MAGA Supporters Backlash Against Scott Pelley's Viral Wake Forest Speech

Scott Pelley, CBS News' 60 Minutes anchor, delivered a commencement speech at Wake Forest University that sharply criticized the current political climate, warning that the rule of law, journalism, universities, and freedom of speech are under attack, which he linked implicitly to the Trump administration. He called for inclusion, respectful debate, and courage to speak up amid rising fear and division in America. The speech quickly went viral, drawing fierce backlash from Trump supporters and MAGA faithful who accused Pelley of hypocrisy and political bias, with some deriding Wake Forest University as 'Woke Forest.' This controversy compounds CBS's challenges, as the network faces a $20 billion lawsuit from Trump alleging deceptive editing of a Kamala Harris interview, a case that could jeopardize Paramount Global's pending $8 billion sale to Skydance Media. The lawsuit and Pelley’s speech have intensified political tensions surrounding CBS and its parent company, particularly as the sale awaits approval from an FCC led by a Trump appointee. Democrats have warned against any settlement that might be seen as a payoff, suggesting that Paramount may need to defend itself fully in court.