CBS News capitulates to Political Pressure, Ends Editing of Guest Interviews
CBS News has fundamentally altered its editorial process, bowing to pressure from the current administration and effectively relinquishing control over the narrative on its flagship Sunday morning programme, “Face the nation.” The network announced Friday it will no longer edit the words of guests, moving to a live or live-to-tape format, a decision widely seen as a concession to escalating demands for favorable coverage.
The shift follows a recent dispute stemming from an interview wiht Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, where portions of her remarks regarding kilmar Abrego Garcia – a prominent figure in the administration’s controversial deportation policies – were removed for clarity and time. Despite CBS publishing a full transcript and uncut recording of the interview, Noem publicly complained about the edits, igniting a firestorm that ultimately led to the network’s policy reversal.
This isn’t an isolated incident, but rather the culmination of a pattern of behavior. Several months prior, CBS settled a lawsuit with Donald Trump over allegations of deceptive editing in an interview with then-candidate Kamala Harris. While the financial settlement – a $16 million donation to the Trump library – appeared modest, the true motivation, according to sources, was to secure approval for its $8 billion merger with Skydance. “The money wasn’t the point,” one analyst noted. “It was about appeasing a powerful figure and removing obstacles to a major business deal.”
Why did CBS change its policy? CBS News altered its editorial process due to sustained pressure from the current administration and a desire to secure approval for a major business merger. The immediate catalyst was a complaint from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi noem regarding edits made to her interview regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
The consequences of that initial capitulation are now fully realized. CBS has already removed Stephen Colbert from the air for being too critical of the former president, and is bracing for the installation of an FCC-appointed “bias monitor” designed to ensure future programming aligns with the administration’s preferred messaging. This effectively transforms CBS into a propaganda outlet, prioritizing political expediency over journalistic integrity.
Who is involved? Key players include CBS News, the current administration (specifically Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem), Donald Trump, and Kamala Harris. The $8 billion merger with Skydance also played a important role.
The situation with Noem further illustrates the escalating pressure. Her complaints, amplified by the administration and its supporters, centered on the removal of “baseless smears” against Abrego Garcia. The fact that CBS had already made the full interview available was irrelevant. As one observer pointed out, the outrage stemmed not from a lack of access to information, but from a desire to utilize CBS as a platform for unsubstantiated claims and outright falsehoods.
What happened? CBS News ended its practice of editing guest interviews, switching to a live or live-to-tape format.This decision followed complaints from Secretary Noem and a previous settlement with Donald Trump related to alleged deceptive editing.
CBS’s official description – that the policy change is “in response to audience feedback” and will allow for “greater transparency” – rings hollow. The network had already demonstrated transparency by releasing the complete interview materials. allowing government officials to utilize the network as a bullhorn for unverified accusations does not serve the public interest.
How did it end? The situation culminated in CBS abandoning its editorial control over guest interviews. The network now operates under the threat of an FCC
