How media highlighted or omitted illegal status of Laken Riley murderer
A judge ruled Wednesday, Nov. 20, that Jose Ibarra is guilty of murdering Georgia college student Laken Riley. The case gained national attention due to the brutal nature of the crime and Ibarra’s status as an undocumented migrant from Venezuela. Ibarra was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Key moments from the trial included DNA evidence, including traces found under Riley’s fingernails and a jacket with her hair linked to Ibarra. Prosecutors argued that Ibarra attacked Riley while she was jogging on the University of Georgia campus in February, dragging her into the woods, beating her with a rock and leaving her partially naked and covered in leaves.
Ibarra’s defense claimed the evidence was circumstantial and suggested his brothers were responsible for the crime. During the trial, a recorded prison phone call was played where Ibarra’s wife questioned why a person would not call 911 if they saw someone dying.
Despite the defense’s claims, the judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to convict Ibarra. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Ibarra crossed into the United States through El Paso, Texas, in September 2022. His illegal status became a focal point in media coverage, adding to the national debate over immigration laws, especially during an election year.
Some media outlets chose to emphasize Ibarra’s legal status in their headlines, while others did not.
News outlets with a left-leaning bias, such as NBC and CBS, omitted this detail in the headline, while others like ABC and CNN referred to him by his name or as “suspect.”
Right-leaning outlets, including the New York Post and Fox News, led with Ibarra’s status as an undocumented immigrant. The Wall Street Journal, rated by media watchdog group AllSides as having no political bias, included his migrant status in its top line.
Across all outlets, regardless of political bias, Ibarra was described as an undocumented immigrant or as having entered the country illegally. The importance of highlighting this detail varied, with NBC mentioning it in the ninth paragraph and Fox News in the first sentence.
Musk, Ramaswamy to lead Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency
President-elect Trump has created the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. And new details on a deadly massive explosion at a Kentucky food dye plant. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
Musk, Ramaswamy to lead Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency
Trump said Musk will be joined by entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy in leading the department. The president-elect said the two businessmen will help his administration “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies.”
Trump added the department will provide guidance from outside the government and “send shockwaves through the system.” The statement said Musk and Ramaswamy’s work will conclude no later than July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Musk, who also owns X, said on the social media site Tuesday night that all actions of the department will be posted online for “maximum transparency.”
Both Musk and Ramaswamy endorsed Trump during the 2024 campaign, with Ramaswamy doing so after dropping out of the race in January.
Along with meeting President Biden at the White House Wednesday, President-elect Trump is expected to also meet with Republicans at the Capitol as the GOP prepares to take control of both chambers of Congress, though some House races have still yet to be called.
The 44-year-old Army veteran is currently the host of Fox News channel’s “Fox and Friends Weekend.” Hegseth joined the network in 2014.
Hegseth is a Princeton and Harvard Business School graduate. He served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantanamo Bay and is still a member of the Minnesota Army Reserve.
In a statement, Trump said Hegseth is “tough, smart and a true believer in America first.” He added, “With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice — our military will be great again, and America will never back down.”
Trump also filled other roles Tuesday, including selecting lawyer William McGinley as White House counsel, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as U.S. ambassador to Israel, real estate investor Steve Witkoff as special envoy to the Middle East, and former Congressman John Ratcliffe as CIA director. Ratcliffe served as director of national intelligence in the first Trump administration.
Republican senators to choose new majority leader
While control of the House of Representatives remains undecided, the Senate is firmly in the hands of Republicans after last week’s election and now they’re getting ready for another vote.
House Oversight Committee holding second UFO hearing
The House Oversight Committee is meeting Wednesday to once again talk UFOs. The hearing, which calls the objects by their new preferred name, is titled “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth.”
Arrogant bureaucrats in D.C. spend your money and withhold information on UAP while our nation's best pilots give a different story. How does the government expect to gain our trust when they don't trust us with the truth? pic.twitter.com/un2RzRfwrE
2 dead in Louisville plant explosion, nearby homes damaged
New information is emerging about the explosion at a food dye plant in Louisville, Kentucky Tuesday afternoon. CBS and NBC News have reported two people have died, and at least nine others were badly hurt.
Authorities said two people had to be rescued from inside the plant Tuesday, but all employees have been accounted for.
The explosion, which happened in the city’s Clifton neighborhood, damaged nearby homes and residents were evacuated. One homeowner said it was a huge explosion and his entire house shook.
