Overview

• Scott Pelley warned at Wake Forest University that the rule of law, journalism, higher education and free speech are under attack by the Trump administration.
• He criticized the administration’s $20 billion lawsuit against CBS News and its efforts to dismantle federal DEI programs and bar international students from universities like Harvard.
• The address went viral over Memorial Day weekend, drawing conservative backlash that branded Pelley “angry” and “unhinged” and liberal praise for defending democratic norms.
• The speech coincided with the resignations of ’60 Minutes’ executive producer Bill Owens and CBS News president Wendy McMahon following concerns about corporate interference in editorial decisions.
• Media analysts say the incident has intensified debates over political pressure on media and academia, raising fresh questions about the administration’s impact on journalistic and academic independence.