White House Press Secretary Threatens Lawsuit over CBS Interview
In a recent exchange captured on audio, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned CBS News that if the network edits an upcoming interview with President Trump, the administration will sue them "off". The threat was made to CBS anchor Tony Dokoupil after he had conducted the 13-minute exclusive segment.
According to reports, Trump's comments were recorded by Leavitt as Dokoupil assured him they would air the full unedited interview. However, this move has raised concerns over editorial independence at CBS News, with the network's current editor-in-chief Bari Weiss facing intense public scrutiny since taking her position in October.
CBS is now owned by Paramount Skydance, a company founded by David Ellison, a friend of President Trump. The appointment of Weiss, who had previously founded conservative opinion media company Free Press, has led some to question the network's impartiality. This comes amid a tumultuous tenure for Weiss, marked by chaos and controversy, including a high-profile decision to pull a 60 Minutes segment about Venezuelan men deported by the administration.
In July, Paramount agreed to pay $16m in damages after an interview with Trump's election rival Kamala Harris was edited on 60 Minutes. The network has since maintained that they intend to air full unedited interviews, citing this as part of their journalistic practice.
In a recent exchange captured on audio, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned CBS News that if the network edits an upcoming interview with President Trump, the administration will sue them "off". The threat was made to CBS anchor Tony Dokoupil after he had conducted the 13-minute exclusive segment.
According to reports, Trump's comments were recorded by Leavitt as Dokoupil assured him they would air the full unedited interview. However, this move has raised concerns over editorial independence at CBS News, with the network's current editor-in-chief Bari Weiss facing intense public scrutiny since taking her position in October.
CBS is now owned by Paramount Skydance, a company founded by David Ellison, a friend of President Trump. The appointment of Weiss, who had previously founded conservative opinion media company Free Press, has led some to question the network's impartiality. This comes amid a tumultuous tenure for Weiss, marked by chaos and controversy, including a high-profile decision to pull a 60 Minutes segment about Venezuelan men deported by the administration.
In July, Paramount agreed to pay $16m in damages after an interview with Trump's election rival Kamala Harris was edited on 60 Minutes. The network has since maintained that they intend to air full unedited interviews, citing this as part of their journalistic practice.
. Like, isn't that what we're supposed to do in a democracy - hold people in power accountable? And it's weird that she's so attached to the editing process, considering CBS is basically owned by Trump's buddy now 
. I mean, can you imagine if they started censoring interviews because they don't want to ruffle the president's feathers? That'd be super sketchy 
. On the other hand, I do get why they're trying to protect their journalist's work - it's a big deal when your interview is edited on air 
. Maybe they should just stick to giving us the raw footage and let us decide what we want to make of it? 
and btw i'm still hyped about the trump kamala harris interview btw that was so fire 
CBS just dropped the tea on that 60 minutes segment about venezuela guys it was wild
. Like if they really want to protect what they say, shouldn't it be for the public's right to know? Shouldn't CBS just be able to do their job without having some kinda ultimatum 
.
so CBS is threatening a lawsuit over an interview with trump and now paramount's getting all worried about the integrity of cbs news... 
CBS is just tryin 2 do its job but the pressure from trump's ppl is gettin old. and whats with bari weiss, like she seems legit but her history is sketchy 
And what's up with the network's editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss? She sounds like she's been making some pretty bad decisions lately. 
I'm not sure what's going on here, but it seems like CBS is walking a fine line between fair reporting and being friends with Trump... 
Maybe they should just stick to the facts and avoid any drama? 
... like, I get it, you wanna make a profit and all but can't they just keep their word about airing unedited interviews? 
President Trump might be a polarizing figure but you still gotta respect the integrity of journalism. It's not cool that his press sec is threatening to sue over an interview that's supposed to be fair... that's what happens when you're owned by Paramount Skydance and they've got ties to the Prez 
And honestly, if Trump's still got some tea to spill, maybe he should just give it to us straight up on Twitter instead of trying to bully the press? 
That being said, it is weird that CBS is getting all the hate for this – shouldn't they get a pass since they're not the ones with the questionable hair? 
and btw, who's behind these edits anyway? is it just bari weiss or is there someone else pulling the strings? 
The White House press secretary threatening a lawsuit over an interview is just ridiculous 
. It raises so many questions about editorial independence and impartiality 
