#paramountcalifornia

Stewart and former "60 Minutes" correspondent Steve Kroft went hard at Comedy Central's beleaguered parent company after its $16-million settlement with Trump, which it hopes will clear a path for a merger.

The high-stakes deal that came together this week resulted from months of back-and-forth among a constellation of power players with competing interests, including the president and mogul Shari Redstone.

'President Trump had no legal basis,' writes an L.A. Times reader. 'The suit was meritless and should have been fought in court, where Paramount likely would have prevailed.'

Within CBS news, anger over a $16 million settlement widely seen as a capitulation to Trump was tempered by a sobering reality: the outcome could have been worse.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has a message for media companies in the face of Trump's threats: 'Do the right thing.' Paramount settlement 'seems transactional.'

Journalists and others said the payoff will embolden attacks by Trump and his allies on news outlets. Some called the settlement a stain on the proud legacy of CBS News.

President Trump had filed a $20 billion lawsuit claiming a '60 Minutes' interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris was manipulated to show her in a flattering light. Trump alleged the news interview was "election-threatening."

Park County -- the business entity behind the long-running satirical cartoon -- alleged that RedBird executive Jeff Shell crossed a line by interfering with its negotiations with other companies. A representative for Shell denied the accusation.

The Sept. 7 MTV show will be simulcast on CBS. 'Music has always been the heartbeat of the VMAs, but the show's soul comes from its willingness to break rules, embrace unpredictability and reflect the times,' Toffler said.

When last we checked it with the feckless execs at CBS/Paramount, they were preparing to pay Donald Trump tens of millions of dollars to settle a completely bogus lawsuit designed to bully the medi ...