CBS refused to release its full transcript “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris That could factor into a government review of Paramount Global’s proposed merger with Skydance, according to President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the Federal Communications Commission.
The FCC gives broadcast networks “free access to a valuable public resource, the airwaves,” as long as they “serve the public interest,” Brendan Carr previously told Fox News host Dana Perino. As reported by The Daily Beast.
Carr said that a conservative watchdog complaint that accused CBS of news distortion at “60 Minutes” may have factored into the agency’s decision. Skydance-Paramount merger,
He said, “I am confident that the complaint of news distortion on the ’60 Minutes’ transcript is something that is likely to arise in the context of an FCC review of that transaction.”
Carr, Paramount and Skydance did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
on sunday, Trump chose Carr – who is currently the senior Republican at the FCC – to lead the agency, has been called a “warrior for free speech.” He first nominated Carr to be an FCC Commissioner in 2017 during his first term as President.
Last month, Carr Criticized CBS’s stubborn refusal “60 Minutes” to release transcript. Earlier this week he posted on Regarding the “privileges” given to public media and vowed to “enforce” acting in the “public interest”, hinting at the cancellation of some broadcasting licenses.
CBS faced criticism last month when it aired Harris’s sloppy, awkward interview answers during a preview on the network’s “Face the Nation” — and then edited out her answers throughout the entire “60 Minutes” episode. Versions included.
Trump accused the Tiffany Network of dishonesty and demanded CBS release the full interview transcript. Carr also called on the network to release the transcript.
Last month, the network defended the editing decision and refused to release the transcript, arguing that it was cut in response to fit more material into the 21-minute long segment.
“60 Minutes ran an excerpt of our interview with Face the Nation that used a longer segment of his answer than 60 Minutes did. same question. Same answer,” the network said. “But a different part of the reaction.”
CBS did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
Center for American Rights, a nonprofit law firm that supports conservative issues A formal complaint was filed with the FCC CBS accused of distorting the news.
“When broadcasters manipulate interviews and distort reality, it undermines democracy itself,” CAR President Daniel Suhr said in a statement in October. “The FCC must act quickly to restore public confidence in our news media.”
trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the network, claiming it “deceptively” edited Harris’s answers to boost her chances of victory before the election.
Both the FCC complaint and Trump’s lawsuit are pending.
Carr comments that complaints of news distortion will be taken into account when reviewing the merger of Skydance and Paramount because Trump’s opponents fear political retribution.
“Morning Joe” co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, who are staunch Trump opponents, flew to Mar-a-Lago last week to meet the president-elect, amid concerns they would face legal and government hurdles by the incoming administration. Will have to struggle with. CNN reported Based on unknown sources.
An MSNBC spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A journalist at X accused Carr of “threatening to harass NBC and CBS over MAGA conspiracy theories” during a Fox interview.
Carr replied in a post on X: “A quick note: I am not the nominee. I’m already confirmed until 2029. Therefore, to become the Chairman, only a letter of designation from the President is required. enjoy!”
