Skydance Tells Senators It Wasn’t Involved in Colbert ‘Late Show’ Cancellation, ‘Fully Complied’ With Anti-Bribery Laws in Paramount Deal

Skydance Tells Senators It Wasn't Involved in Colbert 'Late Show' Cancellation, 'Fully Complied' With Anti-Bribery Laws in Paramount Deal

Skydance Media has responded to an inquiry from three left-wing U.S. senators who expressed concerns about "bribery" with respect to the Trump administration's approval of its deal to acquire Paramount Global — and had questioned whether Skydance had any part in the cancellation of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert." In a July 21letterto Skydance CEO David Ellison, Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Ron Wyden asked a series of pointed questions about Skydance's Paramount deal. Among those: "Is there currently any arrangement under which you or Skydance will provide compensation, advertising, or promotional activities that in any way assist President Trump, his family, his presidential library, or other Administration officials?" The letter also asked, "Were you or other Skydance executives involved in discussions about canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert?" More from Variety Kamala Harris Explains Why She's Not Running for Election on Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show': 'I Don't Want to Go Back in the System. I Think It's Broken' Shari Redstone Invokes Father Sumner Redstone's 'Steadfast Belief That Content Is King' in Final Quarterly Earnings Call as Paramount Global Owner Paramount Captures Small Q2 Profit Ahead of Sale to Skydance In a reply sent Thursday (July 31) to the senators obtained byVariety, Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon, Skydance's general counsel and co-president of business operations, said in part, "Throughout its history and during the review of the proposed acquisition of Paramount, Skydance has fully complied with all applicable laws, including our nation's anti-bribery laws." Skydance was "not involved" in CBS's decision to cancel "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," according to McKinnon. "Paramount did provide notice of its decision to Skydance [about Colbert's show being canceled], but only after Paramount reached its own independent decision, and shortly before Paramount publicly acknowledged the cancellation." CBS said the cancellation of Colbert's show was "purely a financial decision." The senators' letter also noted that Trump has claimed he had aside deal with Skydance under which the new owners of the merged company are expected to contribute $20 millionin advertising, public service announcements and "similar programming" that promote causes he favors. That purportedly would be in addition to Paramount's $16 million payment to settle his lawsuit accusing "60 Minutes" of deceptively editing a pre-election interview with Kamala Harris. In the letter, McKinnon didn't directly address the question of whether Skdyance has a "side deal" with the president for free advertising or other airtime. She wrote, "Skydance was neither a party to the lawsuit nor to Paramount's settlement of its litigation with the President." Paramount has said that its settlement with Trump — under which most of the$16 million will go to his future presidential library— "does not include PSAs or anything related to PSAs. Paramount has no knowledge of any promises or commitments made to President Trump other than those set forth in the settlement proposed by the mediator and accepted by the parties." Under the transaction agreement, according to McKinnon, "Paramount had full discretion to settle any outstanding litigation unrelated to the transaction for up to $50 million without Skydance's consent." On July 1, Paramount requested Skydance's consent "to only one particular term relating to the publication of transcripts of interviews of Presidential candidates. Skydance did not believe its consent was required, but acceded to Paramount's request and provided it," McKinnon wrote. Two days beforethe FCC approved the Skydance-Paramount deal, which is nowset to close Aug. 7, Skydance's McKinnon senttwo letters to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. In one, she said Skydance would install an ombudsman at CBS to review "complaints of bias or other concerns" as part of ensuring "viewpoint diversity." In the other, she said Skydance confirmed that Paramount eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, that Skydance doesn't have DEI initiatives and that the company committed to not implement any in the future. In her July 31 letter to the senators, McKinnon reiterated that "Skydance is committed to promoting non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity and fully complying with applicable laws." She also wrote, "Skydance believes in unbiased journalism and embraces a broad range of viewpoints. Upon closing of the acquisition, these guiding principles will ensure that editorial decision-making at CBS News reflects the varied ideological perspectives of American viewers. Skydance likewise believes all content should reflect independent editorial judgment and be free from government intrusion and politicization." "As with any transaction that requires regulatory approval, Skydance executives and its representatives have had routine and customary interactions with government officials, including with the Administration, Congress, and federal regulators," McKinnon concluded in the letter to Warren, Sanders and Wyden. "We value productive relationships across all levels of government and look forward to strengthening those, including with you and your colleagues, in the months and years ahead." Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025 Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

byAlpha World

in

August 01, 2025

Skydance Tells Senators It Wasn’t Involved in Colbert ‘Late Show’ Cancellation, ‘Fully Complied’ With Anti-Bribery Laws in Paramount Deal

