Conservative groups urge FCC to end probe into '60 Minutes' Harris interview

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

March 20, 2025 5:02 PM EDT Updated 11 hours ago


WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - Conservative advocacy groups on Thursday asked the Federal Communications Commission to reject a news distortion complaint over CBS's "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris that aired in October. The Center for Individual Freedom, Americans for Tax Reform, Taxpayers Protection Alliance and other groups called on FCC Chair Brendan Carr to end the investigation into the unit of Paramount Global(PARA.O), saying an "adverse ruling against CBS would constitute regulatory overreach and advance precedent that can be weaponized by future FCCs."

The FCC is reviewing whether the broadcast violates "news distortion" rules. Though the agency is prohibited from censorship or infringing the First Amendment rights of media, broadcasters cannot intentionally distort the news. The groups also urged the FCC to "take steps to curtail the commission’s ability to engage in content-based regulation and reviews."

The groups said there were legitimate concerns about prior actions aimed against conservatives but said the better course was to eliminate rules on news distortion complaints. "We understand and appreciate why many conservatives would seek to now 'level the playing field' and subject other media organizations - such as CBS’s parent company Paramount - to the same regulatory cudgel that has long afflicted conservative media," the groups said.

Carr said in an email to Reuters he was rejecting the groups' request to immediately dismiss the complaint against CBS. "The FCC’s review of the complaint against CBS remains active and ongoing," he said. The American Civil Liberties Union said separately there was no basis to investigate. "To conduct an investigation into news distortion without a shred of evidence appears intended to harass CBS and chill those putting forth disfavored viewpoints," the group said.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/conservative-groups-urge-fcc-end-probe-into-60-minutes-harris-interview-2025-03-20/

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"adverse ruling against CBS would constitute regulatory overreach and advance precedent that can be weaponized by future FCCs."

For THEM - this was a surprising argument considering many of the RW loon orgs are hypocrites.

[AZJonnie]

1. Even a broken clock, as they say

Their argument is blatant bullshit, their goal is dishonorable, but at least they arrived at the preferable conclusion in the end, so I guess, kudos?

[BobTheSubgenius]

15. This.

[Walleye]

2. Conservatives are a bunch of crybaby whiners. Sick of them.

[louis-t]

12. I was going to say 'whiny crybabies' but yeah.

[underpants]

3. This isn't about principles, they know it's BS. They completely rely on "news distortion"

This was raised simply to influence CBS and other media. The clips show there was no huge difference in the two responses by Kamala.

The whole point of Fox News and others is to instill their opinion onto the news. Big ratings (due to flashy graphics and T&A) makes for profit news operations consider or actually include their fake news.

They hide behind FREE SPEECH when they know that includes the ability to flat out lie. 10+ years ago there were regular posts on places like Facebook about “stolen valor” - people portraying themselves as being in the military only to be confronted supposedly out of the blue by strangers particularly at airports. These instances looked set up to me. There was talk and some movement in Congress to establish laws specifically about this. Whoa whoa whoa said RW lawmakers and their media - lying isn’t illegal. It’s not as long as you aren’t under oath or filing certain paperwork like for financial means. Forget their supposed love and respect for the military, if people can actually be charged for lying it could threaten their entire propaganda operation.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. But to also note, this part

advance precedent that can be weaponized by future FCCs."

is suggesting that government control might change and they will be on the receiving end of enforcement, which suggests some suppressed "fear" (something divergent of the eternal dictator MAGat assumption).

[Alice B.]

8. When I see that they aren't totally fearless about the future, it gives me hope.

Nt

[underpants]

9. Yep that was the tip off

That reminded me of “Stolen Valor”

At least these operations release that any plan needs to think out ramifications and the future. The Clustertrump and the DOGEBAGS don’t do that at all.

[MayReasonRule]

5. They Full Well Know That Four Fingers Are Pointing Directly Back At Them...

They know full well that this is the first skirmish in in 's latest fight against fascism.

They know full well that the populace is rising up in fury against them.

They know full well that they're the reason the populace is furious.

They are afraid.

We have just begun to fight.

Keep it up y'all!

[Karma13612]

6. Interesting....

Glad to see this pushback.

But I can’t help but laugh about this little tidbit from the Reuters article

Though the agency is prohibited from censorship or infringing the First Amendment rights of media, broadcasters cannot intentionally distort the news.

FOX does it 24/7!!!

