Brendan Carr says ’60 Minutes’ editing scandal could affect Paramount-Skydance merger
CBS’ refusal to release the transcript of its full “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris could factor into a government review of Paramount Global’s proposed merger with Skydance, according to President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the Federal Communications Commission.
The FCC gives broadcast networks “free access to a valuable public resource, the airwaves” as long as they “serve the public interest,” Brendan Carr told Fox News host Dana Perino, as earlier reported by The Daily Beast.
Carr added that a conservative watchdog complaint that accused CBS’ “60 Minutes” of news distortion could factor into the agency’s decision on the Skydance-Paramount merger.
“I’m pretty confident that that news distortion complaint over the ’60 Minutes’ transcript is something that is likely to arise in the context of the FCC review of that transaction,” he said.
Carr, Paramount and Skydance did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
On Sunday, Trump selected Carr – who is currently the senior Republican on the FCC – to lead the agency, calling him a “warrior for Free Speech.” He first nominated Carr to serve as an FCC commissioner in 2017 during his first term as president.
Last month, Carr criticized CBS’ stubborn refusal to release the “60 Minutes” transcript. Earlier this week, he posted on X about the “privilege” bestowed to public media and vowed to “enforce” they act in the “public interest,” hinting at the revocation of some broadcast licenses.
CBS came under fire last month after it aired meandering, clunky answers from Harris’ interview during a preview on the network’s “Face the Nation” – and then included edited versions of her answers on the full “60 Minutes” episode.
Trump accused the Tiffany Network of foul play and demanded CBS release the full interview transcript. Carr also called for the network to release the transcript.
Last month, the network defended the editing decision and refused to release the transcript, arguing her answer was cut down to fit more content in a tight 21-minute-long segment.
“60 Minutes gave an excerpt of our interview to Face the Nation that used a longer section of her answer than that on 60 Minutes. Same question. Same answer,” the network said. “But a different portion of the response.”
CBS did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
The Center for American Rights, a nonprofit law firm backing conservative issues, then filed a formal complaint with the FCC accusing CBS of news distortion.
“When broadcasters manipulate interviews and distort reality, it undermines democracy itself,” CAR president Daniel Suhr said in a statement in October. “The FCC must act swiftly to restore public confidence in our news media.”
Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the network, claiming it “deceptively” edited Harris’ answers to boost her chances of winning ahead of the election.
The FCC complaint and Trump’s lawsuit are each pending.
Carr’s comment that the news distortion complaint will be taken into consideration when reviewing Skydance and Paramount’s merger comes as Trump’s adversaries fear political retribution.
“Morning Joe” co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, staunch Trump opponents, flew to Mar-a–Lago to meet with the president-elect last week over concerns they would be slapped with legal and governmental roadblocks by the incoming administration, CNN reported based on anonymous sources.
An MSNBC spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A journalist on X accused Carr of “threatening to harass NBC and CBS over MAGA conspiracy theories” during his Fox interview.
Carr replied in a post on X: “One quick note: I’m not a nominee. I am already confirmed through 2029. So becoming Chairman just requires a letter designation from the President. Enjoy!”