Today was a tough day for our city but we will get through this. I’m praying for everyone who was impacted and I’m incredibly thankful for the first responders who rushed in to save them. pic.twitter.com/cRbmqblph0
The mayor of Louisville said employees who were inside the building “reported normal activity when the explosion occurred.” The cause is under investigation.
This is not the first explosion to happen at that factory. One worker died after a tank exploded in 2003, when the plant had a different owner.
Kraft Heinz pulls school-approved Lunchables off the menu
The school-specific meals made their debut last school year. Kraft Heinz said they were protein-enriched and had reduced levels of saturated fat and sodium to meet the requirements of the national free and reduced-price school lunch program.
However, the meals got pushback from nutrition experts, who were concerned the school versions of Lunchables would confuse parents into thinking store-bought versions were healthier than they are. Then in April, Consumer Reports said it found the school-approved Lunachables actually contained more sodium than their store-bought counterparts.
In a statement, Kraft Heinz said its decision to pull school Lunchables was due to lack of demand.
TV talk show hosts react to Trump winning presidential election
TV talk show hosts, late-night and daytime, have added their voices to the many reactions to Donald Trump winning the 2024 presidential election. Most of these hosts specifically speak to viewers who don’t side with supporters of the president-elect.
Comedian Jon Stewart told his “Daily Show” audience on election night Tuesday, Nov. 5, to not listen to what the pundits and pollsters may take from the results.
“We’re going to come out of this election and we’re going to make all kind of pronouncements about what this country is and what this world is. And the truth is, we’re not really going to know s–t. And we’re going to make it seem like this is the finality of our civilization. And this is the thing.
We’re all going to have to wake up tomorrow morning, and work like hell to move the world to the place that we prefer it to be. And I just want to point out, just as a matter of perspective, that the lessons that our pundits take away from these results that they will pronounce with certainty will be wrong.”
Jon Stewart
Over On ABC’s “The View,” Whoopi Goldberg opened the show Wednesday, Nov. 6, by saying, “So? What happened last night? Anybody do anything interesting?”
“What’s important to me is this — tens of millions of Americans, our friends, neighbors, family members voted for Donald Trump. We disagree with him, but they’re good decent people who are patriots and love this country. I can’t speak to what drove them to the conclusion of being with him. I think it’s a moment for us to listen to each other, hear each other, express what our concerns are and listen to people who are with him.
This is a country that there is truly more that unites us than divides us. I know it doesn’t feel like that for many people in this moment. But we need to bring down the temperature, the name-calling, the demonizing.”
Farah Griffin.
Co-host Sunny Hustin said she wasn’t entirely surprised by Trump’s victory. She gave her reasons why she believed it happened.
“I’m surprised by the result, but I’m not surprised. As a woman of color, I was so hopeful that a mixed-race woman married to a Jewish guy could be elected president of this country. I think it had nothing to do with policy. This was a referendum of cultural resentment in this country.”
Sunny Hustin
Turning to late night, “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon stuck with comedy to express his views of the election.
“It was a tough night for Democrats. Today, they turned to Elon Musk like, ‘So tell me more at living on Mars. How close are we?”
Jimmy Fallon
Former “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno appeared on CBS’ “The Talk” to discuss the results. Leno said it was “a great day for democracy.”
“The nice thing about this election is, it was fair. It was honest. OK. I was not a fan, but that’s OK. It’s the president of the United States. Let’s all get together. Thank you very much, you know?”
Jay Leno
Meanwhile, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers, all outspoken critics of Donald Trump, used their platform to try to reassure their viewers, who they suspected were feeling nervous about another Trump presidency.
“How you doing?” Colbert said to open Wednesday’s show.”If you watch the show regularly, I’m guessing you’re not doing great. Yeah, me neither.”
Later in the show’s monologue, Colbert said, “As a late-night host people often say to me, ‘Come on, part of you got to want Trump to win because he gives you so much material to work with.’ No. No.”
“The people voted and this is the choice we made. In January, Donald Trump becomes president and that’s that. He won. It doesn’t mean we give up, but it also doesn’t mean we storm the Capitol because we don’t like the result.”
Jimmy Kimmel
“This is real, and this is something I accept — half the country thinks he’s a good person, or they don’t care that he’s not, because they think he’s a good president. And because of that, he’s gonna be our president again. That’s how democracy works in America, a country that is a privilege to live in even on a morning like today.”
Seth Meyers
The TV hosts agree on this point: the results are final and Donald Trump will once again be U.S. president.
Before ending his opening thoughts, Meyers tried to put a smile on the faces of his viewers by sharing a story about his time at the polling station when a poll worker addressed his 6-year-old son.