[BumRushDaShow]

7. That was exactly my thought when I found and read the article

But then as was confirmed from the Dominion Voting Systems case (before the settlement) - We’ve Always Known Fox News Isn’t a News Network

[reACTIONary]

25. I'm not sure, but I don't think the FCC has authority...

... over Fox. Fox is a cable channel, and I think the FCC only regulates broadcast
TV.

[Karma13612]

31. Yea, you're right.-just checked

Then I wonder why cable channels censor certain words. We are so puritanical in this country compared to England. They use curse words more freely on air. More reflecting of real life speech patterns.

[JohnSJ]

10. Whether it violates "news distortion rules". WTF. If that is the view then fox should be closed down permanently.

[Kid Berwyn]

11. Avoids spotlighting a big can of worms.

“Trump trampling First Amendment” for starters.

After gutting the Bill o’ Rights, they will toss the Constitution.

Putting CBS on trial for telling the truth — doing their job — could get in the way.

[Owens]

13. Kamala should have asked the FCC to look into Fox News

[AleksS]

14. This actually sounds bad. Look at what they want.

They want an end to investigations into News Distortion complaints. Why do you think that is?

Do you know anyone that might want an environment free from repercussions for distorting the news (not that they face many repercussions at the moment, of course.)

Yeah, this complaint against 60 Minutes is BS, but the answer is not what these groups are asking for--eliminating penalties distorting the news.

It really is following the traditional right-wing playbook though: cause/invent/fabricate a problem, then say that since OBVIOUSLY this problem is BS that therefore this sort of problem shouldn't ever be investigated.

[Montauk6]

16. Weapons of Mass Distraction Alive and Well

[Initech]

17. Trump is such a petty, pathetic piece of shit.

[azureblue]

18. Discovery

The Advocacy group is afraid of what could happen in discovery. They would be forced to report their sources, donors, collaboration, etc.. And they do not want CBS to expose them.. And the CBS lawyers seem to be demanding total discovery, so they can counter sue.

[LudwigPastorius]

20. In other words,...

"I know we helped propel you into power, but could you please just go half-Nazi instead of full-Nazi?".

[mn9driver]

22. Translation:

“Our billionaire owners don’t want to be constrained by precedent when they start their Voice Of Fascism broadcasts”.

[JohnnyRingo]

23. Republicans don't want future investigations aimed at Fox and Newsmax..

Imagine if the FCC looked into Hannity or Mark Levin for "news distortion" . hahaha

Meanwhile, the only pay off in continuing is hoping to get the goods on Kamala Harris and CBS, and they likely did nothing wrong.

[BumRushDaShow]

24. They will simply argue that they are just "entertainment"

(apparently what Faux argued in the Dominion case before settling (posted upthread) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=3422575

Glad to see that your "engine" tuning turned out okay and you're back up and running!!

[JohnnyRingo]

30. "Entertainment"

Like slowing down when you pass a bad accident.

Thanx for the concern. I'm OK now, the worst part was spending a day off without dialysis to do it. This was the fourth time they had to reset my heart.
SampleGirl has a big heart and worries about me. That's comforting, but I wish she didn't stress so much.

[jmowreader]

26. I think there are two reasons they're doing this

First is that if we ever get a Democratic-led government again such an investigation will give that government's FCC license to go after Fox News and One America News Network - two outlets that specialize in news distortion.

The other, which may be more important, is this investigation screams of "sore winnerdom." I mean, come on: TRUMP WON THE FUCKING ELECTION! If Harris had won, and it could be proven that the CNN interview (which probably no conservatives at all watched in the first place) was the tipping point, then...yeah, they might have a point. But Donald Trump is sitting in the White House...well, part of the time anyway...trashing the government like the china-shop bull that he is. Beating up on CNN because...what, Trump didn't sweep 50 states, which he wasn't gonna do anyway; Trump wouldn't have won California, New York or Washington if he was the only candidate on the ballot...looks like the sour grapes that it is.

[AllaN01Bear]

27. i had to delete a prior post as i didnt read throught the entirre article.

Conservative groups urge FCC to end probe into '60 Minutes' Harris interview
th1at 1makes moresense now .

[BumRushDaShow]

28. Got it!

[BrianTheEVGuy]

29. They're scared

If the FCC can take action against CBS over a nothing burger, they know a future FCC can really rake them over the coals for their active propaganda.