Dan Rather on Paramount's $16 Million Trump Settlement: 'It Was a Sell-Out to Extortion by the President' (EXCLUSIVE)New Foto - Dan Rather on Paramount's $16 Million Trump Settlement: 'It Was a Sell-Out to Extortion by the President' (EXCLUSIVE)

Legendary former CBS News anchor Dan Rather expressed disappointment Wednesday at Paramount Global'sdecisionto pay $16 million to the Trump administration and settle its lawsuit over a "60 Minutes" report. "It's a sad day for journalism," Rather toldVariety. "It's a sad day for '60 Minutes' and CBS News. I hope people will read the details of this and understand what it was. It was distortion by the President and a kneeling down and saying, 'yes, sir,' by billionaire corporate owners." More from Variety California Gov. Gavin Newsom Says Paramount's Trump Settlement 'Seems Transactional,' Tells Media Companies to 'Do the Right Thing' Amid Threats The CBS News Settlement Proves Trump Is Winning His War on the Press Sen. Warren Wants an Investigation Into Paramount's $16 Million Trump Settlement: 'This Could Be Bribery in Plain Sight' Most legal scholars agreed the suit — in which Trump accused "60 Minutes" of deceptively editing an interview with then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris — was frivolous and wouldn't hold up under the First Amendment. "What really gets me about this is that Paramount didn't have to settle," Rather said. "You settle a lawsuit when you've done something wrong. '60 Minutes' did nothing wrong. It followed accepted journalistic practices. Lawyers almost unanimously said the case wouldn't stand up in court." Rather expressed a full backing of his former colleagues at CBS News and "60 Minutes": "My support for them is total, absolute," he said. "I do really think they fought a good fight on this, and they'll continue to fight. The people on '60 Minutes' and at CBS News didn't just take it lying down. They did their best to stop it." Nonetheless, he said he wasn't shocked by Paramount Global's settlement. The decision to strike a deal was widely seen as a critical step to receiving approval from the Trump-controlled FCC for Skydance's $8 billion acquisition of the media conglom. "I was disappointed, but I wasn't surprised," he said. "Big billionaire business people make decisions about money. We could always hope that they will make an exception when it comes to freedom of the press, but it wasn't to be. "Trump knew if he put the pressure on and threatened and just held that they would fold, because there's too much money on the table," he added. "Trump is now forcing a whole news organization to pay millions of dollars for doing something protected by the Constitution — which is, of course, free and independent reporting. Now, you take today's sell-out. And that's what it was: It was a sell-out to extortion by the President. Who can now say where all this ends?" Rather then pointed to the larger issue of what this means for the United States as a democracy. "It has to do with not just journalism, but more importantly, with the country as a whole," he said. "What kind of country we're going to have, what kind of country we're going to be. If major news organizations continue to kneel before power and stop trying to hold the powerful accountable, then we all lose. "And then big time law firms have been settling right and left, kneeling the same way," he said. "Big universities doing the same. Trump is extorting what he wants out of them. Now he's extorting what he wants out of news organizations. So when I say, 'Where does this go?' What are the effects on journalism as a whole?" Asked what advice he might give the folks at CBS News and "60 Minutes," Rather humbly said it's not his place — but that they already know "in their hearts, in their very being, the best things to do. I will say that, I do expect them to fully double down now on whatever great reporting they're allowed to do." In his more than 60 years as a journalist, Rather said he's never seen the profession face the kind of challenges it's now up against. "Journalism has had its trials and tribulations before, and it takes courage to just soldier on," he said. "Keep trying, keep fighting. It takes guts to do that. And I know the people at CBS News, and particularly those at '60 Minutes,' they'll do their dead level best under these circumstances. But the question is what this development and the message it sends to us. And that's what I'm trying to concentrate on." Best of Variety Oscars 2026: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Wagner Moura and More Among Early Contenders to Watch New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

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July 03, 2025

Dan Rather on Paramount’s $16 Million Trump Settlement: ‘It Was a Sell-Out to Extortion by the President’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Dan Rather on Paramount's $16 Million Trump Settlement: 'It Was a Sell-Out to Extortion by the President' (EXCLUSIVE) Legendary ...
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"Squid Game" team reveals why they cut 'a lot' of VIPs scenes from final season

