Trump’s FCC goes full big brother with a ‘bias monitor’ at CBS to make sure they never question his administration

The Trump administration’s FCC has taken a drastic step toward controlling the media by imposing a “bias monitor” on CBS to ensure the network never challenges his government. This move clearly undermines journalistic freedom and is more like a way of making sure CBS does not insult the administration.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under Trump’s leadership, has approved the $8 billion merger between CBS/Paramount and Skydance. The deal officially closed last Thursday, but included a highly controversial requirement: a government-assigned “bias monitor” must oversee CBS News, per Tech Dirt. The FCC’s only Democratic commissioner, Anna Gomez, has strongly condemned this decision, calling the so-called “truth-nanny” disturbing, hypocritical, and a threat to democracy.

Many see this as a shift in the FCC’s role, transforming it from an agency meant to protect consumers into a tool for political intimidation, pressuring media companies to avoid criticizing the president. This decision, made just seven months into the administration, has sparked fears that the FCC is being used to force news outlets to censor themselves.

Trump is open about censoring anyone who speaks against him

The newly assigned “bias monitor” is expected to make sure the network’s reporting stays weak and unchallenging. Critics find this deeply troubling, especially since the Ellison family, which owns Skydance, strongly backs Trump. This has led many to suspect that CBS News will eventually reflect the political views of its owners, despite any promises to keep corporate influence separate from journalism. The introduction of a “bias monitor” is seen by opponents as an extreme and dangerous move.

Things like this are why journalists like Kimmel want to leave the US. Firing Colbert just before installing this sends a clear message that Trump will decide what CBS is reporting.

The future of CBS News is unclear. One possibility is that the Ellison family could merge their other media holdings, including TikTok and Bari Weiss’s Free Press, with CBS to build a major right-wing media empire that competes with outlets like News Corporation. This propaganda machine could be funded by the company’s more profitable entertainment ventures, such as its investment in MMA broadcasting rights.

However, there is another possible outcome. The huge debt from these acquisitions might lead to mass layoffs, reduced budgets, and a drop in quality that turns audiences away. In this case, the new owners could misjudge how much the public actually wants their style of content, leading to a collapse similar to the recent struggles at Time Warner Discovery. No matter how the company performs financially, installing a “bias monitor” is a dangerous move toward government control over the press.