CBS Evening News Omits Coverage of Trump's Pardon of Binance Founder

"...somewhat surprising legal break..."

"...crickets on the Bari Weiss-controlled former home of Walter Cronkite..."

"...the absence of any story on Zhao — one of the day’s biggest stories — is all the more noticeable..."

"...Add to that the fact that one of the major elements of the Biden administration’s prosecution of Binance and its ex-CEO is the lack of oversight the crypto exchange provided to crack down on widespread criminal and terrorist use of the platform...."

"...Specifically, that terrorist use included the likes of Hamas using Binance for its finances...."

"...In addition, global gangs moved around funds that came out of child sex trafficking, prosecutors said...."

"...Even with that punishment, the exec lost none of his controlling shares in the company, and with this week’s pardon he could move right back in to the crypto C-Suite...."

"...In case you didn’t pick up what Leavitt and Trump were putting down, the press secretary then added: “The Biden Administration’s war on crypto is over.”..."

"...Halfway through the broadcast, a segment on the much-criticized demolition of the White House’s East Wing for Trump’s new donor-funded ballroom took center stage...."

"...Of course, journalists decide every hour of every day which stories are newsworthy and need to be reported on and which ones don’t make the cut...."

"...However, whatever the judgment call, the absence of a big deal like the Zhao pardon does stand out, if nothing else for the political and geopolitical aspects of it...."

"...It is worth noting the Zhao pardon was covered in a written piece on the CBS News website, with an update at 6:33 p.m. ET on October 23...."

"...As well, CBS Evening News‘ official X feed sent out a post as recently as 7:30 a.m. PT today...."

"...However, reps for CBS News, which Free Press founder Weiss has been running for Paramount chief David Ellison since earlier this month, did not respond to Deadline’s request for comment on the lack of coverage of the Zhao pardon...."

"...While Ellison has publicly offered a neutral political stance as his vision for CBS News, his appointment of Weiss as well as former Trump officials throughout CBS News and his inner circle has raised eyebrows...."

"...Those brows have gone even higher amid Paramount’s ongoing vigorous multibillion-dollar pursuit of Warner Bros Discovery — a pursuit partially fueled by the implied promise that the well-connected Paramount can get the whole deal approved by the feds faster than anyone else...."

"...After some pink-slipping and culling (hello, Stephen Colbert) by the previous Shari Redstone regime, Ellison’s Skydance did receive quick regulatory approval of the $8 billion Paramount purchase once the corporate scalpings were done...."

"...On the other hand, and probably causing ulcers down at the Melrose lot, Trump has repeatedly referred to Ellison and his Oracle-founding father Larry, the world’s second-richest man, as “friends of mine and “big supporters of mine.”..."

"...Trump also said of the Ellisons that “they’ll do the right thing” and will unlock the “great potential” of CBS News, which hasn’t always been POTUS’ most admiring outlet, if you know what I mean?..."

"...No friend of the Trumps, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) on Thursday pilloried the pardon...."

"...As for current UAE resident Zhao, who goes by CZ online and elsewhere, and Binance … he said it all...."

"...Binance remains focused on building a secure, transparent and user-first platform that reduces fees and increases access to the financial system for all...."