“And he looked at my son, and he very sweetly said, ‘Hello, young man! Are you here to see the wheels of democracy turn up close?’ And my son looked at me and he sort of did this thing where he waved me down, and then he whispered in my ear, ‘Is that Donald Trump?’
I think my son is totally fine with how everything went yesterday, ’cause he left that polling place with like 55 stickers and 100 pens.”
Trump speaks of ‘incredible’ win after projected to be next US president
Donald Trump is poised to win the presidency again. How Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania helped put him over the top. And while Republicans have picked up seats in the Senate, will they also take the House? A look at where things stand. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024.
Trump speaks of ‘incredible’ win after projected to be next U.S. president
Former President Donald Trump declared victory while addressing supporters in Florida early Wednesday morning, Nov. 6, as his lead over Vice President Kamala Harris grew. He picked up critical wins in key battleground states Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina.
“We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible, and it is now clear that we’ve achieved the most incredible political thing,” Trump said. “Look what happened — is this crazy? But it’s a political victory that our country has never seen before, nothing like this. I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president.”
Harris’ path to the 270 electoral votes has become less of a possibility, with most media outlets projecting Trump as the winner Wednesday morning. As of the time this article was published, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS, the Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ, a forecasting and analysis organization, have projected him to be the winner.
Donald Trump wins presidency for second time, completing improbable comeback https://t.co/VGPT8X5I88
Trump, who survived two assassination attempts during the campaign, was surrounded by family, Republican leaders, and his running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance as he addressed the crowd inside the Palm Beach Convention Center around 2:30 a.m. ET Wednesday.
“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” he told supporters. “Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason and that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness and now we are going to fulfill that mission together.”
Vice President Harris, who picked up wins in California and New York, did not speak Tuesday night, Nov. 5, but earlier in the evening campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond spoke to supporters at Howard University. He said the vice president was not giving up the fight despite how the numbers were going.
“We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken, so you won’t hear from the vice president tonight, but you will hear from her tomorrow,” he said. ”She will be back here tomorrow to address not only the HU family, not only to address our supporters, but to address the nation.”
Multiple news networks have confirmed Harris is slated to speak Wednesday morning. However, it is worth noting there reportedly has been no concession call yet from Harris to Trump.
Ray Bogan recaps election night from Washington
Washington is going to look a lot different in January.
Donald Trump made an extraordinary comeback. He lost the electoral and popular votes in 2020 after stinging defeats in Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania. This time around Trump won back both Georgia and Pennsylvania. He also took Wisconsin.
Republicans also won a majority in the Senate, with key victories in Ohio and West Virginia pushing them over the top. This will give them a key advantage as they work to confirm Trump’s cabinet picks and judicial nominations.
It’s important to remember that the majorities in Congress are razor-thin and nowhere near filibuster-proof in the Senate. So passing legislation will require bipartisanship.
The big question now is – who will be the Senate majority leader? The three candidates are John Thune from South Dakota, John Cornyn from Texas and Rick Scott from Florida.
Balance of power in Congress shifts, GOP retakes control of Senate
As Ray mentioned, the balance of power is shifting in Congress. Republicans will retake control of the Senate for the first time in four years.
The GOP flipped seats in West Virginia and Ohio, giving Republicans at least a 51-seat majority in the Senate.
In West Virginia, Republican Gov. Jim Justice is slated to replace the outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin, an independent who caucused with Democrats. In Ohio, Republican Bernie Moreno is projected by multiple outlets to defeat incumbent Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown.
How the House of Representatives will play out remains to be seen. Republicans are hoping to retain control of the chamber.
They currently hold a slim majority, yet there are still over 100 races yet to be determined as of the time of publishing. Going into the night, Democrats needed to flip four seats to gain.
Stein wins in NC governor’s race, Republicans see victory in other states
Voters in 11 states also chose their next governors. While Republicans won big, Democrats did manage to retain power in several states.
North Carolina remained blue after the state’s Democratic attorney general, Josh Stein, beat out controversial Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Robinson — who made history as the first Black lieutenant governor in the state — was already trailing in the polls, but his numbers took a dive in mid-September after CNN released a report detailing comments he allegedly made on a pornography website message board more than a decade ago on race, gender and abortion.
Thank you, North Carolina! I am honored to serve as your next governor. Tonight, we came together to resoundingly embrace a vision that is optimistic, forward-looking, and welcoming. I couldn't have done this without each of you. pic.twitter.com/3eeGGTVHed
In Delaware, Democrat Matt Meyer wins the race for governor. Meyer defeated Republican Mike Ramone and will take over from two-term Democratic Gov. John Carney.
