The 46th News & Documentary Emmy Awards nominations are out, and it seems that everyone is talking about just one of them. The “Outstanding Edited Interview” category is hardly a common draw for public or even industry attention. However, one of this year’s nominees is CBS for its primetime special featuring then-Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The interview is the basis for a $20 billion lawsuit by President Donald Trump against CBS News and its parent company, Paramount Global, alleging election interference due to the biased editing out of an embarrassing answer by Harris.
The nomination seems clearly designed to push back at Trump and rally around CBS. (For the record, I opposed this lawsuit on both legal and policy grounds.) However, it sends precisely the wrong message for the media at this time.
Many have criticized CBS for its editing of the interview with journalist Bill Whitaker after the network shortened portions of Harris’s answer to a question about the war in Gaza in its initial broadcast. It later provided a full transcript of her remarks online. (For full disclosure, I worked twice under contract with CBS as a legal analyst.)
While I have great reservations about the legal action, I agree with Trump that the interview showed bias and an effort to protect Harris. CBS has been repeatedly accused of such bias, including criticism of the performance of Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan as moderators in the presidential debate. That included reneging on a pledge not to “fact check” and showing manifest bias in their treatment of the candidates.
In the interview, Harris had one of her signature verbal pileups, an incomprehensible effort to explain the U.S. position in the Middle East. The word salad was played on the Sunday show but the primetime interview on 60 Minutes featured only the second half of the answer.
The “Face the Nation” clip showed Harris saying that
“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.”
The “60 Minutes” clip showed Harris saying more concisely 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.”
This interview, shortly before the election, was considered one of the most important of the campaign. Harris avoided spontaneous exchanges or interactions with the media and only agreed to a few interviews with favorable outlets. One of the issues in the campaign was Harris’s embarrassing answers, particularly while representing the United States abroad. These include:
“I am here. Standing. Here. on the northern flank, on the eastern flank, talking about what we have in terms of the eastern flank and our NATO allies, and what is at stake at this very moment.”
“Ukraine is a country in Europe. It exists next to another country called Russia. Russia is a bigger country. Russia decided to invade a smaller country called Ukraine, So basically that’s wrong.”
The word salad moments were common and Harris was kept on a tightly scripted agenda where the press was kept at a distance. Thus, the CBS interview was viewed as one of the few opportunities to see how Harris would do in an actual prolonged interview.
In other words, it was news that Harris struggled again when asked to speak for any length of time with a reporter.
60 Minutes decided that viewers did not have to see that part of the answer in primetime, even as part of an answer in which Harris claims that they want to be “clear” on where they stand on the issue.
CBS was wrong in the editing. Moreover, the suggestion that it should be given an award for such biased editing says much about the state of American journalism. No doubt many in the media approved of the network cleaning up Harris, yet again, for public reviewing.
None of this changes my view of the underlying litigation. Paramount Global’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, is believed to want to close the lawsuit to clear the way for a multibillion-dollar merger with Skydance Media. It also wants to avoid continuing tensions with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which can delay or halt the purchase.
However, this lawsuit would ultimately fail. The media is allowed to engage in such editing. Indeed, bias itself is not generally actionable. Moreover, there were moments when Whitaker did press Harris, in sharp contrast to most of her interviews on shows like The View, Howard Stern’s SiriusXM show, and Late Night with Stephen Colbert.
I have been a vocal critic of the mainstream media for embracing what I call “advocacy journalism” in my book, The Indispensable Right. Many in this country view mainstream media as a de facto state media due to the bias shown against Trump and for Democratic talking points. Indeed, the mantra “Let’s Go Brandon!” was embraced by millions as a criticism of the media as much as it was a criticism of President Biden.
However, the threats of harassing lawsuits destroy any moral high ground for Trump. It is also entirely unnecessary. As I will address this week at the Library of Congress, the public is leaving mainstream media en masse in favor of new media. Revenue and readers/viewers are dropping for many media outlets. That includes CBS, which has continued to struggle with ratings while refusing to offer more balanced coverage, including a recent controversy over pushing the “baby hoax.”