The VIPs did not get VIP treatment in the final edit ofSquid Gamethis season. The Korean show's editor Nam Na-young tellsEntertainment Weeklythat she actually cut "a lot" of scenes from the final season featuring the rich, cruel VIPs who bet on the players' lives during the games. "Actually, there were more scenes with the VIPs," Nam says. "As I was editing, I did cut them a lot because when we're in the VIP room, the tension kind of releases. The contestants' emotions and reactions of the games were what I prioritized when editing." Courtesy of Netflix That's not the only secret revealed in EW's "It Takes a Village" video above, featuring Nam along with starLee Jung-jae, creator-directorHwang Dong-hyuk, production designer Chae Kyoung-sun, cinematographer Kim Ji-yong, and composer Jung Jae-il. The creative team behindSquid Gamebreaks down the making of the intense Jump Rope game in season 3, which the star reveals was the most difficult of the entire series. When it came to building the set, the creator says that the entire team has to think like the show's "mastermind" behind the games who wanted to return to childhood at the end of his life — similar toCitizen Kane's Rosebud. The production designer interpreted that as wanting to go home, which is why she invoked the feeling of a train station that many people in Korea take to go home on holidays. Meanwhile, the giant robots who swing the rope, Chul-soo and Young-hee, were modeled after well-known characters in Korean elementary school textbooks. "We designed Young-hee and Chul-soo's outfits to look like children dressed their best for their journey home," Chae says. "With their shoes being pretty and clean. And with Young-hee, we needed to pay attention to the space in between her legs, because actors had to pass through them — the visual design was important. One of the last things we did is put stockings on her, and as we were making those updates, we designed flowers on them." While the fall from the platform is fatal for the players in the game, it was a lot safer in real life for the actors — although some were still terrified. "The actual set was about five feet off the ground," Hwang reveals. "Even that that height, the actors felt the fear of heights." No Ju-han/Netflix Every department, from production design to stunts to visual effects, had to work closely together to make sure no one got hurt while filming this scene. "I wasn't rigged up on a wire for this," Lee says. "If you fell, it would hurt." At least the actors weren't at risk of getting hit by a real metal pole. "The jump rope is actually CGI," Lee reveals. "There were beeps for when the rope would be going around, then a long beep would signal that it is at our feet. But that wasn't so easy, keeping to the beat." Sign up forEntertainment Weekly'sfree daily newsletterto get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Watch the video above now to see the full interview, including how music was used to add tension to the scene, how they "leveled up" the VIP lounge set, and more. The final season ofSquid Gameis now streaming on Netflix. Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

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July 03, 2025

“Squid Game” team reveals why they cut 'a lot' of VIPs scenes from final season

"Squid Game" team reveals why they cut 'a lot' of VIPs scenes from final season The VIPs did not get VIP treatment in the ...
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Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's final show: Here's how to streamNew Foto - Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's final show: Here's how to stream