Washington state will stay blue after Attorney General Bob Ferguson beat out Republican challenger Dave Reichert for the job. The seat was up for grabs after Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee said he would not be running again after serving three terms.
Indiana went from blue to red, with Republican Mike Braun defeating Democrat Jennifer McCormick. McCormick is a former Republican who split with the party after serving as the state’s schools superintendent.
Meanwhile, Republican Missouri remained red. The state’s Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe is set to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Parson.
North Dakota stayed red, as well. Kelly Armstrong is projected to succeed Gov. Doug Burgum, who also chose not to run again after serving three terms. It is possible Burgum will get a place in the Trump administration.
Republicans will now have governors in 27 states; Democrats in 23.
*Editor’s Note: This story has been updated since our recording to correct that North Carolina did not flip blue as the current governor, Roy Cooper, is a Democrat.
Voters in four states chose whether to enshrine abortion as a constitutional right. The measure did not pass in Florida, Nebraska or South Dakota, but did in Colorado and Nevada.
Nebraska voters actually had two abortion-related measures on their ballot. While the constitutional right to an abortion failed, the other measure, which would prohibit abortions after the first trimester, passed.
Five other states were deciding on the right to an abortion. The measures passed in Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, and New York and is expected to make it through in Montana.
3 newly elected senators, 1 congresswoman making history
History was made in three states on Election Day.
In Delaware, Lisa Blunt Rochester — who already made history as the first woman and first Black person to represent the state in Congress — will now become the first Black woman to represent Delaware in the U.S. Senate.
Maryland Democrat Angela Alsobrooks will be the first Black candidate to represent her state in the Senate.
We just won our Senate race! As a son of immigrants, a public school kid, I never could’ve imagined I’d get to serve as a US Senator. I’m deeply humbled and grateful to NJ and for everyone who got us here. I promise I’ll serve with honor and integrity as a public servant for all. pic.twitter.com/qpuobm9Vf3
New Jersey Democrat Andy Kim will become the first Korean-American ever elected to the Senate. At 42 years old, he’ll also be the Senate’s third youngest member.
Finally, Sarah McBride, who won Delaware’s only open House seat, will be the first openly transgender person to be elected to Congress.
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Republicans claim Senate majority, end Democrats’ four-year hold
Experts weigh-in on coping with Election Day stress
Election Day is here and you’ve likely heard relatives or friends say they can’t wait until it’s over. There’s clearly some national anxiety when it comes to this election. People want their candidate to win so bad that it’s affecting them. However, experts have several, simple ways to cope.
Dr. Faith Coleman, who graduated from the University of New Mexico’s medical school and has worked in family medicine, has a few suggestions.
First, try not to focus on the outcome. It’s not a catastrophe if your candidate doesn’t win. Instead, focus your energy on a favorite hobby or a specific cause that you are passionate about.
Coleman said people tend to overemphasize negative emotions. Instead, think about what makes you happy and that it’ll still be there, no matter the outcome of the election.
She also said that social media can become a toxic reservoir and encourages people to have social interaction in person, whether it be over coffee or a meal.
In addition, psychiatrist Dr. Sue Varma told CBS News, people should try to avoid “doomscrolling,” which means spending a lot of time on social media or getting push notifications with news that is very upsetting.
Most experts agree that exercise is a great remedy for stress and anxiety. Getting in some movement or physical activity can help decrease negative emotions.
TV networks, streaming services add features to win election night
TV networks, streaming services and newspapers are all bringing out the latest technological advancements to win election night coverage. From virtual reality sets to election integrity teams, outlets are pulling out all stops to be the destination for American voters looking for the latest results and analysis.
MSNBC will present a virtual reality set for its election night coverage. That will see reporters appearing to stand near the White House, while in reality, they’ll be inside the 30 Rock studios in New York City.
Its sister network, NBC News also will unveil a VR set where its anchors will appear to be delivering news from outside the studio. NBC’s streaming service Peacock will debut its multiview experience for the first time beyond a sporting event.
It will give viewers three livestreams at once including the Kornacki Cam. The Kornacki Cam is a feed on correspondent Steve Kornacki analyzing the latest results.
ABC News is touting its 72 hours plus of election coverage which includes its “ballot watch” desk overseen by the ABC News Investigative Unit. ABC says it will be “monitoring all storylines related to election integrity.”
