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FCC demands CBS News turn over ’60 Minutes’ interview amid Trump lawsuit

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CBS and its “60 Minutes” have long stood as shining beacons of broadcast news.

Every Sunday evening, the newsmagazine known for its ever-present ticking clock built a strong reputation as a fearless combatant. Over the past fifty years, it has been synonymous with investigative journalism on television, pushing boundaries by challenging U.S. presidents and other influential figures without hesitation.

But a different clock is ticking.

This week, Brendan Carr, who recently took over as head of the Federal Communications Commission under President Trump, has requested that CBS share the complete, uncensored transcript from its “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris in October. This includes footage from multiple camera angles.

In response to that interview, Trump became very angry and sued CBS, claiming they were manipulating video edits deceitfully.

On Friday, CBS stated that they are making efforts to fulfill the requirements of that inquiry since it is mandated by law.

Recently, discussions for a potential settlement have begun between lawyers from Paramount Global and Donald Trump’s legal team, following Trump’s lawsuit filed in October over his claim that the edits made to his “60 Minutes” interview were misleading and biased towards Kamala Harris during the final weeks of the election. Trump asserts that the network manipulated the footage to make Harris appear more favorable.

On Friday, lawyers representing both Trump and Paramount requested an extension of a crucial deadline from a Texas judge. This extension is intended to provide more time for negotiations between the two parties to potentially reach a settlement.

Hollywood Inc.

Brendan Carr’s action as FCC Chairman serves to highlight concerns that President Trump might wield his authority to intimidate or endanger media outlets that are critical of him.

The FCC investigation increases the intensity in the ongoing argument, causing concerns that Trump and his associates might be manipulating power to suppress unfavorable media reports. Reportedly, Shari Redstone, the major stakeholder of Paramount, is pushing for a resolution of Trump’s lawsuit to expedite her family’s sale of Paramount to David Ellison’s Skydance Media. These details come from sources close to the situation who are not permitted to speak publicly about it.

Paramount needs the approval of the FCC for the Skydance deal to advance.

1) The apparent eagerness of the company to appease Trump has sparked dissent among journalists, even within CBS News. At first, First Amendment experts viewed Trump’s lawsuit against “60 Minutes” as a political maneuver. They argued that resolving the case with Trump could severely damage CBS News’ historical reputation.

I’d say something like this: “I find it deeply troubling when someone resorts to cowardly actions for immediate benefit, as it undermines all the ethical principles that underpin journalism,” reflecting my perspective as a follower of USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Gabriel Kahn’s viewpoint.

1st Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams expressed sorrow on Friday via email to The Times. He found it disheartening that CBS – let me repeat that, CBS – appears willing to spend a substantial amount of money due to their own editorial choices.

For over half a century, the esteemed news division has kept “60 Minutes” as the benchmark in television journalism’s hall of fame. Employees within the company, who prefer anonymity due to not being allowed to publicly comment on the matter, express concern that this decision could damage the reputation of “60 Minutes,” and potentially set a harmful precedent that may lead the Trump administration and others to undermine journalistic institutions.

One seasoned journalist from our team mused, ‘In the following four years, won’t there be a moment when we’ll say something that triggers him once more and causes another such incident?’

A strong sense of discontent about a potential agreement has grown so profound that there are rumors of mass departures among CBS News journalists and higher-ups if the company yields to Donald Trump’s requests, according to some sources.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’ve come to understand that there are whispers of apprehension within our news division concerning the perception of a potential settlement in the industry and its potential implications on press freedom. Interestingly, it seems that members of the Paramount Global board have received heartfelt appeals from within our news division, urging us to stand firm against the Trump lawsuit.

It’s an actual act of subservience… a gesture of submission towards the Trump family, who are effectively the rulers, much like media owners in Belarus, Hungary, and Russia do with their respective regimes. Kahn stated this is similar to a fracture in the base of our free press.

For several months, Cheeks labored to steer through turbulent currents as Redstone grew more displeased with CBS News and “60 Minutes” due to their reporting on the conflict in Gaza.

Redstone has kept quiet about his views regarding the negotiations with Trump. One of Redstone’s representatives chose not to share a statement about the matter.

Individuals involved in the legal proceedings refer to the negotiations as initial or tentative steps. Certain high-ranking officials, speaking confidentially, implied that resolving the lawsuit was simply part of conducting business during Trump’s second term. These individuals perceived a settlement as a practical method to prevent CBS from going to court and swiftly finalize the Skydance deal.

Paramount and Skydance Media also declined to comment.

CBS News executives had been contemplating publishing the complete transcript of their interview with Kamala Harris prior to the FCC inquiry, but they considered it risky as unedited transcripts of interviews are usually only made public when dealing with potential defamation issues. However, Trump’s lawsuit is not about defamation.

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2025-02-01 00:31

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