Ozzy OsbourneandBlack Sabbathare taking the stage together for the final time – and you can stream the event. The concert, dubbed "Back to the Beginning," is set to take place Saturday, July 10, at Villa Park – home of Aston Villa Football Club – in Birmingham, England. Osbourne will perform, then he will join Black Sabbath for a set featuring the original four members who formed a band in 1967 – guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, drummer Bill Ward and Osbourne – performing together for the first time since 2005. (DuringBlack Sabbath's"The End" tour, which ended in February 2017 in Birmingham, drummer Tommy Clufetos joined the other three in place of Ward.) Black Sabbath and Osbourne are the headliners on a day of music featuring a who's who in hard rock. Also on the bill: Metallica, Guns 'N Roses, Slayer and several other bands. There's also a slew of other big-name artists who will likely team up in various configurations; among them areSammy Hagar, Smashing Pumpkins co-founder Billy Corgan,Jake E. Lee, the one-time guitarist for Osbourne who has recovered from a shooting in October 2024, andTom Morello(Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave), who is the event's music director. "This will be the greatest heavy metal show ever," Morello said in aFeb. 5 press release announcing the event. Osbourne wanted to do one more showto say a proper "goodbye" to friends and fans,Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne's wife, toldBBCback in February. After his wife proposed the idea of Ozzy playing a final gig at Villa Park in Birmingham, an industrial city about 120 miles northwest of London and the birthplace of the original Sabbath members, "I called Geezer, Tony and Bill to see if they wanted to come up to do some songs and thankfully, they did," Osbourne toldMojo magazine. Osbourne may perform seated on a throne, Iommi told Mojo. That's not unprecedented stagecraft. Guns 'N Roses frontman Axl Rose used a throne for several shows in 2016, including atCoachellaafter he suffered a broken foot. He borrowed the throne fromDave Grohl of Foo Fighterswho debuted it at the band's 20th anniversary show in 2015 in Washington, D.C. to allow him to perform despite a broken leg. Since Osbourne's last full concert – OzzFest in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve 2018 – he has faced several medical challenges including a fall and beingdiagnosed with Parkinson's diseasein 2019. In 2023,Osbourne cancelled U.K. and European tour datesand a planned performance at thePower Trip festivalbecause of his physical weakness. "Unfortunately, my body is telling me that I'm just not ready yet," he said at the time. In May 2024, Osbourne said he wasundergoing stem cell treatmentsafter doctors discovered a tumor on his vertebrae. Alivestreamof the daylong event was announced in June. While it's called a livestream, the video will be delayed two hours from the in-arena start time. Those who stream the event will be able to start watching at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT. Here's what it costs; go tobacktothebeginning.comto purchase: Livestream ticket: $29.99. Gets you live viewing and access to video for 48 hours. Livestream and T-shirt bundle: $64.98. Event viewing and a Back to the Beginning T-shirt. Concert proceedsbenefitCure Parkinson's,Birmingham Children's HospitalandAcorn Children's Hospice. There's also anonline auctionbenefiting those charities. Items up for bid include two Gibson guitars signed by performers, a Guns 'N Roses pinball machine, several gold record and CD displays including Black Sabbath's "Paranoid," Led Zeppelin's "Physical Graffiti" and Metallica's "Master of Puppets," plus a dozen-plus travel packages including seven nights at Royal Westmoreland, Barbados. Bands scheduled to perform include Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice In Chains, Lamb Of God, Anthrax, Mastodon and Rival Sons. Artists also expected to perform, according to the event (although the lineup is subject to change): Frank Bello (Anthrax) Mike Bordin (Faith No More) Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins) KK Downing (KK's Priest, Judas Priest) David Draiman (Disturbed) Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit) Sammy Hagar Lzzy Hale (Halestorm) Scott Ian (Anthrax) Jake E. Lee (Red Dragon Cartel, Badlands, ex-Ozzy Osbourne's band) Duff McKagan & Slash (Guns N' Roses) Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine) Papa V Perpetua (Ghost) Rudy Sarzo Sleep Token II (Sleep Token) Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, ex-Ozzy Osbourne) Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him atmikegsnider&@mikegsnider.bsky.social&@mikesnider& msnider@usatoday.com What's everyone talking about?Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne: How to stream 'Back to the Beginning'

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July 03, 2025

Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's final show: Here's how to stream

Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's final show: Here's how to stream Ozzy OsbourneandBlack Sabbathare taking the stage together for th...
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Congressional intern killed in Washington shootingNew Foto - Congressional intern killed in Washington shooting

A 21-year-old intern in a congressman's Washington office was fatally shot Monday in the city after gunmen opened fire on a group of people, authorities said. Eric Tarpinian-Jachym was not the target of the shooters, who got out of a vehicle at 7th and M streets NW and started firing at around 10:28 p.m., the Metropolitan Police Department said. Also hit were a woman and a 16-year-old boy, who survived,police said in a statement. Tarpinian-Jachym was unconscious when first responders arrived, and he died at a hospital Tuesday, the police department said. Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kan., said he and his wife, Susan, were sending their condolences. Tarpinian-Jachym was a senior at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst who was majoring in finance with a minor in political science, Estes' office said. "I will remember his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile," Estes said in a statement. "We are grateful to Eric for his service to Kansas' 4th District and the country," he said. "Please join Susan and me in praying for his family and respecting their privacy during this heartbreaking time." The vehicle the shooters used has been found, police said, but no arrests have been announced. Police said "multiple suspects" fired at a group of people. The police department said it is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to the arrests and convictions of those responsible. The department offers that reward for each homicide in the district.

