CBS News and its parent company, Paramount Global, are under increasing scrutiny as they approach an FCC deadline to release the full transcript of Vice President Kamala Harris’ controversial 60 Minutes interview. The demand follows former President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the network, alleging election interference through deceptive editing.
The lawsuit, filed in October 2024, claims CBS edited Harris’ response to a question about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, replacing what critics called a "word salad" answer with a more coherent statement. Trump’s legal team argues this edit misled voters and favored the Democratic Party ahead of the election. CBS has not publicly responded to these accusations.
During a Monday staff meeting, 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens took a strong stance, saying, "There have been reports in the media about a settlement and/or apology. The company knows I will not apologize for anything we have done." Owens also defended the editing of the interview, stating, "The edit is perfectly fine; let’s put that to bed so we can get on with our lives."
The lawsuit has wider implications, particularly for Paramount Global’s pending merger with Skydance Media. Settling could help the company avoid potential regulatory pushback from Trump’s FCC, which has the power to influence the multibillion-dollar deal. Reports suggest Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, is in favor of a resolution.
CBS is also facing heightened scrutiny following settlements between Trump and other media companies. ABC News and Meta previously settled lawsuits with Trump, paying $15 million and $25 million, respectively. While no official decision has been made, Paramount Global’s legal strategy remains a focal point as the situation develops.
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