CBS News' Scott Pelley issues a warning about the Trump administration - Poynter
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
CBS News’ Scott Pelley, a correspondent on the legendary “60 Minutes,” gave the commencement address at Wake Forest University last week. In fact, it was last Monday (May 19). But it wasn’t until the past day that some of his comments went viral.
During his address, Pelley spoke about what is happening in this country with Donald Trump as president.
“In this moment — this moment, this morning — our sacred rule of law is under attack,” Pelley said . “Journalism is under attack. Universities are under attack. Freedom of speech is under attack.”
Hard to argue.
Pelley continued by saying, “The fear to speak … in America. Power can rewrite history, with grotesque, false narratives. They can make criminals heroes, and heroes criminals. Power can change the definition of the words we use to describe reality. Diversity is now described as illegal. Equity is to be shunned. Inclusion is a dirty word. This is an old playbook, my friends. There is nothing new in this.”
Powerful. And, again, based in fact.
But that didn’t stop many conservatives from losing their minds over Pelley’s speech. Some tried to argue that Pelley was complaining about free speech being under attack while freely giving a speech.
Surely, though, you get Pelley’s point.
Trump sued ABC. He is suing CBS. He has barred The Associated Press from certain access. He is seeking to cut funding for places such as Voice of America, NPR and PBS. On a nearly daily basis, Trump insults reporters if he doesn’t like their legitimate questions and rails against them on social media.
That’s not an attack on journalism?
Pelley also told the Wake Forest students, “Your country needs you. America works well when we listen to those with whom we disagree and when we listen and when we have common ground, and when we compromise. And one thing we can all agree on — one thing at least — is that America is at her best when everyone is included.”
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CBS Anchor Scott Pelley’s Anti-Trump Graduation Speech Goes Viral — MAGA Fans Lash Out
Tommy Christopher 3-4 minutes 5/27/2025
CBS News anchor Scott Pelley’s anti-Trump graduation speech went viral over the weekend as supporters of President Donald Trump lashed out at the 60 Minutes star’s warnings about free speech.
Pelley’s network and program are the subject of a blockbuster lawsuit by Trump that has roiled the company and become a linchpin in a series of showdowns with media companies that critics say amount to an assault on free speech.
That was the backdrop and the thrust of Pelley’s speech when he delivered the commencement address for Wake Forest University’s Class of 2025 in North Carolina last week.
One portion of that speech has gone viral and triggered a backlash after it was clipped and shared by a pro-MAGA account. Here’s a slightly longer passage:
The speech took place last Monday, but the clip went viral this weekend as Trump fans attacked Pelley and piled on, much of the criticism echoing the person who posted the clip and wrote “Scott Pelley raged at Trump in angry, unhinged commencement address at Wake Forest…as he speaks openly and freely in America. This self-important, sermonizing propagandist is what passes for a legacy media ‘journalist.'”
Poynter’s Tom Jones wrote in support of Pelley’s message that his warning was “hard to argue” with:
Watch Pelley’s full speech above via Wake Forest University .
MAGA is whining about someone calling out their crazed leader for violating core American principles.
MAGA has forgotten what are the American core principles
[Deleted,] [✘] what does this mean?
removed for context
Another talking head from TV who thinks they are important.
If he's not that important, why is MAGA throwing such a fuss about anything he says?
Because there is a segment of society who voted for Kamala Harris [deleted][✘]
[✘]
Then why don't you disdprove what he said instead of just calling him names?
Because that's too hard
First, because he said bad things about their dear Leader. Second, he's using words with more than two syllables which makes it hard for them to follow the conversation. And third, he's speaking to a bunch of college graduates, something most MAGAites won't ever become which is why poorly educated conservatives call them 'elitists' to hide their own stupidity, shame and jealousy.
Nowhere did i call Scott Pelly a name. I said they is a segment of society who lacks the integrity or intelligence to question his bullshit.
"warned that power is distorting truth and democracy is at risk"
[Deleted]
[✘] This guy was one of those that probably knew and hid it just as much as Tapper.
That was a public service of Polley to reveal just how unhinged and partisan he is.
Why has Trump been threatening people in the media, in academia, in the legal profession, and in the government ?
The most obvious answer is that he wants to control their behavior and their potential pushback on his actions.
Do you ever read the news? Its hard to tell.
[✘]
The bashing of Trump and his supporters continues unabated. The majority of the mainstream media don't deserve the title of journalist. They are an arm of and controlled by the progressive left. Trump is simply calling them out for their lies and hypocrisy. He's also going after rogue and biased left-wing judges too/
Trump is challenging these judicial rulings on Constitutional grounds
Let's be clear. Trump is challenging the Constitution. He has no interest in abiding by it.
Hide and watch.
Fear is a choice. Nobody can make you afraid without your permission.
The complete bullshit irony of a media figure complaining about this... It's like a Viking complaining about somebody else pillaging.
Very best way to complain about false narratives is to follow it with a false narrative. Subtly racist false narratives are even better.
His employer has been shunning equity for decades.
By which we really mean "idiotic, and again, based in confirmation bias".
It was a great speech and everyone should take notice. We all need to speak out on protecting American freedoms.