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July 03, 2025

Congressional intern killed in Washington shooting

Congressional intern killed in Washington shooting A 21-year-old intern in a congressman's Washington office was fatally shot Monday in ...
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Skydiving plane goes off New Jersey runway and crashes into woods, sending 15 to hospitalNew Foto - Skydiving plane goes off New Jersey runway and crashes into woods, sending 15 to hospital

Fifteen people were taken to the hospital after a skydiving aircraft radioed it was having engine trouble after takeoff and crashed on landing near an airport in southern New Jersey on Wednesday, according to authorities. The single engine Cessna 208B was carrying 15 people when it crashed at about 5:30 p.m. at the Cross Keys Airport, about 21 miles (34 kilometers) southeast of Philadelphia, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. "The plane did try to circle back and attempt a landing we are told but was unsuccessful in that attempt," Andrew Halter, with Gloucester County Emergency Management, said during a news conference Wednesday night. The injuries ranged from minor to critical and the plane was severely damaged, Halter said. Some of the people on board were covered in jet fuel and had to be decontaminated before being taken to the hospital, he said. "Just the fact that we have 15 people that are still with us here today, some with minor injuries, I think is fantastic and remarkable," he said. Aerial footage of the crashed plane shows it in the woods, with several pieces of debris nearby. Firetrucks and other emergency vehicles surrounded the scene. Three people were being evaluated at Cooper University Hospital's trauma center in Camden, New Jersey, and eight people with less severe injuries were being treated in its emergency department, said Wendy A. Marano, a spokesperson for the hospital. Four other patients also with "minimal injuries" were waiting for further evaluation, she said. She wasn't able to provide the exact nature of the injuries. Members of the hospital's EMS and trauma department were at the crash site, she said. Halter said the aircraft is owned and operated by ARNE Aviation out of Virginia and leased to Skydive Cross Keys. Skydive Cross Keys didn't immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press requesting comment. When asked about the crash, Tracey Sackett, who confirmed she is ARNE Aviation's office manager, said to call the office tomorrow. A person who answered the phone at Cross Keys Airport on Wednesday said he had no information and referred questions to Skydive Cross Keys. The National Transportation Safety Board said in a post on the social platform X that it is investigating the crash. Gov. Phil Murphy said on X that he had been briefed on the crash and that there had been "no fatalities at this time." ___ Associated Press reporter Mark Scolforo contributed from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

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July 03, 2025

Skydiving plane goes off New Jersey runway and crashes into woods, sending 15 to hospital

Skydiving plane goes off New Jersey runway and crashes into woods, sending 15 to hospital Fifteen people were taken to the hospital after a ...
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Kilmar Abrego Garcia says he was beaten and subjected to psychological torture in El Salvador jailNew Foto - Kilmar Abrego Garcia says he was beaten and subjected to psychological torture in El Salvador jail

