poet, during a Minneapolis raid on January 8, 2026. Within hours, the Trump administration—including President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem—issued a coordinated series of false and misleading statements characterizing Good as a "domestic terrorist" and "violent rioter" who attempted to run over the officer. Video evidence contradicts these claims. Democratic officials, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, publicly denounced the falsehoods as "verifiably false" and "bullshit."
• Republican Randy Fine justifies killing of civilian by ICE — Republican Randy Fine appeared on television and justified the killing of Renee Good by stating that if Americans "get in the way of the government repelling a foreign invasion" they will "end up just like that lady did yesterday." The statement framed civilian death as an acceptable consequence of federal enforcement actions.
• Department of Homeland Security issued false statement about ICE shooting — The Department of Homeland Security posted a statement on social media claiming that Renee Nicole Good had "weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers" and that the shooting was an act of "domestic terrorism." The statement falsely claimed ICE officers were injured and recovering in the hospital. Video evidence contradicts these claims, showing the vehicle moving away from the officer and no evidence of officers being struck or injured. The statement also blamed "sanctuary politicians" for assaults on law enforcement.
• DHS and administration officials made false public statements about Minneapolis shooting — The Department of Homeland Security, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and President Trump made public statements claiming that federal agent Renee Nicole Good was shot in self-defense, contradicting video evidence from multiple witnesses. The administration's narrative was amplified by Fox News Channel, which shifted its coverage to align with official talking points as video evidence emerged.
• Trump posted false account of ICE shooting — President Trump posted on social media a false account of the shooting, claiming the officer "seems to have shot at her in self defense" and that "it is hard to believe that he is alive" because the woman "violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer." Video evidence shows the vehicle moving away from the officer and no contact between vehicle and officer. Trump blamed the incident on "the Radical Left" and called for Americans to "stand by and protect our Law Enforcement Officers."
• Vice President Vance made false claims about Minneapolis shooting — Vice President J.D. Vance held a press conference on the shooting and claimed that Renee Nicole Good was part of a "left wing network" and that she "aimed her car at a law enforcement officer and pressed on the accelerator." The New York Times published a slow-motion video analysis the same day demonstrating conclusively that the vehicle was turning away from the officer when he opened fire.
• White House press secretary attacked victim of federal shooting — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good as resulting from a "larger, sinister left-wing movement" and described federal law enforcement as "under organized attack." The statement blamed the victim and a political movement rather than addressing the circumstances of the shooting.
• Vice President Vance repeats false claims about shooting victim at press conference — Vice President JD Vance held a press conference where he repeated the administration's false narrative that Renee Good used her car as a weapon against ICE officers. He reduced her to "that woman," insisted she tried to run down an officer, and made unsubstantiated claims that she was part of "left-wing networks" targeting officers. He also attacked the press for reporting facts about the incident, accusing media of "putting law enforcement at risk."
• Vice President Vance repeats false claims about Renee Good shooting — On January 8, Vice President J.D. Vance repeated Trump's false claims about the shooting, stating "Ramming an ICE officer with your car, that's what justifies being shot." Vance later amplified a 47-second video of the incident that was selectively leaked to Alpha News, a right-wing outlet, before being released by DHS. Vance also claimed Good was "brainwashed" and a "victim of left-wing ideology," and told reporters that Ross has "absolute immunity" for Good's killing.
