FCC Seeks Complete Transcript of ’60 Minutes’ Interview with Harris During Evaluation of Paramount Deal

CBS News will comply with a request from the Federal Communications Commission for a “full unedited transcript” and feeds from its interview with Vice President Harris. In a statement, CBS mentioned that they received a Letter of Inquiry from the FCC regarding the interview aired on October 7, 2024, and are working to comply with the inquiry as required by law.

The request from the FCC comes as they review Paramount Global’s merger with Skydance Media, with Trump appointee Brendan Carr leading the agency. Carr has threatened to revoke broadcast licenses for networks that have drawn the president’s ire, ensuring that public airwaves operate in the public interest.

This request also follows murmurs about CBS potentially settling a lawsuit from President Donald Trump over a 60 Minutes interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump alleged that the network edited the interview to help Harris win the election, citing deceptive advertising practices under Texas’ consumer protection law.

FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez believes the action is politically motivated, as the complaint had previously been dismissed by the agency. Gomez expressed concerns about the FCC’s recent actions, stating they disregard long-standing norms and the agency’s mandate to act as an independent regulator.

This move to weaponize broadcast licensing authority is seen as retaliatory by the government against broadcasters with unfavorable content or coverage. It aims to instill fear in broadcast stations and influence network editorial decisions.



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