Fox News says it will debut new immersive graphics technology as part of its special coverage of the 2024 election. This includes a 3D “Path to 270 Map” showing the candidates’ options at reaching the critical number of electoral votes.
The network was the most-watched cable network last election night in 2020 setting a record with 13.7 million viewers.
Over at NewsNation, the channel will be covering its first presidential election since becoming a full-time 24-hour national news network earlier this year. Former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo will be at the anchor desk covering the election.
The CW network will simulcast part of NewsNation’s coverage.
Former NBC News anchor Brian Williams leads Amazon Prime Video’s entry into election night coverage.
Comedy Central will have a special edition of “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart.
CNBC will focus on the economy during its special programming from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
CNN is adding its Magic Wall experience to its app. CBS News, not to be outdone by NBC, will also be debuting its new AR-VR presidential election center.
Beyond TV and streaming, The Associated Press will be using its “state-of-the-art analytics tools” as well as its AP VoteCast. The VoteCast surveys American voters across the country as the polls close in its reporting.
The Washington Post is unveiling a slate of new features to its coverage including an election dashboard that provides live updates from key swing states.
The New York Times will have its famous needle as election results come in.
As for Straight Arrow News, we’ll be bringing you updates throughout election night and viewers will get a full recap of the evening’s events on Wednesday, Nov. 6, during SAN’s morning show “Unbiased Updates.”
According to Nielsen, an estimated 56.9 million people tuned in to watch primetime coverage of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. That was down from 71 million viewers in 2016.
It will be interesting to see not just now how many people show up at the polls this election, but how many show up to watch the results
NBC complies with ‘equal time’ rule for Trump following Harris ‘SNL’ cameo
NBC has filed a notice with the Federal Communications Commission after Vice President Kamala Harris’ brief appearance on “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend of Nov. 2. The network provided former President Donald Trump with airtime to ensure compliance with the FCC’s equal time rule, which requires broadcasters to offer equal access to competing political candidates.
The rule dates back to the Communications Act of 1934, originally designed to ensure fairness and balanced coverage on broadcast airwaves. It requires that if a candidate is given airtime on a broadcast station, other qualified candidates must also be given equivalent opportunities.
Although there are exceptions to the rule, like appearances in news programs, interviews, or documentaries, entertainment programs can still trigger the rule.
AP Images
Harris’s appearance on “SNL” was brief, clocking in at just one minute and 30 seconds. She joined comedian Maya Rudolph in a skit where Rudolph portrayed Harris, a role she has played several times on “SNL” ahead of elections.
However, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, a Trump-appointed senior Republican, quickly raised concerns on social media, calling it “a clear and blatant effort to evade the FCC’s Equal Time rule.”
Getty Images
NBC responded by airing Trump’s message to viewers during the NASCAR 2024 Cup playoffs on Sunday, granting him airtime to balance Harris’ cameo.
Carr later appeared on Fox News, urging the FCC to take “every single option” into account if violations are confirmed, emphasizing the need for impartiality across the board.
The equal time rule, while still enforced on broadcast stations, does not apply to cable networks, podcasts, social media or streaming services.
With more people turning to digital platforms for news and entertainment, the rule faces challenges in keeping pace with changing media consumption habits.
Critics argue this could limit its effectiveness and relevance, raising questions about its future in a digital-dominated world.
Trump sues CBS News for $10B over edits of ‘60 Minutes’ Harris interview
Former President Donald Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News on Thursday, Oct. 31, accusing the network of manipulating an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris on “60 Minutes.” Trump’s legal team claims the network’s editing misrepresented Harris’ answer in a way that could influence the 2024 election.
The lawsuit alleges that CBS engaged in “deceptive broadcasting conduct,” specifically by using a selectively edited clip of Harris to promote the interview. Trump’s team argues the clip was an attempt to portray Harris in a more favorable light.
Getty Images
According to court filings, the full interview aired with a different response from Harris than what was shown in the promotional clip. That led Trump to claim the edit was a partisan act aimed at deceiving voters.
Trump’s attorneys argue that CBS’ actions amount to unlawful election interference. They claim it misinformed the public and inflicting harm on Trump’s campaign and supporters.
The former president is also requesting a jury trial. He asked the Federal Communications Commission to consider revoking CBS’ broadcast license over what he calls “malicious, deceptive, and substantial news distortion.”
Fox News also faced controversy last month, amid allegations of using similar editing tactics to condense Trump’s answers during a barbershop interview on “Fox & Friends.”
CBS News hasn’t responded to the lawsuit or the allegations.
