Officials at CBS said they will hand over the transcripts from the “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris to the Federal Communications Commission. This comes after President Donald Trump voiced concerns about how the network handled a story about his former opponent.
Why did Trump take issue with the interview?
President Trump sued CBS for $10 million after he claimed the network deceptively edited the piece to make Harris look good. The interview drew attention after CBS News showed Harris responding differently to a question from correspondent Bill Whitaker. The clips were aired on “Face the Nation” on Oct. 6 and the other was aired on “60 Minutes” the next night.
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The network said the clips came from a long response from Harris to the question. However, the response was edited to fit time constraints on both broadcasts.
Trump filed a lawsuit in early November 2024 in a Texas court, claiming the network was deceptive in its edits and they were designed to help Harris. Trump said the edits amounted to “partisan and unlawful acts of voter interference.”
Why did CBS agree to give the transcripts?
The network said on Friday, Jan. 31, that Brendan Carr, Trump’s appointee as FCC chairman, compelled them to release the transcripts, according to The Associated Press. Executives at “60 Minutes” have pushed back on releasing the transcripts. They said this was to not look like they were second-guessing their editing process.
CBS News’ parent company Paramount Global is also in talks to sell the company to Skydance Media. The sale would require the FCC’s greenlight to go through.
The New York Times reported that Paramount Global’s controlling shareholder Shari Redstone strongly supported a settlement.
“This shouldn’t be surprising. A deal would make things a lot easier for Shari and the whole company going forward,” a Paramount insider told Deadline on Thursday, Jan. 30.
What has been the reaction?
Those at the network have said there’s been a “range of emotions from mild unhappiness to alarm,” according to Deadline.
President and CEO of CBS News and Stations Wendy McMahon, and Bill Owens, executive producer of “60 Minutes” are said to have expressed their opposition to the agreement. However, staffers are said to be resigned to the fact that the decision was made at the company’s highest level.
CBS News hasn’t commented on the talks of a possible settlement in the case.