• White House Press Secretary falsely labels Renee Good an "insurrectionist" — On January 8, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed Renee Good was part of "a large, sinister left-wing movement" and described her as "a leftist insurrectionist who was purposefully and illegally obstructing law enforcement operations." Vice President Vance amplified these claims. Good was affiliated with ICE Watch, a loose coalition of citizens that alerts neighbors to ICE activity using whistles and messaging apps—activity that is legal and constitutionally protected. Good had no association with any violent or extremist group.
• Homeland Security Secretary and Vice President defend ICE shooting and attack victim's character — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Vice President JD Vance publicly defended ICE agent Jonathan E Ross's shooting of Renee Nicole Good, contradicting video evidence of the incident. Noem characterized Ross as "an experienced officer" following his training and noted he had been hospitalized. Vance claimed without evidence that Good was part of a "leftwing network" attempting to incite violence against law enforcement, calling her "a victim of leftwing ideology" who had been "brainwashed." Both officials asserted the agent acted in self-defense, contradicting widely circulated video footage showing Good reversing her car to allow ICE vehicles to pass before being shot multiple times.
• Trump administration justifies Minneapolis shooting as self-defense and labels victim as domestic terrorist — The Trump administration publicly justified the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent as "self-defense" and accused Good of engaging in "an act of domestic terrorism." This narrative contradicts witness video evidence widely shared online, which shows Good had turned her vehicle wheels away from the agent before he shot her three times as she attempted to drive away.
• Trump administration officials accuse shooting victim of domestic terrorism without evidence — President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem publicly accused Renee Nicole Good of "domestic terrorism" in connection with her fatal shooting by ICE, without providing evidence and before the official investigation was complete. Vance further asserted the agent enjoyed "absolute immunity" from prosecution, a claim contradicted by legal experts and state officials.
• Vice President Vance and DHS repost video of ICE shooting of Renee Good — Vice President J.D. Vance and the Department of Homeland Security reposted a cell phone video of the fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis. The video, which Vance claimed exonerated Ross, actually shows Good smiling and telling Ross "I'm not mad at you" before he shot her, then calling her a slur afterward. Vance captioned his repost: "What the press has done in lying about this innocent law enforcement officer is disgusting." The administration's framing contradicted the video's actual content.
• Noem falsely claims ICE agent received hospital treatment — Secretary Noem stated that the ICE agent involved in the shooting "went to the hospital. He was hit by the vehicle. He received treatment, was released, and is spending time with his family now." The bulletin reports this claim was false; the agent had no injuries and received no treatment.
• Trump discusses taking Machado's Nobel Peace Prize — Trump told Sean Hannity he understood Machado was coming to meet with him in the next week and that accepting a Nobel Peace Prize from her "would be a great honor." When asked if receiving her prize would change his view of her running the country, Trump said he would have to speak with her and that "I can't think of anybody in history that should get the Nobel prize more than me."
• Trump endorses Vance's characterization of Renee Good as agitator — When asked about Vance's suggestion that Renee Good was part of a broad left-wing network, Trump stated he had not seen the VP's statement but called him "generally very accurate" and characterized Good as "an agitator. Probably a paid agitator. She was not normal."

