Donald Trump’s whining about “60 Minutes” has long been routine, but the president published an especially aggressive online rant last week. The meltdown began with a missive in which he accused CBS News’ longtime news magazine of deceptively editing a Kamala Harris interview last year — claims that have been discredited, despite his ongoing civil case against CBS — before he published a follow-up item that went considerably further.

Over the course of a 243-word rant, the Republican accused the news program of “fraud,” airing “defamatory” segments, “illegally” intervening in the last presidential election, “corruptly changing major answers to Interview questions” and being a “Political Operative” that has engaged in “unlawful and illegal behavior.” He added that CBS “should lose” its broadcast license and “pay a big price,” while calling on the FCC to “impose the maximum fines and punishment.”

In theory, it was a timely reminder that the legendary news program would need to stand its ground and maintain its journalistic focus despite the White House’s assault. In practice, that’s apparently not what happened. NBC News reported that the program’s executive produced resigned.

‘Over the past months, it has … become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it,’ Bill Owens said in a memo to staff members, which was obtained by NBC News. ‘To make independent decisions based on what was right for ‘60 Minutes,’ right for the audience.’ … ‘So, having defended this show — and what we stand for — from every angle, over time with everything I could, I am stepping aside so the show can move forward,’ Owens added.

As is always the case, the broader context matters. For one thing, Owens is leaving “60 Minutes” in the midst of a bizarre Trump suit against CBS, in which the Republican is asking for $20 billion in damages — that’s not a typo — as part of the president’s conspiratorial beliefs about the news magazine’s election coverage.

For another, there’s a broader corporate dimension to the story.

“I do think this will be a moment for the corporation to take a hard look at itself and its relationship with us,” Owens said in his departure memo. As for what this might’ve been in reference to, The New York Times noted, “Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, is eager to secure the Trump administration’s approval for a multibillion-dollar sale of her company to Skydance, a company run by the son of the tech billionaire Larry Ellison.” (Redstone has also, of course, expressed an interest in trying to settle Trump’s civil case, despite its lack of merit.)

These circumstances were not lost on Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson, the co-hosts of “CBS Evening News,” who ended their latest broadcast not only celebrating Owens’ work but also reminding viewers that CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global, is trying to “complete a merger” that needs the Trump administration’s approval.

Wendy McMahon, the president of CBS News, wrote in a separate message that she remained “committed to ‘60 Minutes’ and to ensuring that the mission and the work remain our priority.”