CBS News accused of ‘helping’ anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rally fundraise

Corporate media was once again caught appearing to fundraise for a leftist cause, and this time it was an outlet already swamped in legal trouble.

Last-minute leftists looking to gear up ahead of Saturday’s totally grassroots, not at all dark money funded astroturf “No Kings” rallies were not only in luck because merchandise was readily available on all the major e-retail sites. They also had the good fortune of CBS News seemingly “embracing [its] role as Democrat propagandists,” by appearing to promote snagging swag before it was too late.

Friday afternoon, the network that was reportedly in settlement discussions over a $20 billion lawsuit from President Donald Trump over how it edited a pre-election interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, released an article highlighting that Amazon, Temu, Etsy shops and others were selling merchandise with the “No Kings” messaging.

Journalist Breanna Morello highlighted how CBS News followed up by promoting the sales with an X post Friday evening and wrote, “CBS News is helping them fundraise now! This is NOT journalism.”

CBS News is helping them fundraise now!

This is NOT journalism. pic.twitter.com/rcbXiBBdyH

— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) June 14, 2025

Within the article, CBS News detailed how “Hundreds of t-shirts, hats, signs and posters are for sale across the internet alluding to the demonstrations,” and included a link to Temu’s website.

Amid the 11-figure lawsuit that zeroed in on the “60 Minutes” interview, the program had seen fit to run stories critical of the president’s executive orders that included bringing on infamous Democratic Party election attorney Marc Elias who argued, “Donald Trump is the walking embodiment of everything that is wrong with the American political system.”

CBS News’ decision to seemingly promote means to purchase gear for the protests against the enforcement of federal law followed another alleged fundraising promotion that had been attributed to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins in February.

Before deleting the post on X, the anchor had included a URL for a crowdfunding site for alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killer and wrote, “Luigi Mangione’s legal defense team has launched a new website today.”

After facing backlash, Collins had reacted to coverage of the post by stating, “This is not true. I posted that his attorneys created a website, which is newsworthy and other outlets have also reported on. In no way did I share a fundraising link for him.”

While the criticism of CBS News’ latest alleged display of partisanship was met with immense ridicule and disgust, it also presented the potential for new investigatory woes as the account of Data Republican shared how she brought attention to Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr.

“I filed a complaint with [FCC] and encourage everyone else to do so,” she wrote, sharing a screenshot of the Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Center.

I filed a complaint with FFC and encourage everyone else to do so. @BrendanCarrFCC pic.twitter.com/77Drzbq06p

— DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) June 14, 2025

As for the response to CBS News’ post, The Federalist editor-in-chief Mollie Hemingway led the pack with her scathing take, “I legit love how you are no longer even remotely pretending to be news and are embracing your role as Democrat propagandists.”

And hawker of riot merchandise.

— William Whitley (@William86549085) June 14, 2025

They don’t even hide their bias or hate for our country

— Alpha-Bravo (@aburk203) June 14, 2025

So you are complicit in the nationwide insurrection.

Noted.

— Clandestine (@WarClandestine) June 14, 2025

Communist Broadcasting System knows its duty.

— Mark Wallace (@Mark92691) June 14, 2025

Major “news” network openly fundraising for radical left destabilization campaigns. Completely organic, everyone.

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) June 14, 2025

What exactly is the news value of reporting that someone is selling merchandise?

Love how you all just completely dropped the mask and embraced your role as the DNC propaganda arm.

— IT Guy (@ITGuy1959) June 14, 2025

Nothing says “Grassroots People-Powered movement” like Millions of Dollars in Astroturfing.

— Professor Puzziani (@puzziani) June 14, 2025

Staff Writer

Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn’t researching current events and their impacts, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.

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