The First Amendment restrictions apply to US government, but not to corporations; corporations are generally free to infringe free speech, press, religion and the rest, while enjoying protections against government infringements. CBS just fucked the people, but pleased the shareholders.
Today's Stockexchange is the poison for all companies, it seems. As soon as they get there, the end is near. Greed has always existed! Yet today a mere stagnation is considered a failure, loss. NOTHING in life goes up only, but only spoiled brats try denying that.
Well, the thing with corporations is that they have only one duty: make profit for the shareholders. Every action and decision is expected to serve that purpose. CEO and the board can be held responsible, if they act in a way that significantly go against that purpose. 1/
So it's not like stock exchange and capitalism in general fosters greed; to maximise profit is the very point of it. Of course there could be other metrics, like to maximise prosperity of employees or to maximise contributions for the embetterment of society,but the shareholder is valued the most/2
The restrictions would apply if a corporation were to buckle under pressure from the government, and we know Trump has called for Colbert's cancellation publicly. The only way to know if a violation occurred here would be through legal action - but it's not an unrealistic assumption.
The party trick of Trump's regime is to know how to violate laws and norms without being held accountable. After Trump is gone, others will attempt to mimic him now that he has shown what is possible.
Oh, 1000% truth there.
I say, Fuck CBS.
If Trump administration had something to do with this then what?
Then nothing, I suppose. USA has become autocracy where laws are more like suggestions and apply only to the people beneath the ruler, never to the ruler him/herself. Much like it used to work when Tzars ruled Russia: serfs suffered the law, boyars ruled over the serfs and Tzar was above all law.