CBS was wrong in the editing of the interview and the nomination of the network for the interview only magnifies that error. However, the Administration should leave this matter to the public and the market to sort out.
A somewhat different angle on this CBS interview and the editing job they did:
They did such a great job of editing they got EMMY nomination-recognition for it.
However, this was no ordinary interview: this was a US Presidential candidate and that makes all the difference. If they’d interviewed Lady Gaga and touched it up for the 60 minutes show, no one would be screaming ‘foul.’ But when it was designed to make Ms. Harris appear to have the verbal skills required to be on the International stage representing the United States of America when she lacks those skills, a lawsuit by her opponent was designed to draw attention to it, and it has, and she lost the election. The Dems are still trying to pin down the reason for her loss.
Not just the verbal skills, but the mental skills as well.
I’ve said it before. I’ll say it again. The truth bears repetition amidst the nonstop lies.
There are NO reporters and NO journalists in mainstream media. There are only PRESSTITUTES. CBS consists entirely of presstitutes. And genuine reporting or journalism will result in the individual attempting to practice it blackballed from the Presstitution Industry fro life.
I hope Floyd is alright and old airborne, too.
Tragedy
Did something happen to them?
I’ve actually been wondering about Floyd, Squeeky Fromme, and Iowan2. I haven’t seen them post here in a while. Especially Iowan2 – it seems like maybe a couple years since I’ve seen anything from him.
No way to know. Squeaky didn’t say she was ill nor airborne.
Life is fragile.
I don’t know. They haven’t posted.
I meant tragedy regarding the state of the world and horrible AI gone awry. There is a bad thing in the world causing people to harm others evidently.
These groups are engaged in cultural death. It’s compulsive and obstinate. They apparently have no free will. Give me a reason any American would kill the American culture and assimilate into the culture of Abrego Garcia. This is what is being done. It appears to be a malspirit, Indeed.
A world without western culture are the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.
So it is…
In other news Vladimir Putin and the Ayatollah were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
And, Bob Dylan got the Nobel prize for literature.
From Meet the Press today:
Trump: “I don’t think a beautiful baby girl that’s 11 years old needs to have 30 dolls. I think they can have three dolls or four dolls … they don’t need to have 250 pencils. They can have five.”
I asked my 11 year-old about this idea today and I can report that this is not landing well in the 11 year-old community
This is what I do at Christmas, just pop over to the Wal-Mart and buy a 30 pack of dolls and a 60 pack of toy limo’s fer each young ‘un.
Trying to remember any moment in history when I bought my daughter 30 of ANYTHING aside from maybe diapers.
I don’t think a big beautiful grown up man needs to have 30 guns. I think he can have one or two. He doesn’t need 2500 rounds. He can have 50. Let the government tell us what we need and can have.
Well, following that logic, he and his buddies don’t need multiple billions of dollars. They can have one billion each.
He doesn’t need multiple golf resorts, he can just have one.
He doesn’t need multiple homes, he can just have one.
Doesn’t Donny always get TWO scoops of ice cream?
Everyone has to endure the hardships now – One small scoop only, even for him.
And, just One sharpie, too. Use it ’til it’s all dried up.
BIDEN eats the ice cream DUMMY ANON!!
Its not logic.
What you say isn’t untrue. By whom will his employees then be employed? He really isn’t so very wealthy. The financial managers are. Those entities that group the wealthiest into global investments. Oligarch is old.
They must be very bored. They care nothing for governments. Look at your congress. Crockett, Cortez, Green and Mace? Seriously… mindless violence.
Do you really think any person having a real choice would allow abrego garcia next door? Wife beater, trafficker, possible gang member? Do you not know the answer to that? Do you not know you’re on a path to self destruction and constant violence? Now be angry about it.
