FCC chairman assigns 'bias monitor' to CBS -- who reports 'directly to the president'

[Initech]

As part of its agreement to allow an $8 billion merger between media conglomerates Skydance and Paramount, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has assigned a government monitor to CBS (which is owned by Paramount) to rein in perceived "bias" against President Donald Trump and his administration.

Tech outlet Gizmodo reported Friday on an interview FCC chairman Brendan Carr gave to far-right, pro-Trump network Newsmax, in which he gave new details on the conditions the administration imposed in its green-lighting of the merger. According to Carr, Paramount will now have a government-assigned "bias monitor" tasked with making sure the company's properties — including CBS — aren't too critical of Trump.

“They made commitments to address bias and restore fact-based reporting. I think that’s so important,” Carr said. “I mean, look, the American public simply do not trust these legacy media broadcasters. And so, if they stick with that commitment, you know, we’re sort of trust-but-verify mode, that’ll be a big win.”

“One of the things they’re going to have to do is put in an ombudsman in place for two years,” Carr said. “So basically a bias monitor that will report directly to the President. So that’s something that’s significant that we’re going to see happening as well.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/fcc-chairman-assigns-bias-monitor-to-cbs-who-reports-directly-to-the-president/ar-AA1JjwqQ

WTF? This is some next level insanity. Fuck Trump and his stupid bias.

[Lovie777]

1. Again....

WTF

shithole now controls CBS, Paramount + and that newly joined bs company.

shithole with all positive regarding self and his comrades and I guess he can fire at will and cancel shows.

Another propaganda network which I am cutting ties with.

[walkingman]

2. What about FOX - clearly a network that is controlled by the GOP? This is wrong.

[Initech]

5. Fox is the most biased network on TV!

And then there's Newsmax which is even worse. Fuck the GOP. Fuck MAGA.

[TheFarseer]

8. Glad we are following North Korea

As our model for how to run things.

[Eliot Rosewater]

3. So you folks realize this is the end of America

This is the end, all the rest will follow suit.

Traditional methods to stop this will not work I will keep repeating that until something drastic happens.

[B.See]

6. Sounds like Big Brother sht to me. But then again,

I realized this was the end of America (as a democracy) the second this fascist slithered his way back into the O. Office.

[Permanut]

7. I'm hoping the military will hold, but not optimistic.

[Dave says]

11. It is so discouraging, but I agree: we lost

[Initech]

22. Agreed. You can't fight fascism with strongly worded letters.

[Eliot Rosewater]

24. We need immediate change in Democratic leadership with someone who will fight openly

Maybe that is Gavin Newsom

Something in the Senate must change immediately.

[underpants]

4. All Hail!! Dear Leader!!....JFC. So there's one specific Standards and Practices for one individual!

He has controls in a network.

[Initech]

9. This is absolute insanity. Fuck Trump, I don't want to live in fucking North Korea.

Every day more and more, I'm starting to think Futurama had the right idea.

[underpants]

14. We had Civil Rights monitors now we have

[pbmus]

10. Yes but...

The claim that the FCC chairman assigned a "bias monitor" to CBS who reports "directly to the president" stems from reports about the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) conditions for approving an $8 billion merger between Paramount Global (CBS's parent company) and Skydance Media. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that, as part of the merger agreement, CBS would appoint an ombudsman to address concerns about bias in its news reporting. This ombudsman is intended to ensure "fact-based reporting" and "viewpoint diversity" at CBS, particularly following controversies over a 2024 "60 Minutes" interview with Kamala Harris, which sparked allegations of biased editing.

However, there is ambiguity in Carr's statement, made during a Newsmax interview, where he said the ombudsman would report "directly to the president." Skydance clarified in a letter to the FCC that the ombudsman would report to the president of Paramount, not the U.S. President. It’s unclear if Carr misspoke or implied a different arrangement. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and media analysts, have raised First Amendment concerns, arguing this move could politicize FCC oversight and pressure CBS to align with the Trump administration’s interests, especially given the timing of the merger approval and a $16 million settlement of a lawsuit by Trump against CBS. The ombudsman’s role is set to last at least two years, with some sources suggesting it could influence CBS’s editorial decisions.[](https://gizmodo.com/fcc-to-appoint-a-babysitter-to-make-sure-cbs-isnt-anti-trump-2000634566)[](https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/23/media/skydance-fcc-cbs-news-bias-ombudsman-dei-paramount)[](https://www.alternet.org/fcc-trump-bias-cbs/)

There’s no evidence of a similar "bias monitor" being assigned to other networks like Fox News, as some X posts have questioned. The FCC’s actions have sparked debate about media freedom, with some calling it an overreach and others viewing it as an attempt to address perceived liberal bias in mainstream media.

[Dave says]

12. Thank you for clarifying the CBS thing

[underpants]

16. "overreach"? This is two of the five parts of the First Amendment

[D_Master81]

31. My guess

I’m betting the first comment was accurate and the 2nd was trying to clean up a mess. It sounds totally on brand for Trump to have someone like this reporting to him about the coverage of himself.

[Chasstev365]

13. A Serious Boycott of CBS Needs to Happen

[Johonny]

15. Is this constitutional?

[SickOfTheOnePct]

19. There is nothing unconstitutional...

...about an ombudsman reporting to the president of the company.

[Bluestocking]

17. This is what Fascism looks like

We have been a Fascist Oligarchy since the beginning of 2025.

Just tune out CBS-Paramount like you do Fox, Newsmax and the other well known right wing outlets.

[Initech]

28. What's really embarrassing is that Trump has his own personal baby monitor at a major network. WTF.

[sakabatou]

18. I sure the monitor will remain independent!

[Volaris]

20. Oh good, now CBS has their very own political officer...

CBS is now more State Television than Fox.

[Disaffected]

21. Political Commissars

come to America.

[dalton99a]

23. +1. COMING SOON: A portrait of The Supreme Leader in every home

"The happy life Chairman Mao gave us, 1954"

[Norrrm]

26. Praise to Dear Leader

[spanone]

25. FASCISM

[Fichefinder]

27. It's Bloomberg or Al Ajazeera for anything important

[hildegaard28]

29. Well

The next bias monitor will answer to a Democratic administration, so…

[SickOfTheOnePct]

30. It's an ombudsman...

….who reports to the president of the company, so…