By Charles Switzer
8:50am PST, Feb 1, 2025
CBS Forced to Release Unedited Kamala Harris Interview to FCC
CBS has agreed to turn over the unedited transcript and raw footage of its October 2024 interview with now-former Vice President Kamala Harris to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of deceptive editing, The New York Post reported. The decision follows pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a President Donald Trump appointee, amid the incumbent's legal battle with the network.
Trump filed a $10 million dollar lawsuit against the network, accusing 60 Minutes of manipulating the interview to make Harris appear more competent. "To paper over Kamala's 'word salad' weakness, CBS used its national platform on 60 Minutes to cross the line from the exercise of judgment in reporting to deceitful, deceptive manipulation of news," the lawsuit alleged.
CBS, however, defended its editing stating that Harris' responses were adjusted for time constraints, not to alter their meaning.
Here's what's happening.
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CBS Under Fire as Trump's Legal Victories Mount
CBS' parent company, Paramount, is reportedly in talks with Trump's legal team about a potential settlement raising speculation about whether the network will fight the lawsuit or cut its losses. If Paramount agrees to a settlement, it would mark another significant legal win for Trump, who has recently secured massive payouts from major media and tech companies.
In December, ABC News settled a defamation lawsuit with Trump for $16 million dollars, and just last week, Meta (Facebook's parent company) agreed to pay $25 million dollars to resolve a separate complaint stemming from Trump's suspension after January 6, 2021.
These victories have emboldened Trump's efforts to take on what he calls "corrupt" media organizations, and CBS could be the next to fold under pressure.
The Controversial Harris Interview and Editing Dispute
The lawsuit stems from discrepancies in how CBS aired Harris' response to a question about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On Face the Nation (October 6), Harris' response was lengthy and difficult to follow: "Well, Bill, the work that we have done has resulted in several movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by or a result of many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region."
However, on 60 Minutes (October 7), Harris' answer was much more succinct: "We are not gonna stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end."
Trump's lawsuit claims that CBS deliberately omitted Harris' more awkward response to present her in a more favorable light but critics have questioned whether the changes constituted biased reporting.
'60 Minutes' and Past Accusations of Anti-Trump Bias
Trump's battle with 60 Minutes is not new. The show has been accused of bias against the 45th and now-47th president on multiple occasions, particularly during election seasons. In October 2020, CBS anchor Lesley Stahl conducted an interview with Trump in which she dismissed allegations of influence peddling against Hunter Biden — claims that were later confirmed and resulted in multiple felony convictions.
Trump has long accused mainstream media of unfair treatment, and his lawsuit against CBS fits into a broader effort to hold news organizations accountable for what he views as "election interference."
While CBS has yet to comment on settlement talks, the case seems to have sparked debate over "journalistic ethics" and whether media outlets should be more transparent about their editing practices.
Paramount's Future at Stake as Trump Tightens the Pressure
Beyond the lawsuit, Paramount's executives are facing a major business decision as they seek Trump administration approval for a sale of the company to Skydance, a major entertainment firm.
Given Trump's history of using leverage in business negotiations, some speculate that the lawsuit against CBS could influence the approval process.
Paramount's leadership must now decide whether to fight the lawsuit in court, settle with Trump or attempt to navigate the situation without jeopardizing their potential deal.
As media giants brace for a "turbulent new era" under Trump's second administration, "CBS' handling of the Harris interview may prove to be a defining moment in the ongoing war between the former president and the mainstream press," one analyst predicted.
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