CBS has released an unedited interview, previously aired with former Vice President Kamala Harris, responding to a $10 billion lawsuit from Donald Trump and an FCC investigation into claims the network “doctored” broadcasts to aid his Democratic opponent in the 2024 presidential race.
The controversy stems from an October interview aired across two CBS programs. On October 6, “Face the Nation” broadcast a segment where correspondent Bill Whitaker questioned Harris about U.S. relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict.
“But it seems that Prime Minister Netanyahu is not listening. The Wall Street Journal said that he — that your administration has repeatedly been blindsided by Netanyahu, and in fact, he has rebuffed just about all of your administration’s entreaties,” Whitaker asked in the unedited transcript.
Harris’ complete response, revealed in the transcript, combined both segments that were separately aired: “Well, Bill, the work that we have done has resulted in a number of 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. And we’re not going to stop doing that. We are not going to stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end.”
The editing decisions have sparked internal discord at CBS News. While “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens defended the edits as “perfectly fine,” some staff members have characterized it as an “unforced error” that could have been prevented with greater editorial oversight. Several employees have considered resigning over the controversy.
Trump filed the lawsuit in Texas, citing violations of the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The legal action seeks $10 billion in damages, alleging CBS removed Harris’ “horrible election-changing answers” and replaced them with “completely different, and far better, answers.”
The situation has broader implications for CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global, which is seeking regulatory approval for an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, appointed by Trump, has tied his review of the broadcast to the pending merger and opened a formal investigation, demanding CBS turn over the complete footage.
A Democratic FCC commissioner criticized the inquiry as a “weaponization against CBS” and a “retaliatory move by the government against broadcasters whose content or coverage is perceived to be unfavorable.” The FCC’s authority in such matters is limited, as it is prohibited from engaging in censorship or infringing on the First Amendment rights of the press.
The network maintains its editorial integrity, stating: “In reporting the news, journalists regularly edit interviews – for time, space or clarity. In making these edits, “60 Minutes” is always guided by the truth and what we believe will be most informative to the viewing public – all while working within the constraints of broadcast television.”
CBS News and Stations CEO Wendy McMahon and Owens strongly oppose settling the lawsuit, despite pressure from Paramount Global to reach an agreement with Trump to facilitate the Skydance merger. The network’s parent company views the settlement as crucial for securing regulatory approval of the deal. The FCC has established a public docket for comments on the matter, extending the controversy’s potential impact on the network’s journalistic reputation and its parent company’s business interests.