Tattooing your knuckles is now popular with members of the Knights of Columbus.
It may be true your cultural behavior genetics may be a mismatch with the US as it has become. In this case if that is true it’s time to find your tribe? It may no longer exist in which case find a cultural behavior genetic that isn’t repulsive.
“Let the government tell us what we need and can have.”
I’ll vote for that government telling you that you only need to take 4 breaths in 24 hours…
Are you cracked?
You do not get to dictate the values., preferences, wants and needs of other adults.
Parents do get to decide with respect to their children.
And whether it should be that way or not, the rest of us judge other peoples parenting.
OT
SCOTUS case and religious public education. Pare back public education to essentials. Atheism and laws that are anti religion in its application is a religion metaphysically.
Don’t ask for my money to teach Islam I have Islamophobia. It’ll cause me pain and suffering. Seriously…
In total agreement with the Professor on this one. The lawsuit is absurd and if successful would make the courts the arbiter of all news “fairness”. Do we really want to deal with the flood of lawsuits that such a thing would cause? Freedom of the press means the press is free to be biased and stupid. We the people can then make our own decisions.
Not during an election — editing out answers is misrepresenting — just dishonest.
Back on earth there’s some law about transparency and requires a notice –> this has been edited for clarity. OR to give it meaning or to present the nominee in a better way , or to attempt to glean votes…..it’s like food labels that no longer exist.
I suppose the people back on earth think it would be deceptive otherwise. Deception is a form of theft. Deception steals truth.
Not all of us can. A significant number–enough to sway an election–can be counted on to believe anything CBS or their ilk put on the airwaves. There has to be accountability.
From Meet the Press today:
Welker: “Are you considering tariff relief for small businesses?”
Trump: “Why do you always mention, you know, a couple of little businesses. What about the car business? They’re going to make a fortune because of the tariffs.”
Translation: I don’t care about small businesses. They don’t have the resources to pay me big enough bribes. The car industry is paying me huge bribes.
There are 32 million small businesses in the US, accounting for 99.9% of all businesses and employing nearly half of all Americans.
Yep. And one gigantic business–UPS–has plans to lay off about 20,000 workers, and part of the reason for this is the tariffs. I know one small business that had to lay off half its workforce due to the tariffs. Trump better get this sorted–soon.
UPS is struggling to make up for the labor-strike that they went through, and streamlining is one avenue they’re taking to squeeze more efficiency/production out of their business model.
Your future as a “translator” is very dim.
If a check to Stormy Daniels can be a campaign contribution, why can’t a favorably edited interview be a campaign contribution?
The media madness continues. If you remember not long ago the propaganda MKultra media awarded themselves participation trophies where Pulitzer Prizes were awarded for known lies. These media morons continue to play make-believe with the truth and sadly it will end badly.
All you have to do is watch or listen to the commercials in the Main Stream Media.
The Democrat machine uses its judiciary to intimidate a company or industry to play ball with them. Tactics like delaying approval of a product, claiming that your company is a monopoly or just simply constant lawsuits.
Here’s the way it works.
Example: When is the last time you heard the term “Big Pharma”. Not since “Big Pharma” caved to the Democrats. Big Pharma now advertises like crazy for products that you still need a doctor to prescribe. The Main Stream Media stays afloat because of all the money made from running all the Big Pharma ads and the Main Stream Media then in turn constantly campaigns for the Democrats.
Now use the same logic with the insurance industry, big tech or fast-food industry.
They even got Zuckerberg to spend over $400 million on “Election Integrity” in Wisconsin.
From Meet the Press today.
Trump: “We were losing hundreds of billions of dollars with China. Now we’re essentially not doing business with China. Therefore, we’re saving hundreds of billions of dollars. It’s very simple.”
Somebody run downtown and tell the homeless people how rich they are because they save so much money when they don’t buy stuff.
By his logic, every time you buy groceries, you’re losing because you used to have $20 but now all you have is some worthless dinner.