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• CBS News announces new editorial philosophy de-emphasizing expert analysis — New CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil posted a video declaring CBS's new editorial philosophy under Bari Weiss, stating that the press has "taken into account the perspective of advocates and not the average American" and put "too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites." The announcement prompted criticism from media figures and analysts who argued that journalism requires expert knowledge and context, not just aggregation of public opinion.

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• CBS pulled 60 Minutes investigation hours before broadcast — CBS pulled a completed 60 Minutes investigation examining Trump-era deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison hours before broadcast. The segment had cleared legal and standards review. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi stated the decision was political, not editorial. CBS cited a need for "additional reporting." The segment later aired through a Canadian broadcaster and circulated online.

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• Paramount Skydance owner Larry Ellison personally guaranteed $40 billion in financing for Warner Bros. Discovery takeover — Billionaire Larry Ellison, father of David Ellison (owner of Paramount Skydance), personally guaranteed that he would stand behind more than $40 billion in financing required for Paramount Skydance's attempted hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns CNN. This development follows Paramount Skydance's acquisition of Bari Weiss's opinion website Free Press for $150 million in October, after which Weiss became editor-in-chief of CBS News.

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• CBS News editor Bari Weiss pulls 60 Minutes segment on immigrant detention — CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss pulled a 60 Minutes segment investigating the Trump administration's practice of sending immigrants to El Salvador's megaprison CECOT, where Human Rights Watch documented inhumane conditions, torture, and sexual violence without due process. The segment's suppression prevented public disclosure of alleged human rights violations.
• 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi stated story was pulled for political reasons — 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi wrote in an email to colleagues that the pulled story had been screened five times and cleared by CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices, and was factually correct. Alfonsi stated that pulling the story after all rigorous internal checks had been met was "not an editorial decision, it is a political one." She noted that journalists had repeatedly requested interviews with administration officials who did not respond, and that allowing government refusal to participate to become a reason to spike stories would effectively give the administration a "kill switch" for inconvenient reporting.
• 60 Minutes segment on CECOT renditions leaked and circulated in United States — The 60 Minutes segment on migrant renditions to CECOT, which had been pulled from broadcast, had already been distributed in Canada and copies appeared in the United States on the afternoon of December 22. Legal analyst Asha Rangappa noted that the segment "debunks the fundamental claim used by [the] Trump admin[istration] that the detainees it sent there are 'terrorists' and corroborates torture using clips from El Salvadorean influencers Bukele uses internally." The leaked segment subsequently went viral.
• Bari Weiss pulled 60 Minutes story on migrant renditions to CECOT prison hours before air — Bari Weiss, the new editor-in-chief of CBS News, pulled a 60 Minutes story about the Trump administration's renditions of 252 migrants to CECOT, a notorious terrorist prison in El Salvador, just hours before it was scheduled to air. The story had undergone standard vetting, fact-checking, and legal review. Weiss stated in an email that she pulled the story because it did not present the administration's justification for the renditions, despite the story focusing on documented torture of prisoners.
• CBS pulled 60 Minutes segment on Trump-era deportations to CECOT hours before air — CBS postponed a completed 60 Minutes investigation into Trump administration deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison, citing need for "additional reporting." Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi publicly objected, characterizing the decision as political rather than editorial, despite the segment having cleared legal and standards review. The episode subsequently aired via Canadian broadcaster distribution and circulated online. The segment included interviews with former detainees, Human Rights Watch leadership, and UC Berkeley's Human Rights Center; DHS declined to participate.
• CBS Pulls 60 Minutes Segment on Trump-Era Deportations — CBS postponed a scheduled 60 Minutes segment investigating the Trump administration's deportation of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison, citing the need for "additional reporting." The segment, which included allegations of abuse and interviews with former detainees and human rights experts, was reportedly pulled for political reasons, according to correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi. Despite the postponement, the segment aired in Canada and circulated online. The delay has been criticized as a form of "soft censorship," potentially diminishing the segment's impact on public accountability.
• CBS pulled 60 Minutes investigation hours before broadcast — CBS pulled a completed 60 Minutes investigation examining Trump-era deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison hours before broadcast. The segment had cleared legal and standards review. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi stated the decision was political, not editorial. CBS cited a need for "additional reporting." The segment later aired through a Canadian broadcaster and circulated online.

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• CBS News spiked 60 Minutes segment on Venezuelan migrants in El Salvador prison — CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, newly appointed after David Ellison acquired her independent news site The Free Press, blocked a planned 60 Minutes segment by correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi investigating an El Salvador maximum-security prison where the Trump administration sent hundreds of Venezuelan migrants. Alfonsi stated the story had been screened five times, cleared by CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices, and was factually correct. Weiss requested additional material including a fresh interview with Stephen Miller and questioned terminology. Alfonsi characterized the decision as political censorship that handed the administration a "kill switch" over reporting.

