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    FCC Releases CBS News’ Raw ’60 Minutes’ Transcript From Kamala Interview

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    Gage Skidmore Flickr

    It’s about time…

    The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) released the unedited transcript handed over by CBS News of its controversial “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

    The raw transcript showed CBS News had aired only the first half of her response to “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Whitaker’s question about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not “listening” to the Biden administration in a preview clip that aired on “Face the Nation,” but aired only the second half of her response during the primetime special. 

    “But it seems that Prime Minister Netanyahu is not listening,” Whitaker said in the October 2024 interview. “The Wall Street Journal said that he — that your administration has repeatedly been blindsided by Netanyahu, and in fact, he has rebuffed just about all of your administration’s entreaties.”

    “Well, Bill, the work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by, or a result of many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region. And we’re not going to stop doing that. We are not going to stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end,” Harris responded. 

    President Donald Trump’s FCC Brendan Carr ordered CBS News to hand over the unedited transcript as part of its investigation into whether the network violated the FCC’s “news distortion” policy after a complaint was filed.

    “The policy says you can’t swap answers out to make it look like somebody said something entirely different,” Carr told Fox News’ Dana Perino on Monday, later adding it would have been “fine” if it was edited for length and clarity.

    “CBS’s conduct is hard to explain,” Carr told Fox News Digital. “On the one hand, CBS immediately released the unredacted transcript of a recent interview with Vice President Vance. Yet for months they refused to release the one with Vice President Harris.”

    “The FCC has now opened up a proceeding and is seeking public comment on the News Distortion complaint. Transparency here is important. The FCC’s review will continue, and we look forward to the public’s feedback,” Carr added. 

    In a preview clip that aired on “Face the Nation,” Harris was asked why it seemed like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn’t listening to the U.S. 

    “Well, Bill, the work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by, or a result of, many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region,” Harris responded in the “Face the Nation” clip. 

    Harris was mocked by conservatives for offering a lengthy “word salad” to Whitaker. But when that same question aired the following night in the primetime election special, a shorter, more focused answer from the vice president followed.

    Critics accused CBS News of editing Harris’ “word salad” answer to shield the vice president from further backlash, and there were calls for the network to release the full transcript after it only shared transcripts of what had aired. CBS News refused to release the raw transcript at the time.

    In October, Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News alleging election interference over its handling of the “60 Minutes” interview, accusing the network of aiding his Democratic rival through deceptive editing just days before the election. (RELATED: Trump Files $10 Billion Lawsuit Against CBS News Over Edited Kamala Harris Interview)

    Chuck Todd Departs NBC News After Long Journalism Career

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    WASHINGTON - Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson appears on MSNBC’s Morning Joe discussing the massive security efforts for the inauguration in Washington, D.C., Jan. 19, 2017. The show features interviews with top newsmakers and politicians and in-depth analysis of the day's biggest stories. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco.

    Veteran journalist Chuck Todd has officially left NBC News, marking the end of a career spanning decades in political reporting and television analysis.

    The longtime political journalist and television host is best known for his tenure as the moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press—the longest-running TV show in history—from 2014 to 2023.

    Todd started in political journalism as the editor-in-chief of The Hotline, a daily political briefing by the National Journal. His deep knowledge of political data and elections earned him recognition in Washington.

    He joined NBC News in 2007 as the network’s political director, where he became a frequent on-air analyst.

    In 2008, Todd became the NBC News Chief White House Correspondent, covering the Obama administration.

    Todd replaced David Gregory as the moderator of Meet the Press in 2014. Under his tenure, the show continued to be a major platform for political discussions, though he received criticism for being overly accommodating to certain guests.

    In June 2023, Todd announced he would step down, and Kristen Welker took over in September. He remained with NBC as the network’s chief political analyst.

    Though Todd is leaving NBC News, the New York Post reports that he’s taking his podcast, Chuck Toddcast, with him:

    “There’s never a perfect time to leave a place that’s been a professional home for so long, but I’m pretty excited about a few new projects that are on the cusp of going from ‘pie in the sky’ to ‘near reality,’ Todd told NBC News staffers in a memo Friday.

    Todd confirmed his departure on Friday. When The Post sought comment from Todd via his NBC work email, the automatic message read: “Friday, January 31st was my final day at NBC.”

    According to the memo, Todd told colleagues that he intends to take his podcast with him.

    The “Chuck Toddcast” is “coming with me,” according to Todd, who urged colleagues to “stay tuned for an announcement about its new home soon.”

    Todd has had several public confrontations with President Donald Trump. Throughout Trump’s political career, Todd has been critical of Trump’s actions and policies, leading to tensions between the two.

    In 2017, during an interview on Meet the Press, Todd challenged White House counselor Kellyanne Conway over the administration’s claim of “alternative facts” regarding the inauguration crowd size.

    Trump has also targeted Todd personally, referring to him with nicknames such as “Sleepy Eyes” and publicly criticizing his journalistic integrity.

    This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates. Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News.

    CNN Pundit Blames Trump For Tragic DC Aircraft Crash – Quickly Regrets It

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    CNN political commentator Bakari Sellers deleted a post blaming President Donald Trump for the deadly airplane-helicopter collision near the Potomac and quickly apologized

    The nation was stunned when an American Airlines flight with over 60 people aboard collided with a BlackHawk Army Helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport at 8:48 pm Wednesday night.

