Shhh… Behind Closed Doors, Trump Is Dismantling Free Speech

You’re not going to hear this on CNN. You’re not going to read this on the front page of The New York Times. And you definitely won’t find it on 60 Minutes. But let me break it down for you, because what’s happening right now is bigger than a lawsuit — this is an all-out war on the First Amendment.

Donald Trump is suing Paramount for $20 billion, accusing 60 Minutes of deceptively editing an interview with Kamala Harris to damage his 2024 campaign. That’s right — the guy who bragged about grabbing women and incited an insurrection is now claiming he’s the victim of a “hit piece.”

And here’s where it gets even more dangerous: Paramount is reportedly considering settling.

But the Freedom of the Press Foundation just blew the lid off what could be a backdoor deal with massive consequences. They sent a scathing legal letter to Paramount chief Shari Redstone demanding document preservation and warning that any payout to Trump might constitute a “bribe” — a quid pro quo to secure Trump’s blessing for a pending Hollywood merger.

You read that right: A potential billion-dollar media merger could hinge on Trump’s personal approval.

Three U.S. Senators — including Elizabeth Warren — have already raised red flags, warning this could be illegal if it’s a political favor dressed up as corporate strategy. This isn’t just bad optics — it could be corruption in broad daylight.

Meanwhile, inside CBS, the house is crumbling.

• The executive producer of 60 Minutes resigned in April.

• CBS News president Wendy McMahon quit this month.

• Journalists are spooked. Staffers are being muzzled.

And Trump? He’s just getting started.

He already settled with ABC over a defamation case — and now he’s threatening the New York Times next. But it’s not just the corporate press he’s coming after.

Sources tell me he’s planning to target independent platforms like Substack, and YouTube.

Behind the scenes, he is quietly but aggressively working to dismantle the free press. Any outlet, any journalist, any creator who speaks up or dares to challenge him becomes a target.

We’ve seen it before. Right in front of the Oval Office, he publicly humiliated an NBC reporter — Peter Alexander — just for asking a basic question about Qatar. He regularly targets Caitlin Collins from CNN, interrupting, belittling, and insulting her on national television. Trump doesn’t just disagree — he degrades, mocks, and tries to destroy anyone who dares to ask him tough questions.

And let’s not forget — he’s even come after my son, Aaron Parnas, who brings and reports the news truthfully and honestly — something Trump clearly can’t tolerate. Not just social media trolls — we’re talking about coordinated attacks from far-right influencers and Trump-aligned media, calling for his arrest, threatening him, trying to silence his voice.

That’s what this is really about.

Trump doesn’t just want to silence the media. He wants to own the narrative — and erase anyone who tells the truth.

That’s why this matters more than ever.

The pressure campaign is real. The lawsuits are flying. And the message is clear: if you cross Trump, he’ll try to bankrupt you.

But I’m not backing down. And neither should you.

This is more than a newsletter — it’s a movement. A resistance to lies, fear, and authoritarian control. So I’m asking you, urgently and humbly:

Spread this message. Share it with two, three people who need to hear the truth. Subscribe. If you haven’t yet, become a paid subscriber. And if you can, contribute directly via Venmo @lev-parnas.

And silence? That’s exactly what they want.

We’re not just remembering. We’re exposing.

Stay loud. Stay strong.

— Lev