CBS releases Trump-free preview of ‘60 Minutes’ fall season after $16M settlement

CBS on Sunday released a Trump-free trailer for 60 Minutes season 58, the network's fall preview that arrives after Paramount Global and CBS agreed to pay $16 million to settle claims that a 2024 interview with Vice President Kamala Harris was deceitfully edited to make her appear more articulate ahead of the 2024 election. The two-minute, 50-second trailer runs through a range of segments and topics without any reference to President Trump.

The preview, which the network released ahead of the show’s formal season launch, highlights segments on a spectrum of issues—from political analysis to science and nature—while noticeably avoiding any mention of Trump. The decision to omit the former president follows the settlement that CBS and Paramount reached earlier this year, a resolution that also involved other parties and corporate figures tied to the broader media disruptions surrounding the 2024 election cycle.

The settlement, disclosed in July, resolved claims that the Harris interview was edited in a way that misrepresented her remarks and demeanor in the lead-up to the 2024 election. Trump had publicly suggested he expected a larger payout, saying he anticipated as much as $36 million, a figure that included advertising and public service announcements from Skydance Media, which took control of Paramount later in July. Skydance is led by David Ellison, and his father, Larry Ellison, is a prominent Trump ally through various business interests. Representatives for CBS, Paramount and 60 Minutes did not respond to requests for comment.

The settlement and the Trump-free trailer come amid broader upheaval in the industry. In July, Paramount and CBS announced a $16 million settlement tied to the Harris interview, while the broader corporate maneuvering around Skydance and Paramount drew scrutiny from industry insiders and policymakers. CBS staffers were reportedly upset with Shari Redstone, then-Paramount’s controlling shareholder, over the settlement, which some viewed as a capitulation to political and regulatory pressure in the era of heightened scrutiny over coverage and talent decisions. At the time, Paramount was still pursuing regulatory clearance for its long-planned merger with Skydance, a deal that would have implications for the company’s content development and distribution strategies.

Beyond the 60 Minutes development, the summer and early fall have been marked by a wave of network strategy shifts tied to political sensitivities. In another notable move, CBS canceled Stephen Colbert’s late-night show earlier this year, a decision described by CBS as financial, though industry observers have weighed in on how politics may have shaped the timing. In a separate development this week, ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel indefinitely after he commented on right-wing responses to a high-profile incident involving a political figure tied to Kirk’s audience. The suspension prompted commentary about how networks police on-air rhetoric and how licensing and regulatory oversight intersect with programming choices.

The conversation around broadcast licenses and regulatory action has intensified in recent days. Brendan Carr, the Republican commissioner who has pressed networks and their corporate parents on public-interest obligations, argued there could be a case for the FCC to take action against ABC and its parent company, Disney, over perceived editorial issues in coverage. Carr suggested that networks with broadcast licenses have duties to serve the public, while Kimmel’s outlet moved quickly to address the controversy. Nexstar and Sinclair, which own a large share of ABC affiliates, moved to pull Kimmel from the air as the regulatory debate intensified. The possible change to the nationwide cap on the percentage of households a single entity can reach remains a key factor in any consolidation or acquisition deals, including Nexstar’s efforts to acquire Tegna.

Trump has applauded actions that he sees as limiting coverage he views as unfavorable. He has publicly claimed that government tools could be used to challenge media organizations at licensing levels, arguing that licenses should reflect outlets that align with his political views. Those comments have fed into a broader debate about media ownership, editorial independence, and the boundaries of regulatory authority in a highly polarized media landscape.

In parallel developments connected to ongoing legal cases in the country, court documents filed in a separate matter showed that the mother of a jurist-targeted case’s accused killer described her son as becoming more political and leaning more to the left, a detail referenced in documents amid coverage of the broader political climate affecting media coverage and public perception. Some observers see these intersecting stories as illustrating how entertainment, news, and regulatory policy have become entwined in debates about bias, responsibility, and the future of broadcast television.

As CBS rolls out its fall schedule, the Trump-free 60 Minutes trailer signals a continued emphasis on cinematic storytelling and investigative reporting that the show has built its brand on across decades. The season’s tone and coverage may reflect evolving editorial choices in a media environment shaped by lawsuits, corporate realignments, and a highly charged political debate that shows no sign of waning. The public can expect the franchise’s signature mix of in-depth reporting and human-interest storytelling as it returns to air, with viewers watching to see how the network balances its own exposure to political pressure with a commitment to the journalistic standards that have defined the program for generations.