CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon quits amid possible settlement of Trump lawsuit

CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon has announced her resignation after four years at the network, marking the latest development in a series of shake-ups at the company. McMahon, who oversaw both the network news division and news for CBS-owned stations, cited a disagreement with the company on the direction forward as the reason for her departure.

In an email to staff, McMahon stated, “It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward. It’s time to move on and for this organization to move forward with new leadership.” Her stance against settling a lawsuit with U.S. President Donald Trump, who alleges that CBS edited an interview with Kamala Harris to benefit her, aligns with that of former 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens, who resigned last month.

Paramount Global, CBS’s parent company, is currently in talks to potentially settle Trump’s lawsuit while also seeking approval for a merger with Skydance Media. George Cheeks, co-CEO of Paramount and head of the CBS network, announced that McMahon’s top deputies, CBS News president Tom Cibrowski and CBS Stations president Jennifer Mitchell, will now report directly to him.

McMahon acknowledged the challenges of the past few months in her note, stating that she has been focused on strengthening the businesses and ensuring the right leaders are in place. She expressed confidence that the organization will continue to thrive under new leadership.

In addition to the legal battle with Trump, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, has expressed dissatisfaction with some network coverage, including a 60 Minutes segment on Israel’s war in Gaza. This led to changes in the supervision of 60 Minutes stories, with former CBS News president Susan Zirinsky overseeing some content before airing.

The adjustments at 60 Minutes contributed to Owens’ resignation, with correspondent Scott Pelley voicing discontent on air. CBS News is also working on establishing a new anchor team for the flagship CBS Evening News broadcast, featuring John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, amidst ratings challenges.

Cheeks commended McMahon for expanding local news at CBS stations, enhancing their competitive positions, and improving the network’s digital offerings in his message to staff members. The departure of McMahon marks a significant transition for CBS News as it navigates through a period of change and uncertainty.