Skydance Tells Senators It Wasn't Involved in Colbert 'Late Show' Cancellation, 'Fully Complied' With Anti-Bribery Laws ...

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Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Pull the Plug on Hulk Hogan Film—Here’s What We Know

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Pull the Plug on Hulk Hogan Film—Here's What We Know

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Pull the Plug on Hulk Hogan Film—Here's What We Knoworiginally appeared onParade. Ben AffleckandMatt Damon'sproduction company, Artists Equity, has shelved its plans toproduce a filmaboutHulk Hogan's leaked sex tape scandal and the legal battle that ultimately bankrupted Gawker Media. Paradeverified with a source close to the development process that the project is no longer in the works at Artists Equity, and the decision was made well before Hogan's passinglast weekat the age of 71. No public statement has been issued by Affleck or Damon as of yet. The film, which never entered active production, was intended to explore the 2016 scandal that began when a video surfaced of Hogan engaging in sex with the wife of radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge. The tape also captured Hogan making racist remarks, which led to a swift fallout that included a$140 million jury awardand a reckoning over celebrity privacy in the digital age. It's been reported that Hogan was never involved in the film andmade clear he had no interest in contributing. While the Hogan and Gawker saga remains one of the most headline-grabbing media stories of the past decade, it looks like its Hollywood dramatization will have to wait for now. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Pull the Plug on Hulk Hogan Film—Here's What We Knowfirst appeared on Parade on Jul 31, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.

byAlpha World

in

August 01, 2025

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Pull the Plug on Hulk Hogan Film—Here’s What We Know

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Pull the Plug on Hulk Hogan Film—Here's What We Know Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Pull the Plug on Hulk Hogan F...

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What a Senate floor clash between two Democrats says about where the party is headed

What a Senate floor clash between two Democrats says about where the party is headed

