CBS News is facing significant backlash after being accused of “intentional news distortion” in a formal complaint filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by the Center for American Rights (CAR) on Wednesday.
The complaint centers around a recent 60 Minutes interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, where two different versions of her response to the same question were aired across different CBS platforms, raising concerns about media transparency and integrity.
The controversy erupted when Face the Nation aired a promotional clip for the 60 Minutes interview, showing Harris responding to a question from Bill Whitaker about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s apparent disregard for U.S. advice. In that version, Harris gave a lengthy, often criticized answer that many conservatives mocked as a “word salad.” However, when the full interview aired the following night on 60 Minutes, viewers were shown a much more concise and focused response to the same question, sparking accusations of selective editing.
The Center for American Rights has taken action, arguing in their complaint that CBS’s decision to air two different answers amounts to “deliberate news distortion,” which they claim violates FCC rules governing broadcasters’ obligations to the public. CAR is demanding that CBS release the full, unedited transcript of the interview, a request that echoes calls from former President Donald Trump and others who are concerned about media manipulation during a critical election cycle.
“This isn’t just about one interview or one network,” said CAR president Daniel Suhr in a statement. “This is about the public’s trust in the media on critical issues of national security and international relations during one of the most consequential elections of our time. When broadcasters manipulate interviews and distort reality, it undermines democracy itself.”
The complaint references FCC precedent, which prohibits broadcasters from engaging in the intentional falsification or suppression of news. CAR insists that CBS release the complete transcript to ensure transparency and accountability, particularly given the network’s previous willingness to do so in similar interviews.
CBS has yet to respond publicly to the complaint or the request to release the unedited footage. The Harris campaign has distanced itself from the controversy, denying that it had any role in the decision to alter the aired responses, and directed all inquiries back to CBS.
The situation has sparked wider concerns about media bias and transparency, particularly in the lead-up to the 2024 election. As Suhr noted, incidents like this can shake public confidence in the media, especially when it comes to important topics like national security and foreign policy.
The FCC’s decision on whether to intervene could have major implications not just for CBS, but for broader questions of media ethics in an increasingly polarized environment.