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• Paramount launched hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery to control CNN — Media conglomerate Paramount, owned by David Ellison (son of billionaire Larry Ellison), launched a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns CNN. Paramount told shareholders that Trump would block the Netflix acquisition deal. Ellison told Trump he would make "sweeping changes" to CNN if Paramount acquires the company. Trump indicated to associates that he wants new CNN ownership and changes to CNN programming. Financing for the acquisition includes investment from Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and Saudi and Qatari sovereign wealth funds.
• Paramount launches hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery to control CNN — Media conglomerate Paramount, owned by David Ellison (son of billionaire Larry Ellison), launched a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns CNN. Paramount's financing includes investment from Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner's investment company and Saudi and Qatari sovereign wealth funds. Paramount told Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders they should accept its offer because Trump would never allow the competing Netflix deal to proceed. Ellison told Trump he would make "sweeping changes" to CNN if Paramount acquires Warner Bros. Discovery. Trump has indicated to associates that he wants new ownership of CNN and changes to its programming.
• Media merger battle involving Trump allies — A media merger battle is unfolding as Paramount Skydance launched a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, which includes CNN. The financing for this acquisition reportedly involves investments from Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and foreign sovereign wealth funds. This merger could lead to significant changes in CNN's programming, aligning it more closely with right-wing media narratives, as indicated by discussions between Trump and media executives about altering CNN's content.

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• Trump administration adopts "full spectrum dominance" media strategy — The Trump administration has explicitly adopted a strategy to achieve "full spectrum dominance" in controlling information and narrative. Communications director Steven Cheung articulated this goal. The administration has replaced traditional media outlets with right-wing loyalists and floods social media with Trump narratives untethered from reality. White House staff, including media ally Steve Bannon, have described the administration as functioning as a "major information content provider" that distributes Trump's actions through allied channels.

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• Laura Loomer confirmed attendance at Pentagon press event — Far-right activist Laura Loomer confirmed on social media that she would attend the Pentagon's right-wing media briefing, stating "Very excited for New Media week at the Pentagon this week. I am really looking forward to being a member of the Pentagon Press Corp."
• Pentagon hosted right-wing media at first in-person press event since mainstream press walkout — The Department of Defense hosted right-wing media outlets at the Pentagon for its first in-person press event and briefing since the mainstream press corps walked out in October. Attendees included far-right activist Laura Loomer, Turning Point USA, the Daily Signal, and Tim Pool's Timcast. Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson and Secretary Hegseth provided a briefing and meet-and-greet.
• Pentagon issues report defending new press corps composition — On Wednesday, December 5, 2025, the Pentagon issued a statement defending its new press corps, describing a "whirlwind of activity" and reporting that more than 70 independent journalists, bloggers, and social media influencers had completed three days of onboarding. Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson stated the new media "operates differently than traditional media" and is "better equipped to inform a broader swath of the American public," framing the rightwing composition as an effort to reach more Americans.

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• Trump threatened to sue BBC for $1 billion over Jan. 6 documentary — Trump threatened to sue the BBC for $1 billion on November 10, claiming in a letter from his lawyers that their documentary included "malicious, disparaging" edits to his January 6 speech at the Ellipse. The letter demanded an apology, full retraction of the documentary, and compensation for alleged harm.
• Trump threatens $1bn lawsuit against BBC over edited January 6 speech — Donald Trump's legal team sent a letter to the BBC threatening a $1 billion defamation lawsuit in Florida state court unless the corporation provides a "full and fair retraction" of a Panorama documentary that edited his January 6, 2021 Capitol speech. The BBC has acknowledged the edit was misleading. Trump claims reputational and financial harm. Legal experts note Trump has a history of unsuccessful libel suits and that the $1bn figure lacks substantive basis; the BBC has not yet committed to settlement.
• Trump threatens $1 billion lawsuit against BBC over Panorama January 6 editing — Donald Trump's legal team sent a cease-and-desist letter to the BBC threatening a $1 billion defamation lawsuit over a Panorama documentary episode that aired in October 2024, alleging the network defamatorily edited Trump's January 6 speech to suggest he encouraged Capitol violence. The letter cites "election interference" and claims the editing caused Trump "overwhelming financial and reputational harm." BBC director general Tim Davie and chief executive of BBC News Deborah Turness have already resigned over the controversy. The BBC stated it will review the correspondence and respond in due course.