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.,clashed with Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., this weekwhen Booker, in a fiery floor speech, tried to block a package of police funding bills as he called for greater resistance to President Donald Trump's policies. Afterward, Booker alluded to his efforts in the face of criticism from Cortez Masto saying, "What's bothering me right now is we don't see enough fight in this caucus." In an interview, Cortez Masto had her own message. "I don't need a lecture from anybody about how to take on and push back and fight against Donald Trump," Cortez Masto said. She took a shot at "long speeches" as a form of resistance, calling them ineffective as Democrats seek to win back Congress and eventually the White House. In April, Bookerbroke a Senate recordby speaking for 25 hours, warning of the "grave and urgent" threat Trump's administration posed to the country. He posteda personal record fundraising haulafter that speech. "If we really are going to take on Donald Trump, we need to win. It's not long speeches on the floor," Cortez Masto said. "It's showing the American public that we're there fighting for them, that we're passing commonsense legislation that they care about." Booker's office declined to comment. The whole spat, a rare intraparty clash that played out in public, is indicative of a larger question vexing Democrats as they look toward the midterms and 2028: Is the party hankering for a fight, or does it just want its lawmakers to get the nuts and bolts done for their communities, even if it means working with Republicans? Cortez Masto,who also heads ModSquad, a political action committee that works to elect moderates to the Senate, is leaning into a Sen. Lisa Murkowski-like strategy that makes bringing home the goods priority No. 1. Murkowski, R-Alaska, was the deciding vote on Trump's "big, beautiful bill"because of provisionsshe believed benefited her state — even as she saidshe didn't overall like the legislation, whichheavily cut Medicaid. Just this week, Cortez Masto and fellow Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada were the only Democrats to vote to confirmRepublican Sam Brown as undersecretary of veterans affairs. Cortez Mastothen asked Brownfor an update on the construction of a national cemetery in rural Nevada to benefit veterans and their families. Cortez Masto said the path to a Democratic majority is paved by moderates, those who oppose Trump but still work across the aisle to specifically address their states. She pointed to former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper's Senate candidacy andthe new adher group just released. It focuses on Cooper's getting "stuff done" and doesn't even mention Trump. "In North Carolina, it's not about Republican or Democrat. It's about what you'll do for our families," the ad says. To Cortez Masto, who faces re-election in 2028 in a battleground state that Trump won in November, the answer is less about taking hard-line stances against Republicans or disruptions on the Senate floor than about sticking to "kitchen table" issues that drove the narrative in the last presidential election. The state of the economy, public safety and health care are among the issues dominating conversations with constituents in her home state of Nevada, Cortez Masto said. Somesmall-business ownersfear closing or facing debilitating losses due to Trump's tariffs, grocery prices haven't relented, and gas prices — nearly$4 a gallon in the Reno area— are still too high (though lower than their peak in 2022), she added. "Yes, we want to fight Trump and push back on him and hold him accountable and take him on," she said. "But that doesn't mean at the same time we are doing that we are stopping and harming the people in our states." She didn't think the humanitarian crisis in Gaza or the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files ranked high on the list of issues she would talk about back home. "If you're asking me is it the No. 1 issue I hear in my state, no, it's not, but do some of my voters care about it? Yes, they absolutely do," she said of the war in Gaza. On Epstein, she called for transparency while protecting victims but reiterated that she didn't hear her constituents asking about it. Cortez Masto was among a group of senators who sent a letter to the White House calling for greater action to get aid to people starving in Gaza. But in a sign of support for Israel, she voted against resolutions put forth by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., that would block the sale of weapons to Israel. "The arms sales all already occurred. So it was, most importantly, a symbolic gesture. At the same time, I understand why they're doing [it]. … I don't think we all have to be on the same page for everything," she said in explaining her vote. To Cortez Masto, the moderate path means supporting border security but taking a stand against raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement that she described as "absolutely extreme." "There's fear in my community. I see it. I talk and visit with them all the time. Rightfully so; we have less people going to church, going to school. Some of our workforce are gone. They're too afraid to come forward," said Cortez Masto, whose state is roughly one-third Latino. "These aren't hardened criminals. These are people who came to our country for a good life and opportunity. They're paying taxes. They want a better life for their kids. They haven't committed violent crimes, but they're being swept up intentionally by this administration because that's what they want to do, and that's where I think this administration has gone too far." Separately, Cortez Masto said she fully supported any Democratic efforts to redistrict and create additional seats in Congress for her party the same wayRepublicans have donein Texas. "Right now the process is Republicans are going to redistrict so that they can gain control. The Democrats should, too. Why wouldn't we fight to take control?" she said. "Does the general public, do we all like the way that redistricting is played for that power? No, we don't, and we should change the laws, ultimately. But they're not changing now." "The Republicans aren't going to change them," she added. "Republicans are going to benefit, and so until we can gain control and win some of these races, we should be playing by the same rules that the Republicans are using against us and fight back."

byAlpha World

in

August 01, 2025

What a Senate floor clash between two Democrats says about where the party is headed

What a Senate floor clash between two Democrats says about where the party is headed Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.,clashed with Sen. C...

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1,350 more National Guard members withdrawn from Los Angeles