Kilmar Abrego Garciasaid he suffered severe beatings, severe sleep deprivation and psychological torture in the notorious El Salvador prison the Trump administration had deported him to in March, according to court documents filed Wednesday. He said he was kicked and hit so often after arrival that by the following day, he had visible bruises and lumps all over his body. He said he and 20 others were forced to kneel all night long and guards hit anyone who fell. Abrego Garcia was living in Maryland when he was mistakenly deported and became a flashpoint in PresidentDonald Trump'simmigrationcrackdown. The new details of Abrego Garcia's incarceration in El Salvador were added to a lawsuit against the Trump administration that Abrego Garcia's wife filed in Maryland federal court after he was deported. The Trump administration has asked a federal judge in Maryland to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that it is now moot because the government returned him to the United States as ordered by the court. A U.S. immigration judge in 2019 had barred Abrego Garcia from being deported back to his native El Salvador because he likely faced persecution there by local gangs who had terrorized him and his family. The Trump administration deported him there despite the judge's 2019 order and later described it as an "administrative error." Trump and other officials have since doubled down on claims Abrego Garcia was in the MS-13 gang. On March 15, Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador and sent to thecountry's mega-prisonknown as the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT. In the new court documents, Abrego Garcia said detainees at CECOT "were confined to metal bunks with no mattresses in an overcrowded cell with no windows, bright lights that remained on 24 hours a day, and minimal access to sanitation." He said prison officials told him repeatedly that they would transfer him to cells with people who were gang members who would "tear" him apart. Abrego Garcia said he saw others in nearby cells violently harm each other and heard screams from people throughout the night. His condition deteriorated and he lost more than 30 pounds in his first two weeks there, he said. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, visited Abrego Garcia in El Salvador in April. The senator said Abrego Garcia reported he'd been moved from the mega-prison to a detention center with better conditions. The Trump administration continued to face mounting pressure and a Supreme Court order to return him to the United States. When the U.S. government brought back Abrego Garcia last month, it was to face federal human smuggling charges in Tennessee. Attorney General Pam Bondi said at the time of Abrego Garcia's return that this "is what American justice looks like." But Abrego Garcia's attorneys called the charges "preposterous" and an attempt to justify his mistaken expulsion. A federal judge in Tennessee has ruled that Abrego Garcia is eligible for release -- under certain conditions -- as he awaits trial on the criminal charges in Tennessee. But she has kept him in jail for now at the request of his own attorneys over fears that he would be deported again upon release. Justice Department spokesman Chad Gilmartin told The Associated Press last month that the departmentintends to try Abrego Garcia on the smuggling chargesbefore it moves to deport him again. Separately, Justice Department attorney Jonathan Guynn told a federal judge in Maryland last month that the U.S. government plans to deportAbrego Garciato a "third country" that isn't El Salvador. Guynn said there was no timeline for the deportation plans. But Abrego Garcia's attorneys cited Guynn's comments as a reason to fear he would be deported "immediately."

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July 03, 2025

Kilmar Abrego Garcia says he was beaten and subjected to psychological torture in El Salvador jail

Kilmar Abrego Garcia says he was beaten and subjected to psychological torture in El Salvador jail Kilmar Abrego Garciasaid he suffered seve...
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Everything You Need to Know About McDonald's Fourth of July HoursNew Foto - Everything You Need to Know About McDonald's Fourth of July Hours

Everything You Need to Know About McDonald's Fourth of July Hoursoriginally appeared onParade. With all the excitement of summer settling in, it's easy to lose track of who's actually open for business when the Fourth of July rolls around. And while we're all looking forward to backyard barbecues and perfectly grilled summer meals, that doesn't mean a quick treat fromMcDonald'sis off the table. So the real question is, what areMcDonald's Fourth of July hoursin 2025? Lucky for you, we've got the details you need to ensure a successful snack run come the big day. 😋😋SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter🍳🍔 Is McDonald's Open on Fourth of July? A resounding yes! McDonald's is expected to beopen for regular hours on Friday, July 4—though exact times may vary by location. While it might not be the first place that comes to mind when you're thinking about backyard barbecues and fireworks, McDonald's is a reliable go-to when you're in a pinch and need a quick bite. And considering the chain recently revamped itsnationwide hours, it only makes sense that the fan-favorite fast food joint would stay open on the Fourth. Just a heads-up: hours can definitely vary from store to store, so it's always smart to double-check with your local spot ahead of time. Related: Dunkin' Just Dropped the Dreamiest Menu of the Summer — and it Includes a Beach Bucket What are McDonald's July Fourth Hours? Those heading out for a quick Big Mac or Happy Meal on July 4 can expect most McDonald's locations to open as early as 6 or 7 am and stay open as late as midnight—or even 1:45 am. Thanks to the brand's newly updated nationwide hours, some locations won't just stay open past midnight—they'll be joining the growing list of McDonald's spots that operate 24/7. But keep in mind—there are a few exceptions. If you're traveling on the big day, airport McDonald's locations will likely follow their own unique schedules. The same goes for spots inside shopping malls, which typically stick to the mall's holiday hours rather than McDonald's standard ones. Related: McDonald's Iconic New International Dessert Collab Has Fans Torn: 'Why Can't We Get Stuff Like This in America?' Everything You Need to Know About McDonald's Fourth of July Hoursfirst appeared on Parade on Jul 3, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.

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July 03, 2025

Everything You Need to Know About McDonald's Fourth of July Hours

Everything You Need to Know About McDonald's Fourth of July Hours Everything You Need to Know About McDonald's Fourth of July Hourso...
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