I was losing hundreds of dollars every month on groceries. So I stopped eating. Therefore, I’m saving hundreds of dollars. It’s very simple.”
I’ve never thought about it before. From this minute on, I’m going to stop doing business with my grocery store. I’m going to save a ton of money!
If Wharton Business School hopes to retain a shred of credibility, they will immediately rescind his degree
China sets their price, and willing customers pay it. Just like the USA sets our price, and willing customers pay it. Isn’t that capitalism? Isn’t that the free market economy that Republicans claim to want?
I feel like even a four-year-old would see how stupid this was
I fact checked this with a 4 year old and it checks out.
How did a four year old have time to figure out trade economics with 30 dolls to manage?
You weren’t listening, 4 year olds are only getting 2 dolls now
4 year old ^^^
The 46th News & Documentary Emmy Awards and The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences must be sued for egregious fraud, public deception, propagation of disinformation, incitement to public disturbance, incitement to public disruption et al.
Are the majority of the nominees from the alternative media? Should be. That’s where real journalism is performed these days. At least some other awards programs have recognized the landscape has changed.
“Harris avoided spontaneous exchanges or interactions with the media….” While this understatement is generous, it fails to capture the gravity of what it signifies. Harris clearly had (has) zero skill in “thinking on her feet,” and that is proof she was never “presidential” material, but what is more alarming is that half the country thought she was, in the face of her many vacuous tongue! This alone is proof of a dumbed-down electorate, which takes us back to the issue of education, and the lack thereof in these United States.
Trump should drop this trifling lawsuit, and instead find a new way to incentivize states to return to higher educational standards to stop the entrenched “equity ideology” that has declared math “racist.” Leftist ideologues in the teaching profession are now limiting full access to education for those who “get it” in favor of those who don’t—in effect, silencing math and blocking any other “offending” topics/subjects that require brain power.
As for Harris’s very own obvious lack in power of reason, her utter lack of ability to infer or cogitate to derive ideas spontaneously, that is, engage in rhetorical computation, it points directly to the fact that her career and rising positions were not well-earned (neither through intelligence nor effort) but rather handed to her by—shall we say—a personal admirer. Her presidency would have been a travesty.
Jonathan: Most historians are revising their list of the most corrupt Presidents. It used to be Andrew Jackson and his “spoils system”. DJT’s first term became number one with his attempt to violently overturn the 2020 election and his use of the Oval office to enrich himself. But only 100 days into his second DJT 2.0 is proving to have exceeded even the corruption of the first term–if that was even possible. Here are a few examples of how DJT intends to beat his record first term.
For starters Don Jr. has opened his version of Mar-a-Lago. It’s called the “Executive Branch”, a private club in DC. Membership is $500,00 plus annual dues. That’s a bargain considering DJT raised the Mar-a-Lago membership from $700 K to $1 million just before the 2024 election. Don Jr.’s aim is to create “the highest private club that Washington has ever had”, catering to business and tech moguls hoping to cozy up to Don Jr’s dad. Turns out corruption is going to be the life blood for the DJT family. DJT realizes this is his last chance to financially benefit from being president and he is taking advantage of every opportunity make hay while the sun shines.
Here is another example. The WSJ had a 4/17 headline article describing how DJT wants to use his tariff wars to make money for himself and his fellow billionaires. The WSJ describes how Vietnam is trying to get out from under the tariffs and “recently closed a $300 million financing deal to buy a fleet of new Boeing jets. It pushed through authorization of
Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk, a close Trump advisor”. And here’s the kicker. Vietnam also “accelerated approvals of a $1.5 billion dollar Trump resort”, according to the WSJ. So DJT’s tariffs are not really about bringing jobs back to America. It’s about using the threat of tariffs to force countries to make profitable deals with DJT, Elon and their crony billionaire friends.
You spent 4 years falsely claiming the Biden family was involved in a “vast corruption and bribery scandal”. In fairness isn’t it about time you wrote a few columns about what DJT is doing in his second term? We’re waiting but not holding our breath!