1,350 more National Guard members withdrawn from Los Angeles

The Pentagon has announced that 1,350 more federalized members of the California National Guard will be withdrawn from the security mission inLos Angelesthat started in early June following protests against immigration raids carried out by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A remaining force of 250 National Guardsmen will remain in place to continue protecting federal government buildings and personnel in Los Angeles. Close to 5,000 National Guard members and Marines were deployed to Los Angeles on June 7 for a mission that could potentially last up to 60 days, a time limit that ends next week. "On Wednesday, Secretary Hegseth ordered the release of approximately 1,350 California National Guardsmen from the federal protection mission," Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's chief spokesman, said in a statement provided to ABC News. MORE: Pentagon pulling 2,000 National Guard deployed to LA amid ICE protests "Approximately 250 California National Guardsmen remain in Los Angeles to protect federal personnel and property," Parnell said. "We greatly appreciate the support of the more than 5,000 Guardsmen and Marines who mobilized to Los Angeles to defend Federal functions against the rampant lawlessness occurring in the city." Democratic Mayor Karen Bass posted on X that the withdrawal was "another win for Los Angeles" as "1,000 more troops are retreating" and added, "We will continue this pressure until ALL troops are out of L.A." That drew a response from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whorespondedon his personal X account, "You're welcome Mayor. These brave troops are redeploying because their mission was so successful." He added, "You should be thanking them for saving your city from mobs & chaos. We will continue to support law enforcement -- even when you won't." In recent weeks the Pentagon had announced thewithdrawalsof 2,000 Guard members and 700 Marines, along with the reassignment of 150 Guard members to firefighting duty. The initial mobilization came in the wake of protests following ICE raids in Los Angeles and was unusual in that they were ordered by the Trump administration instead of by Gov. Gavin Newsom. City officials labeled the deployment of the Guard and Marines as unnecessary and said that Los Angeles Police Department was more than capable of responding to the initial protests. Because they were federalized National Guard and Marines, they were not able to carry out law enforcement duties, which is prohibited by law. However, during their mission to protect federal buildings and personnel, the mobilized military personnel had the authority to temporarily detain individuals before quickly transferring them to law enforcement personnel. As the mission continued, some of the forces received training to accompany ICE personnel on immigration raids, though their role was specifically limited to providing force protection.

byAlpha World

in

August 01, 2025

1,350 more National Guard members withdrawn from Los Angeles

1,350 more National Guard members withdrawn from Los Angeles The Pentagon has announced that 1,350 more federalized members of the Californi...

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Prosecutors seek substantial prison term for Sean 'Diddy' Combs as they oppose bail

Prosecutors seek substantial prison term for Sean 'Diddy' Combs as they oppose bail

NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors are urging a judge to reject this week's renewed request for bail for hip-hop mogulSean "Diddy" Combs, saying nothing has changed since his conviction last month on prostitution-related charges to warrant a fresh look. They also said their initial calculations that federal sentencing guidelines would call for a prison term of at least four to five years at hisOct. 3 sentencingwas substantially less than what the guidelines will actually recommend. The government's written submission to a Manhattan federal court judge was filed late Thursday after a defense lawyer two days earlier made a renewed $50 million bail request for Combs, saying the founder of Bad Boy Records deserves to be free while awaiting his October sentencing. Combs, 55,was acquittedof racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges carrying the potential for life in prison but was convicted of two counts oftransportation to engage in prostitutionfor arranging transportation for girlfriends and male sex workers to engage in sexual encounters that he filmed. On the day of the verdict, prosecutors won a bail fight after defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo argued that Combs should be freed immediately on bail. Judge Arun Subramanian denied bail, saying Combs had not met the burden of showing by clear and convincing evidence a "lack of danger to any person or the community." But he said Agnifilo could renew the request. In doing so Tuesday, Agnifilo cited other cases he said were comparable to Combs' conviction in which defendants were granted bail. And he cited severe conditions at theMetropolitan Detention Centerin Brooklyn, where Combs has been held since his September arrest at a New York hotel. Prosecutors, though, said conditions at the federal lockup had improved considerably before Combs was arrested. A federal judge in January 2024 had blasted conditions at the jail, including its extensive lockdowns and inadequate medical care. Prosecutors said cases cited by Agnifilo in which other defendants received bail were not comparable to the crimes Combs was convicted of carrying out. "The defendant's detention pending sentencing is mandatory, there are no exceptional circumstances justifying his release, and even if there were, the defendant cannot demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that he is not a danger the community," prosecutors wrote.

byAlpha World

in

August 01, 2025

Prosecutors seek substantial prison term for Sean 'Diddy' Combs as they oppose bail

Prosecutors seek substantial prison term for Sean 'Diddy' Combs as they oppose bail NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors are urging a judge t...

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