Head of CBS News forced out amid Trump criticism

The president of CBS News, Wendy McMahon, was forced out of her post Monday, the latest shock wave to hit the news division amid an ongoing showdown involving President Donald Trump, 60 Minutes, and CBS' parent company, Paramount.

- MICHAEL GRYNBAUM BENJAMIN MULLIN LAUREN HIRSCH

Ms McMahon told her staff in a memo that "it's become clear the company and I do not agree on the path forward." Executives at Paramount informed Ms McMahon on Saturday that they wanted her to step down, according to several people with direct knowledge who requested anonymity to share private discussions.

Paramount is in talks to settle a $20 billion lawsuit brought by Trump that accused 60 Minutes of deceptively editing an interview with his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris. Many legal experts have called the suit baseless, but Paramount's controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, has said she favours settling the case. She is seeking federal approval for a multibillion-dollar sale of her company to a Hollywood studio, Skydance.

The situation prompted the executive producer of 60 Minutes, Bill Owens, to resign last month. He has told confidants that Paramount executives, cognisant of the settlement talks with Trump, had pressured him over the programme's coverage of the Trump administration.

A new flashpoint between 60 Minutes and its corporate bosses flared last week.

For its May 18 season finale, 60 Minutes had planned to air a segment, reported by Anderson Cooper, about the Trump administration's order for mass firings at the IRS.