Trump threatens litigation in letter to CBS following Harris interview
Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers have sent a letter to CBS News demanding the release of the transcript from the “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. This latest threat of litigation escalates the ongoing conflict between Trump and the network over the editing of one of Harris’ responses.
The CBS legal department addressed the letter following the network’s acknowledgment of the interview’s edits in a statement on Sunday, Oct. 20.
“President Trump was accurate in his assertion that the ’60 Minutes’ interview with Vice President Kamala Harris — which aired in two different versions on Oct. 5 and 6 — was doctored to mislead the American people ahead of the election,” Trump attorney Edward Paltzick said. “CBS’s Oct. 20 statement confirmed that edits were made to make Harris’s answers appear more ‘succinct.’”
Trump reiterated this demand and requested that CBS preserve all communications and documents related to the interview. He said his team was “contemplating litigation” if the full interview isn’t released.
CBS has rejected allegations that it was deceitful in its editing practices or that it favored the vice president.
“’60 Minutes’ gave an excerpt of our interview to ‘Face the Nation’ that used a longer section of her answer than that on ’60 Minutes,’” the “60 Minutes” statement said. “Same question. Same answer. But a different portion of the response. When we edit any interview, whether a politician, an athlete, or a movie star, we strive to be clear, accurate, and on point. The portion of her answer on ’60 Minutes’ was more succinct, allowing time for other subjects in a wide-ranging 21-minute-long segment.”
With two weeks until Election Day, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is weighing in on the matter. The FCC chair has dismissed Trump’s claims, calling his rhetoric a threat to free speech. However, one of the four commissioners has advocated for an investigation into the “60 Minutes” interview.
Harris’ response to a question about whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is listening to the Biden-Harris administration differed from the Oct. 6 episode of “Face the Nation” and the Oct. 7 episode of “60 Minutes.“
CBS responds to allegations of deceitful editing in ’60 Minutes’ Harris interview
CBS is responding to claims that the network engaged in deceitful editing when it aired two different answers to the same question in its interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. While CBS has issued a statement, calls for the release of the full transcript continue. A Federal Communications Commission (FCC) commissioner also advocated for an investigation.
Harris was asked whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “listening” to the Biden-Harris administration. The responses she gave in a clip aired on CBS’ “Face the Nation” and during the “60 Minutes” program differed, raising questions about how the network edited the interview.
Former President Donald Trump, CBS’ most prominent critic, called for the network to lose its license over the incident. In its statement, CBS directly addressed Trump’s claims of deceitful editing.
“Former President Donald Trump is accusing ’60 Minutes’ of deceitful editing of our Oct. 7 interview with Vice President Kamala Harris,” CBS said in a statement. “That is false. ’60 Minutes’ gave an excerpt of our interview to ‘Face the Nation’ that used a longer section of her answer than that on ’60 Minutes.’ Same question. Same answer. But a different portion of the response. When we edit any interview, whether a politician, an athlete, or a movie star, we strive to be clear, accurate, and on point. The portion of her answer on ’60 Minutes’ was more succinct, which allows time for other subjects in a wide-ranging 21-minute-long segment.”
CBS also noted that Trump had the opportunity to sit down with the network and that the invitation remains open. However, Trump’s campaign responded, demanding the release of the transcript for transparency.
“’60 Minutes’ just admitted to doing exactly what President Trump accused them of doing,” the Trump campaign told the New York Post. “They edited in a different response—from another part of her answer—to make Kamala Harris sound less incoherent than she really was. Their statement is not a denial; it is an admission that they did exactly what they were accused of. This is another reminder of how hopelessly biased ’60 Minutes’ is, and how correct President Trump was to decline their invitation to be subjected to their fake news hackery. Release the transcript!”
FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington confirmed that a complaint has been filed with the FCC by the Center for American Rights, questioning whether CBS intentionally distorted its coverage. Simington said he believes the complaint has merit but is doubtful it will be investigated under the current FCC leadership.
“The FCC does not regulate, or really even respond to, allegations of politically unfavorable coverage or legitimate editorial discretion,” Simington told the Daily Caller. “The recent complaint regarding WCBS-TV raises a fully different set of issues regarding whether or not coverage was intentionally distorted.”
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel already dismissed Trump’s claims, stating that the FCC should not get involved. Sources told the Daily Caller that under Democratic leadership, the complaint is unlikely to advance, especially with the election just weeks away. However, they noted that if Trump is elected and appoints a Republican as FCC chair, the commission could investigate CBS’s editorial process regarding the “60 Minutes” interview.