“LOSING!”
No one reads you.
Every exercise in prevarication you post is completely ignored and you have nothing close to the effect you intend.
Go home, little man.
There are numerous folks that have intelligent commentary on Jonathan Turley’s website, but your leftist psycho-babble rants keep you off of that list.
Poor Denise.
I guess your panties are in a twist.
In terms of worst Presidents… Jimmy Carter died a happy man.
His legacy is no longer that he was the worst president in the history of the US. (He actually did more good post POTUS than anyone in the past 100yrs.)
Biden is in the record books as the worst POTUS in the history of this country w Obama being the 3rd worst.
Of course that may change as more details come out concerning the Obama administration(s).
-G
Dennis – you have no clue what corruption is.
Is Trump selling pardons ? Is he threatening to remove aide from other countries to make his children rich ?
Is the Govenrment paying for “The Executive Branch” ?
Is the government paying for Mar-A-Lago ?
If you do not wish to join – DONT.
M ost of us wonder about Hunter Biden’s art – but absent some secret quid pro quo, if others wish to buy Hunters finger painting for a small fortune – that is their business.
“Don Jr.’s aim is to create “the highest private club that Washington has ever had”, catering to business and tech moguls”
So ? Do you have DJT demanding foreign govenrments fire prosecutors so that his family can profit ?
BTW Jackson was not especially corrupt. What was different about Jackson is that – Like Trump it was the common man, not the elite that benefited from his presidency.
Harding was pretty correct – more so than Jackson by Far – and it was not the comkon man that benefited, but the elites. That said for the very short period he was president he was actually a good president, and he was followed by Coolifge he was better and honest.
No this is not Trump’s last oportunity – it is expected Trump will make as much off of his Crytpo deals as he did off Truth.
Trump doubled his wealth with Truth social. Didn’t have a thing to do with Govenrment.
He may double his weatlh again on crypto – again having nothing to do with govenrment.
You rant about everything that Trump does to make money.
But Trump makes money by trading private value for private value.
Under Trump the WH is not for sale – but Trump bibbles are.
One of the things that was disturbing about DOGE’s audits is the amount of political corruption exposed – the billions that went from public funds to left wing nut politicians and how little of that actually ended up doing anything but lining democrats pockets.
The most corrupt president in history is Biden.
“The WSJ describes how Vietnam is trying to get out from under the tariffs and “recently closed a $300 million financing deal to buy a fleet of new Boeing jets.”
Not sure you can buy a fleet of Boeings for $300M.
Regardless, Boeing is owned by shareholders – that would be YOUR 401K and IRA,
It employs tens of thousands of americans.
Absolutely Trump intends to make america Richer – starting with the worling man.
“It pushed through authorization of Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk, a close Trump advisor”.
Why does starlink need to be “authorized” – Musk uses his own rockets to orbit his own satelites, and then sells global internet services provided by those satelites.
What is their to authorize ?
You left wing nuts are stupid. It is PRECISELY because Government has to “authorize” things it has no business being involved in that we have problems with graft and corruption.
WE should not need to bribe politicos to get what they have no business controlling.
“Vietnam also “accelerated approvals of a $1.5 billion dollar Trump resort””
Again – why does vietnam have to authorize a resort ?
Do you think the 1.5B is coming from the vietnamese govenrment ?
Trump and other investors are building a $1.5B resort ion vietname.
If it fails – it is not the veitnamese govenrment that loses, it is Trump and his investors.
” So DJT’s tariffs are not really about bringing jobs back to America.”
Who is it that builds Boeing planes ? American workers.
Are the jobs at MAL or the executive club filled by chinese ?
“You spent 4 years falsely claiming the Biden family was involved in a “vast corruption and bribery scandal”. ”
Because they were and DOGE has established that it was far larger than we suspected – large portions of the democratic party were swilling at the public Trough under Biden.
