CBS Information Aired 2 Completely different Solutions to Similar Query from Harris' '60 Minutes' Interview

A rumor circulating on-line in early October 2024 in regards to the weekly TV information program “60 Minutes” claimed CBS Information edited and introduced two totally different variations of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ reply to a query about U.S. relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

“60 Minutes” correspondent Invoice Whitaker interviewed Harris every week earlier than the published aired on Oct. 7 — the first anniversary of the Hamas militant group’s assault in Israel.

Snopes readers who encountered the rumor requested through e mail, “Did ’60 Minutes’ edit a Kamala response about Israel?” and, “Did CBS edit Harris’ interview on ’60 Minutes’?” One other reader requested, “Did CBS 60 minutes add an edited model of their interview with VP Harris, altering her reply about Israel?”

Former President Donald Trump amplified the controversy by labeling CBS’ actions “election interference” and a “pretend information rip-off.” He additionally shared a comparability video demonstrating that CBS Information aired two variations of Harris’ reply to the identical query. In the end, he demanded that CBS’ broadcast license be revoked.

In our analysis, we discovered that CBS Information did broadcast two totally different variations of Harris’ solutions to a collection of questions she was requested about Netanyahu. One model aired on Oct. 6 on the Sunday-morning CBS Information program “Face the Nation,” and the opposite on “60 Minutes” the next day, through the present’s primetime election special. As of this writing, each variations stay out there on-line.

The Oct. 6 ‘Face the Nation’ Model

On Oct. 6, “Face the Nation” broadcast a clip of Harris’ remarks about Netanyahu, as a preview of the “60 Minutes” election particular set to air the next night. The clip (available on YouTube) lasted greater than two minutes. The identical day, “60 Minutes” posted the identical preview clip to its official YouTube channel.

We transcribed the clip:

WHITAKER: We provide Israel with billions of {dollars} in army help, and but, Prime Minister Netanyahu appears to be charting his personal course. The Biden-Harris administration has pressed him to conform to a ceasefire. He is resisted. You urged him not to enter Lebanon. He went in anyway. He has promised to make Iran pay for the missile assault, and that has the potential of increasing the conflict. Does the U.S. don’t have any sway over Prime Minister Netanyahu?

HARRIS: The help that we’ve given Israel allowed Israel to defend itself towards 200 ballistic missiles that have been simply meant to assault the Israelis and the individuals of Israel, and once we take into consideration the risk that Hamas, Hezbollah, presents, um, Iran, um, I feel that it’s with none query our crucial to do what we are able to to permit Israel to defend itself towards these sorts of assaults. Now, the work that we do diplomatically with the management of Israel is an ongoing pursuit round making clear our ideas which embrace the necessity for humanitarian help, the necessity for this conflict to finish, the necessity for a deal to be accomplished, which might launch the hostages, and, and, and create a ceasefire, and we’re not going to cease when it comes to placing that strain on Israel and, and within the area, together with Arab leaders.

WHITAKER: However evidently Prime Minister Netanyahu will not be listening.

HARRIS: Effectively, Invoice, the work that we’ve accomplished has resulted in quite a lot of actions in that area by Israel that have been very a lot prompted by or a results of many issues together with our advocacy for what must occur within the area.

WHITAKER: Do we’ve a, a, an actual shut ally in Prime Minister Netanyahu?

HARRIS: I feel, with all due respect, the higher query is, do we’ve an essential alliance between the American individuals and the Israeli individuals, and the reply to that query is sure.

The Oct. 7 ’60 Minutes’ Model

For the “60 Minutes” broadcast that aired on Oct. 7, Whitaker’s preliminary query was shortened and a one-sentence reply from Harris was included that had not appeared within the model that aired the day prior to this.

After asking the query that was shortened within the closing clip, Whitaker stated to Harris, “However evidently Prime Minister Netanyahu will not be listening.” The video then minimize to Harris responding, “We aren’t gonna cease pursuing what is important for america to be clear about the place we stand on the necessity for this conflict to finish.” (Once more, that sentence was omitted from the longer interview clip beforehand aired on “Face the Nation” and the “60 Minutes” YouTube web page.)

The re-edited model begins on the 2:07 mark on this clip uploaded to the “60 Minutes” YouTube channel:

We transcribed the re-edited clip as nicely (bolded emphasis ours):

WHITAKER: We provide Israel with billions of {dollars} in army help, and but Prime Minister Netanyahu appears to be charting his personal course. The Biden-Harris administration has pressed him to conform to a ceasefire. He is resisted. You urged him not to enter Lebanon. He went in anyway. Does the U.S. don’t have any sway over Prime Minister Netanyahu?

HARRIS: The work that we do diplomatically with the management of Israel is an ongoing pursuit round making clear our ideas.

WHITAKER: However evidently Prime Minister Netanyahu will not be listening.

HARRIS: We aren’t gonna cease pursuing what is important for america to be clear about the place we stand on the necessity for this conflict to finish.

WHITAKER: Do we’ve a, a, an actual shut ally in Prime Minister Netanyahu?

HARRIS: I feel, with all due respect, the higher query is, do we’ve an essential alliance between the American individuals and the Israeli individuals, and the reply to that query is sure.

Harris’ reply (bolded above) shared similarities with one other reply featured within the different model broadcast on “Face the Nation” and the “60 Minutes” YouTube channel, when she stated the phrases, “and we’re not going to cease when it comes to placing that strain on Israel and, and within the area, together with Arab leaders.” 

Fallout

On Oct. 8 — simply at some point after the airing of “60 Minutes” — a person on X posted (archived) the aforementioned video comparability later shared by Trump. The clip, which displayed a watermark for the person’s deal with, “Maze,” highlighted the variations between the 2 edits of Harris’ reply. Within the days that adopted, more users shared the identical video. The clip acquired tens of thousands and thousands of views.

On Fact Social, Trump called the matter “the best fraud in broadcast historical past” and “the one greatest scandal in broadcast historical past,” and demanded that CBS lose its broadcast license.

Federal Communication Fee Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel denounced Trump’s calls for, in line with CNN, and stated, partly, “[Trump’s] threats towards free speech are critical and shouldn’t be ignored.”

Semafor.com media editor Max Tani reported (archived) on X, “A number of individuals at CBS inform me there was no contact between the White Home or Harris marketing campaign and ’60 Minutes’ after the interview was taped on the residence on Saturday.” 

Variety reported {that a} Harris marketing campaign aide stated, “We don’t management CBS’s manufacturing choices and refer inquiries to CBS.” 

Snopes reached out to a number of individuals related to CBS Information and the Harris marketing campaign, and can replace this text if we obtain additional particulars.

As of this writing, CBS Information had not introduced any plans to launch an unedited model of your entire Harris interview or a whole transcript. The CBS Information web site hosted solely the “60 Minutes” broadcast transcript and the full transcript of “Face the Nation.”

Sources