The touted ‘honest’ media network, CBS, has finally unveiled the complete, unfiltered version of their interview with Kamala Harris which, not surprisingly, was earlier cloaked in veils of editings. This followed Donald Trump’s insinuations that the interview was strategically doctored to tarnish the image he carried into the presidential elections dated November 6th, an accusation that was not without evidence. This incriminating clip was eventually exposed to the public on a Wednesday, although it remains a mystery how deep the network’s alterations went.
This infamous 60 Minutes segment begins on an unprofessional note, with Harris dealing with a sneezing bout while she jestingly dismisses it as an ‘allergy to mold.’ It’s shocking to consider how this didn’t set the stage for a fair interview when the network clearly had no control over the basics, let alone the entire narrative.
While Harris took an inordinately long time to provide an answer, CBS only chose to air a brief seven-second snippet when asked about the stances of Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister. This selective airtime imposed a clear bias, dismissive of a holistic view of the interaction, in favor of Vice President Harris.
What particularly seemed to irk the 47th president was the heavily cut response that Harris gave related to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Middle East. It was interesting how the video was edited to depict Harris’ response as brief and precise, while in reality, it was an extensive, drawn-out discussion. It leaves one to wonder: what other truths did CBS conveniently edit out?
Additionally, a complaint was lodged by the Center for American Rights in mid-October alleging an egregious act of selective editing by 60 Minutes. The case was unceremoniously dropped without any tangible resolution or investigation, roughly four days prior to Trump’s second inauguration. But does a hasty closure truly indicate a lack of evidence?
However, relief came when Trump’s freshly appointed FCC Chairman, Brendan Carr, bravely revived the case almost immediately after coming into power. This move proved to be a strong counter against the media’s ploys, ensuring that the slightest possibility of a nefarious edit wouldn’t be brushed under the rug.
Reacting defensively, CBS released a statement, claiming to have edited ‘the interview to ensure that as much of the vice president’s answers to 60 Minutes’ many questions were included in our original broadcast while fairly representing those answers.’ Yet considering the reality of the situation, one cannot help but scoff at their protestations of innocence.
The entire debacle surrounding this incident is a clear depiction of a media organization manipulating narratives for its own agenda. A network that self-proclaims observance of journalistic ethics to present a well-rounded view to its audience lost its credibility due to such editing shenanigans with the sole aim of making Kamala Harris seem more proficient and informed than she actually was.
This controversial episode raises major concerns about how the mainstream media operates. If an unedited sneeze can find its place in the final cut of the interview, why does Harris’ full response on the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Middle East get the chop? The hypocrisy stares us right in the eye.
However one tries to scrutinize it, the fact remains that the type of editing enforced on this interview had a discernible aim – to shave off any elements that could possibly place Vice President Harris in unfavorable light. A political bias, you wonder, or is it a case of audacious journalistic dishonesty?
It is indeed shocking to have CBS exercise such willful disregard for the truth. Reflecting on their assertion, the aim of an interview is to provide an unbiased platform for the interviewee to express their views and not manipulate content to push any individual’s or media’s agenda.
One can’t help but think of the words of the late Benjamin Franklin: ‘Half a truth is often a great lie.’ The respect for honesty and truthfulness that journalism once held up as its highest virtue seems to have evaporated in the face of CBS’s desperate attempts to scrub the truth.
The half-baked attempt by CBS to clear the air highlights their hasty overreaching. It portrays not only the network’s clear political bias but also a severe lack of journalistic integrity, with an unnerving readiness to alter the truth for political gain.
Looking back, this saga has exposed far more than just an edited interview. It has revealed the rotten nature of mainstream media’s bias, the readiness to bend truth to simply favor their political inclination, and the mockery made of the sacred journalistic values in the name of ‘editing’.
While the case being reopened doesn’t solve the issue in its entirety, it does set a precedent for future situations that demand media accountability. However, we’re far from turning the tide, and this case acts as a stark reminder of how inherent biases can easily lead viewers astray via manipulative editing. One must always remain sceptic and carry the proverbial grain of salt when consuming information propagated by today’s politically charged mainstream media.