Sanders Critiques CBS, Labels It Part of ‘Oligarchy’
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) suggested that CBS is part of a powerful “oligarchy” that influences both the U.S. economy and media during a recent appearance on CBS’s “The Late Show.” Host Stephen Colbert prompted Sanders to elaborate on the concept of an oligarchy.
“An oligarchy is a system in which a small number of wealthy individuals have control over the economy and the media,” Sanders stated, mentioning CBS as an example.
He proceeded to highlight the alarming levels of income and wealth inequality in the country today, claiming it is unprecedented in American history. “The top 1% possesses more wealth than the bottom 93%,” he noted. In a striking example, he pointed out that one individual, Elon Musk, has more wealth than the bottom 52% of U.S. households, emphasizing how this concentration of wealth intersects with political power.
According to Sanders, the infamous Citizens United Supreme Court decision has fostered a corrupt political landscape, allowing billionaires like Musk to allocate substantial sums, like $270 million, in support of political candidates. He also expressed concern about “Democratic billionaires” who add to the “pay-to-play” environment in American politics, bringing the discussion back to media ownership.
He warned that media ownership will increasingly be concentrated, with wealthy individuals from the right acquiring more media platforms, singling out figures like Musk and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg. “Mr. Ellison now owns Paramount and CBS,” Sanders continued, painting a picture of an extremely limited group of individuals wielding vast power and wealth. “That’s what we mean by an oligarchy,” he concluded.
Colbert responded without defending CBS, humorously noting that Sanders’ assertions were associated with undesirable ideas, akin to a mix of “chocolate and peanut butter.” CBS, Musk, and Zuckerberg did not provide immediate comments regarding Sanders’ statements.
Both Colbert and Sanders previously voiced their discontent regarding the merger of CBS with Skydance Media, in light of the fact that it is led by David Ellison, Larry Ellison’s son, who has ties to former President Donald Trump.
Prior to this merger, CBS’s parent company, Paramount, agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by Trump over the editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris, paying $16 million to resolve the issue. Colbert criticized this as potentially being a “huge bribe” aimed at securing government approval for the sale of CBS.
The large settlement has created significant backlash from media watchdogs and advocacy groups. Sanders remarked that this case could set a troubling precedent concerning First Amendment rights and government coercion, while Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) accused Paramount of accepting “bribes” and hinted at potential federal actions moving forward.
