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** OPINION
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** CBS News’ Scott Pelley issues a warning about the Trump administration
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CBS News’ Scott Pelley, shown here in 2013. (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

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 ([link removed]) . “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.”

A MESSAGE FROM POYNTER
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** National story, local impact
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I live in St. Petersburg, Florida, and I am a subscriber to the local paper here: The Tampa Bay Times. I feel obligated to say that Poynter owns the Times and I worked at the Times as a sportswriter and sports columnist for most of my journalism career before joining Poynter in 2019.

But what I’m about to write isn’t because of the ties to the Times, but as a reader, a consumer of news, a citizen who is trying to stay informed.

Here is a really useful story that the Times ran over the weekend. Teghan Simonton, a data reporter on the business and health team, wrote, “Here’s how Florida is already feeling the effect of Trump’s tariffs.” ([link removed])

We’ve seen plenty of national stories about how Trump’s tariffs might, in a general sort of way, impact Americans. But this takes a massive national story and boils it down to how it impacts people on a local level.

It’s detailed with charts, zeroing in on specific ways Floridians have been and might be impacted. And it’s the kind of story that other local news organizations throughout the country can do as a way to inform their specific audiences.

Let me know if you have seen these kinds of stories in your coverage areas.


** The future of SNL
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Keenan Thompson attends the “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” at Rockefeller Plaza in February. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

A week ago, “Saturday Night Live” wrapped up its 50th season, and all in all, it was a solid season. President Donald Trump and his administration are the gift that keeps on giving for the show, and thanks to cast member James Austin Johnson and his remarkably spot-on impression of Trump, the show has become more relevant again in terms of funny (and biting) political commentary. The rest of the show continues to hum along.

So what does next season have in store?

Executive producer Lorne Michaels, who has been in charge of the show for most of its 50 seasons, is 80, and while there have always been rumors about who will eventually replace Michaels as EP (some of the names include Tina Fey, Seth Meyers and John Mulaney), there is no indication that Michaels will step down anytime soon.

I’ve always been a big fan of the show, but if there’s one complaint, it’s that the cast has grown to be too big. Last season, the show had 14 cast members, plus three “featured players” and the three guys who make the “Please Don’t Destroy” videos. Add that all up and that’s 20 for a weekly 93-minute show that is more like 50-55 minutes for the cast when you remove the performances of the musical guests and commercials. Remember the original “Not Ready for Primetime Players” back during the show’s first season in 1975-76 had, essentially, seven: Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, and Gilda Radner.

There could be a bunch of changes for next season. Kenan Thompson, who just wrapped his 22nd season on the cast (most, by far, of any “SNL” star), hinted as much to the New York Post’s Nicki Gostin ([link removed]) . Thompson said the end of this past season was “bittersweet,” adding, “Especially this year where it feels like there’s maybe, possibly, a lot of change next year.”

The Post reports that Thompson has yet to sign a contract for next season. Thompson said, “You just never know what the future holds. I don’t want to be in the way of someone else or I don’t want to be the stale old man riding the same thing. That doesn’t really happen that much at ‘SNL’ but there’s no guarantees, I guess.”

He added, “I mean, I love that place. It’s one of my favorite places to be.”


** Media news, tidbits and interesting links for your review
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* Semafor’s Ben Smith and Max Tani with “Inside the identity crisis in anti-woke media.” ([link removed])
* The New York Times’ Callie Holtermann writes about a paper by middle and high schoolers in Long Island in “They’re 15. Wait Until You Read Their Newspaper.” ([link removed])
* The New York Times’ Tripp Mickle with “Tech’s Trump Whisperer, Tim Cook, Goes Quiet as His Influence Fades.” ([link removed])
* The second season of HBO’s “The Last of Us” wrapped up Sunday night. The post-apocalyptic show is based on the popular video game. I watched season one, and liked it, although I'm not sure I’m interested in catching up on season two after reading many of the reviews. NPR television critic Eric Deggans gives his thoughts in “'The Last of Us' finale ends after a season's worth of table-setting.” ([link removed]) (Warning: spoiler alert.) Also, check out Deggans along with Linda Holmes, Hafsa Fathima, Mike Katzif and Jessica Reedy in the “Pop Culture Happy Hour” podcast with “No fun, just fungus: The continuing traumas of 'The Last Of Us' season two.” ([link removed])


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Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

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