CBS’ “60 Minutes” released the unedited transcripts of its controversial October interview with Kamala Harris, following a $10 billion lawsuit by Donald Trump alleging deceitful editing. The Federal Communications Commission requested the transcripts and clips, which CBS provided before making them public. The interview, which aired on “60 Minutes” and “Face the Nation,” faced scrutiny for showing Harris offering different responses to a question about Israel. Trump’s lawsuit, filed prior to his re-election bid, accused CBS of favoring Harris. However, CBS defended its editing process as standard for time and clarity, maintaining that the broadcast was not deceptive.

Despite CBS News’ assertion of journalistic integrity, parent company Paramount is reportedly in settlement discussions amid a potential sale to Skydance. Paramount seeks approval from the Trump administration for the sale. CBS emphasized that its editing practices aim to inform the audience truthfully within broadcast constraints. The release of the unedited transcripts aimed to debunk claims of manipulation and maintain the network’s credibility. The ongoing legal dispute underscores the challenges faced by media outlets in navigating political sensitivities while upholding journalistic standards. For more insights on media and entertainment, follow David Bauder, who covers these topics for the AP, on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dbauder and on bsky.app at https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bs.