“In fairness isn’t it about time you wrote a few columns about what DJT is doing in his second term?”
Why ?
Do you actually want Boeing to fail and tens of thousands of americans to lose their jobs ?
Do you not want The US to provide goods and services to the world at profit ?
Absolutly I want US billionaires to benefit for Trump deals in his second term,
and when they do – so will US workers.
Who builds the satelites Musk launches ?
Who builds the rockets ?
John Say
You seem to think that Musk does not need “authorization’ to launch his rockets and satellites.
Let me explain something to you.
The airspace over the US is a highly regulated region for obvious safety reasons.
The FAA is charged with ensuring safety in our airspace.
Anyone wishing to move any kind of vehicle in the airspace needs multiple authorizations and licenses.
Airlines need a license to operate in controlled airspace.
Pilots need a license to operate in controlled airspace.
Aircraft must be registered and undergo regular rigorous FAA mandated safety inspections.
ATC operators need a license to control air traffic.
Any company wishing to launch rockets through controlled airspace must have a launch license.
Spacex needs licenses and authorizations to place satellites in orbit for obvious safety reasons. The FAA must approve any requested orbital configurations so that the Starlink satellites do not interfere or collide with other satellites used for communications, spying, GPS, scientific studies and so on. Spacex cannot simply blast its satellites into any orbit it wants.
Spacex also needs licenses and authorizations for the frequencies it uses for Starlink for obvious reasons, so that they do not interfere with other critical communication systems.
All these licenses and authorizations take time to be granted.
There are a multitude of competing interests that must be considered before licenses are granted.
There is no question that Musk has received preferential treatment from the FAA.
Spacex had been under investigation for multiple safety violations and violations of its licenses and had been assessed to pay huge fines. These investigations were closed after Trump came into office.
You also seem to think that Trump does not need “authorization” for his resort in Vietnam.
Have you ever heard of zoning regulations?
Have you ever heard of building codes?
Have you ever heard of business licenses?
Your comments show a complete inability to engage in rational thought.
just made up every word of this ^^^^
Dennis,
That is a load of B.S. where do you come up with this stuff?
The Biden family was heavily involved in grifting and bribery. Oh, I forgot, wasn’t his brother James who bragged that they have “deniable plausibility.”
The US is very simple. You’re a credit or a debit. You add to the wealth or you live off the wealth of others. It’s the bottom line.
Public employees are debits. Minimizing them is necessary. Taking a junket to El salvador by a politician is a definite debit. Use an embassy and zoom. Use your office provided. Politicians having a sit in is a definite debit. Don’t you have work to do?
There is opportunity in the US. Bangladesh is having protests by males because the government wants to allow inheritance by women legal. Why is the US even flying into that region. It’s off the charts Fred Flintstone.
The American Thesis is Freedom and Self-Reliance.
The Communist Thesis is, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”
The American Thesis is constitutional.
The Communist Thesis is not.
‘CBS was wrong in the editing…’ Yes, of course, the MSM does this all the time.. like the time I caught CNN doing it to Trump’s speech at a FL school.. cutting & pasting words from a paragraph to come up with a new sentence to make him look ike a blatant racist, skillfully delivered by a ‘serious’ faced Cooper… The only way ‘Free Speech works is when/if you get to hear it Live . How can we even trust that the ‘transcript’ was indeed verbatim? Whoever decided to nominate CBS for their dirty work must have a great sense of humour.
Wow. Well. Now I’ve heard everything.
an Emmy for the best hack job ever
Proof is in the pudding that it is all acting
The money is real…
C ommunist
B ull
S —
Never forget the $787.5 million judgement against Truley’s employer Fox News! And more to come although you’ll never see it here.
If the FTC wants to investigate election interference why not start there?
Whoops sorry FCC. Just another federal agency illegally and unconstitutionally weaponized by Trump and his henchmen
Bill Clinton changed FCC laws…before your time?