Kamala Harris provided a lengthy, 179-word response on Israel that was significantly shortened by “60 Minutes” to just 20 words, according to transcripts made available on Wednesday by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC has opened an investigation into CBS over potential election interference after receiving complaints that the network edited Harris’ response to make her appear more coherent. Donald Trump has responded by filing a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS.
The FCC obtained the full transcript and video on Monday after a back-and-forth with CBS, which has defended the edits as standard practice to ensure the program fits within its time constraints. However, a CBS insider told The Post that the edits made Harris appear more succinct and polished. “You have to watch the video. A lot of ‘word salad,’” the source said. “Feels like a clean up on Aisle 7. Not a technical foul but one could argue still news distortion.”
Trump and his conservative supporters have pointed to discrepancies in Harris’ responses to questions about the Gaza conflict, contrasting the versions aired in a promotional clip for the interview on “Face the Nation” and the edited version broadcast on “60 Minutes” the following day, which coincided with the one-year anniversary of the Hamas-led massacre that killed over 1,200 Israelis.
In a segment of the interview, Bill Whitaker from “60 Minutes” asked Harris what the United States could do to prevent the war from escalating. Harris provided a rambling 140-word answer, emphasizing the need for context around the events of October 7. “Well, let’s start with October 7th. Because obviously, what we do now must be in the context of what has happened. And as I reflect on a year ago, and that 1,200 people were massacred, young people at a festival, at a music festival, 250 hostages were taken, including Americans, women were brutally raped,” Harris began.
Her response continued with the assertion that Israel had a right to defend itself and the importance of ending the war, stating, “And as I said then, I maintain Israel has a right to defend itself. We would. And how it does so matters. And as we fast forward into what we have seen in the ensuing weeks and months, far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. And we know that, and I think most agree, this war has to end. And that has to be our number one imperative, and that has been our number one imperative. How can we get this war to end?”
The version shown on “60 Minutes,” however, was condensed to just 56 words, which read: “Well, let’s start with October 7th. Twelve hundred people were massacred, 250 hostages were taken, including Americans. Women were brutally raped. And as I said then, I maintain Israel has a right to defend itself. We would. And how it does so matters. Far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed. This war has to end.”
Another part of the interview, in which Harris discussed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s defiance of Biden administration calls for moderation, was also heavily edited. The segment aired on “60 Minutes” included only 20 words from Harris: “The work that we do diplomatically with the leadership of Israel is an ongoing pursuit around making clear our principles.”
The full, unedited version of the response included a lengthy, 179-word reply: “Well, let’s start with this. On this subject, the aid that we have given Israel allowed Israel to defend itself against 200 ballistic missiles that were just meant to attack the Israelis, and the people of Israel. And I think that is the most recent example of why what we do to assist in their defense around military aid is important. And when we think about the threat that Hamas, Hezbollah presents Iran, I think that it is without any question our imperative to do what we can to allow Israel to defend itself against those kinds of attacks,” she said.
Harris went on to discuss the ongoing diplomatic work with Israel’s leadership, stating: “Now, the work that we do diplomatically with the leadership of Israel is an ongoing pursuit around making clear our principles, which include the need for humanitarian aid, the need for this war to end, the need for a deal to be done which would release the hostages, and create a ceasefire. And we’re not going to stop in terms of putting that pressure on Israel, and in the region, including with other leaders in the region, including Arab leaders.”
In a follow-up, the edited broadcast version of Harris’ statement was shortened to: “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 original statement, however, read: “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.”
Following the release of the transcripts, FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced that the agency would hold hearings regarding a complaint by the Center for American Rights, a right-leaning activist group, accusing CBS News of misleading editing.
“The FCC has concluded that establishing a docket and seeking comment on the issues raised in the complaint would serve the public interest. The people will have a chance to weigh in,” Carr said in a statement on X.
CBS, which also made the unedited transcripts available, defended its actions, stating that the edits were consistent with their standard procedure. “The transcripts show – consistent with 60 Minutes’ repeated assurances to the public – that the 60 Minutes broadcast was not doctored or deceitful,” the network said.
The FCC is currently investigating whether the broadcast violated any “news distortion” rules, noting that while the agency cannot censor media or infringe on First Amendment rights, it does prohibit broadcasters from intentionally distorting news. If the FCC finds evidence of misleading editing, it could potentially impact the regulatory approval of Paramount’s $8 billion merger with Skydance, which is scheduled to close next month.
That approval process may be delayed, as the FCC’s hearings are set for March 7, with a response due by March 24, according to an agency filing. Meanwhile, Trump and CBS are reportedly in the early stages of settlement talks over his lawsuit, a situation that has caused some discontent among network employees.
“This puts a ton of pressure on Shari Redstone and Paramount not to pay Trump. If they do it’s simple extortion over the licenses,” another CBS source told The Post.
Redstone, the media heiress who controls Paramount, is set to receive $1.75 billion as part of the Skydance deal.
The FCC, an independent federal body, issues eight-year licenses to individual broadcast stations, rather than networks.
{Matzav.com}
Kamala Emhoff was the FIRST African American female Vice President and as such one is not allowed to criticize her in any way shape or form whatsoever!