Why Did CBS Evening News Skip the Big Crypto Pardon Story?

In a surprising move, CBS Evening News chose not to cover Donald Trump's pardon of Changpeng Zhao, the billionaire founder of Binance, a major cryptocurrency exchange. This decision stood out because other major networks like ABC, NBC, and PBS, as well as news outlets like the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, CNN, and Reuters, all reported on the pardon. Zhao, who is Canadian-born, was convicted of money laundering and spent four months in prison before being released in September 2024. Despite his legal troubles, he retained control of Binance. The pardon has raised eyebrows, especially given Zhao's recent business ties with the Trump family's crypto ventures. The Biden administration had been cracking down on Binance, partly due to its alleged role in facilitating criminal activities, including terrorism and child sex trafficking. This makes the pardon even more controversial. At the White House briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump had pardoned Zhao as part of his constitutional authority and hinted that the Biden administration's "war on crypto" was over. Meanwhile, CBS Evening News focused on other stories, such as the NBA gambling scandal, military operations in South America, and the shutdown of the federal government. Interestingly, while the CBS Evening News broadcast did not mention the pardon, CBS News did cover it in a written piece on their website and shared a post about it on their official X account. This discrepancy has led to questions about the network's editorial decisions. The pardon has also drawn criticism from political figures like Senator Elizabeth Warren, who accused Trump of corruption and called on Congress to address such issues. Zhao, who goes by the nickname "CZ, " expressed gratitude for the pardon, calling it a commitment to fairness and innovation. Binance also praised Trump's leadership and reiterated its focus on building a secure and transparent platform.