The news that Paramount Global will settle Donald Trump’s 60 Minutes lawsuit for $16 million certainly did not come as a shock to staffers at CBS News. For months, there has been a great deal of consternation and even resignation at the prospect of a settlement and the impact that it would have on the news division.

Paramount has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit in which President Donald Trump alleged that an interview with Kamala Harris, his Democratic opponent for the presidency, that aired on CBS’ “60 Minutes” last year was deceptively edited.

The move comes as a striking concession in a case that has been seen as a threat to bedrock American principles of free speech.