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• BBC director general and head of news resigned over Jan. 6 documentary criticism — The BBC's director general and head of news resigned on November 9 following criticism, including from the White House, that a 2024 'Panorama' documentary misled viewers by editing Trump's infamous speech at the Ellipse on January 6. The resignations occurred amid pressure over editorial decisions regarding the documentary's presentation.

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• Elon Musk arbitrarily banned journalists who criticized him on Twitter/X — According to the article, Elon Musk engaged in arbitrary censorship of journalists on Twitter/X who had criticized him. The text states that "if you go on Twitter, you'll find it absolutely absorbed by Musk's latest move — today, it's arbitrarily banning journalists who criticized him." This action represents a direct use of platform control to punish speech critical of the platform owner, undermining press freedom and independent journalism.

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• CNN chief Mark Thompson met with Trump administration and subsequently directed editorial softening of coverage. — CNN chief Mark Thompson visited the White House, ostensibly to introduce the network's new streaming product to administration officials. The following morning, Thompson directed CNN's editorial staff during the daily editorial call to ease coverage of Trump's East Wing demolition project, claiming viewership was not interested in the story. Staff found the directive suspicious given the timing of the White House visit and Trump's known animosity toward CNN, particularly as the administration sought to keep the demolition project out of public view despite polling showing most Americans disapprove of it.

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• Trump administration moved to take over White House Correspondents' Association — The Trump administration moved to take over the White House Correspondents' Association, which determines the selection of the press pool. Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich criticized these moves, and the administration has been involved in "uncomfortable, although fairly tame" exchanges with her over the issue.

Supporting reports

• Bill Owens resigns from 60 Minutes over editorial pressure and corporate censorship — Bill Owens, executive producer of 60 Minutes, resigned in April 2025 after facing sustained pressure from Paramount leadership to suppress coverage of Gaza and Donald Trump. Owens stated that Paramount's controlling shareholder Shari Redstone, a strong Israel supporter, discouraged further Gaza reporting after a January segment featuring State Department employees critical of Biden's Gaza policy. He was also pressured to reduce Trump coverage and to apologize for editing decisions in a Kamala Harris interview. Owens refused and resigned, citing corporate censorship tied to Paramount's pending merger with Skydance Media and regulatory approval from Trump-appointed FCC chair Brendan Carr.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon replaces departing press corps with far-right outlets after restrictive policy implementation — After Pentagon reporters refused to sign new restrictive press policies introduced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon announced a replacement press corps of 60 journalists from far-right outlets including Lindell TV, Gateway Pundit, Post Millennial, and others. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell characterized departing mainstream journalists as "self-righteous media who chose to self-deport." Major outlets including the Washington Post, New York Times, Atlantic, Fox News, and Newsmax had all declined to accept the new rules, which restricted access to unauthorized material and certain areas.
• Pentagon announced "new media" press corps of right-wing outlets — The Pentagon announced a "new media" press corps made up of 60 people from primarily right-wing outlets including Real America's Voice, the Gateway Pundit, Lindell TV (created by MyPillow CEO and Trump ally Mike Lindell), Turning Point USA's media brand Frontlines, and Timcast, created by podcaster Tim Pool. Pool was among conservative influencers linked to a media company secretly funded by Russian state media employees, which amplified Kremlin interests.
• Pentagon establishes new press corps after traditional pool walks out over censorship demands — The Pentagon announced formation of a new press corps to cover Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Department of Defense after the traditional press pool resigned rather than accept a requirement to publish only material approved by Pentagon officials. The departing journalists included Hegseth's former colleagues at Fox News Channel. The new press corps, composed entirely of outlets that accepted Pentagon censorship, includes LindellTV (owned by election denier Mike Lindell) and podcaster Tim Pool, who received Russian funding before the 2024 election.