George Clooney appeared on the March 23 episode of CBS’ “60 Minutes” to promote the Broadway production of “Good Night, and Good Luck,” based on his Oscar-nominated 2005 film. Clooney directed the movie and now stars in the play as CBS broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow, who confronts U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy’s pursuit of alleged Communists in the early 1950s. The actor said on “60 Minutes” that the story’s focus on media responsibility and the clash between journalists and political figures could not be timelier.

“When the other three estates fail, when the judiciary and the executive and the legislative branches fail us, the fourth estate has to succeed,” Clooney said about journalism. “ABC has just settled a lawsuit with the Trump administration. And CBS News is in the process … We’re seeing this idea of using government to scare or fine or use corporations—to make journalists smaller.