    On social media, some posted tweets suggesting President Trump could be to blame by referencing recent White House announcements. In one post, Sellers posted a screenshot of a recent press release entitled “Trump’s Dangerous Freeze of Air Traffic Control Hiring” and captioned it “8 days ago.”

    Sellers deleted the post and apologized for the timing of his observation, writing:

    I deleted the post because timing matters. Politics at this point does not. I fucked up, I own that. I am very prayerful but I’m also very frustrated upset and disturbed with where we are as a country. I recognize, and I will do better.

    The only thing that matters is rescuing the survivors, and ensuring this never happens again.

    No survivors have been found or expected, authorities said Thursday at an early-morning press conference, after a late-night midair crash between a passenger plane and Army helicopter near Washington, D.C.

    Authorities have moved to recovery efforts in the crash, which President Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy both said they believed was preventable.

    Shortly after the crash, President Trump write on X that the strategy looked “preventable.”

    The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!

    The flight, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was en route from Wichita, Kan., to Washington, D.C. It collided with an Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter out of Fort Belvoir, Va.

    Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Pentagon and the US Army have launched an investigation into the catastrophic midair collision

    Hegseth confirmed the probe in a statement on X, emphasizing that the investigation was “launched immediately.”

    He called the incident “absolutely tragic” and noted that search and rescue efforts were still ongoing. “Prayers for all impacted souls, and their families,” he added.

    American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed “deep sorrow” about the crash in a statement.

    Isom, in a video statement, said the aircraft was operated by PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines.

    “First and most importantly, I’d like to express our deep sorrow about these events,” Isom said. “This is a difficult day for all of us at American Airlines and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, partners, first responders, along with their families and loved ones.”

    Isom noted that the company was working with local, state and federal authorities to assess the crash and respond to the situation.

    “We’re cooperating fully with the National Transportation Safety Board and its investigation and will continue to provide all the information we can,” he said.

    The airline chief added that the company wants to learn everything it can about the crash but acknowledged that it “will take time.”

    Members of American Airlines’ “Go team” are being deployed to aid the situation.

    “I know that there are many questions in this early stage I just won’t be able to answer many, but we’ll provide additional information as it comes,” Isom added.

    Trump Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Holds First Briefing

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1

    White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is holding her first press conference on Tuesday, the first of President Donald Trump’s second administration.

    Leavitt is the youngest person to ever hold her position at just 27 years old. The James S. Brady Press Briefing Room was home to plenty of clashes during Trump’s first term where Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham, and Kayleigh McEnany all served as press secretaries.

    Leavitt was announced as press secretary for the new administration in November after serving as spokesperson for Trump’s campaign and his transition.

    “I have the utmost confidence she will excel at the podium, and help deliver our message to the American People as we Make America Great Again,” Trump wrote when announcing Leavitt’s position.

    Watch:

    Report: Jim Acosta To Leave CNN

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    4

    A former CNN reporter says that Jim Acosta’s time at the networks is nearly up.

    According to a report from Status News’ founder Oliver Darcy, the 18-year veteran of the network has indicated to associates that he plans to leave the network after being removed from his 10 a.m. weekday time slot by CNN CEO Mark Thompson.

    Earlier this month, Darcy said Thompson asked Acosta to anchor a show from 12 a.m. to 2 a.m.

    On Monday, Darcy reported:

    Jim Acosta is expected to exit CNN.

    The anchor, I’m told, signaled to associates in private conversations over the weekend that he intends to depart the network after its chief executive, Mark Thompson, booted him from the morning programming lineup — a move that conspicuously coincided with Donald Trump’s return to power.

    CNN brass, as we first reported earlier this month, decided to strip Acosta of his 10am show, which he has anchored to great ratings success over the last 11 months, at times even seeing higher viewership than programs in the channel’s prime time bloc. Acosta was instead offered the less-than-desirable option of anchoring a show from midnight until 2am ET. CNN pitched the gig to Acosta as anchoring during prime time on the West Coast and said he could move to Los Angeles to host the program. But the reality is the program would have aired at a time in which cable news viewership is at its lowest levels.

    Regarding Thompson’s suggesting that Acosta move to midnight, one source familiar with the situation said CNN was offering a sacrifice of sorts to Acosta’s longtime nemesis, President Donald Trump.

    “They want to get rid of Acosta to throw a bone to Trump,” a source told Darcy. “Midnight is not a serious offer when his ratings are among the best on the network.”

    Acosta became more widely known as CNN’s chief White House correspondent for his antagonistic relationship with President Donald Trump and his aides during the first Trump administration.

    One CNN insider told Fox News Digital they heard Acosta “struggled with the choice” and may be cutting his contract short as a result.

    “It takes courage,” the CNN insider said.

    Another CNN insider was dismayed by Acosta’s exit, saying “Many viewers like Jim… if there is anyone who could make the overnight go it’s him,” adding “It’s sad to see him go.”

    Acosta’s removal from the morning lineup was part of a broader shakeup at CNN. Acosta first joined CNN in 2007.

    Last week, CNN also laid off about six percent of its workforce.

    Trump Reiterates 51st State Comments About Canada

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    President Donald Trump doubled down on his longshot hope of Canada becoming part of the United States.

    While speaking ahead of his tour of North Carolina and the damage done by Hurricane Helene, President Trump took questions from the press and was asked about his comments on Canada becoming a U.S. state. The president argued Canadians would see a big tax cut and “better health coverage.”

    He said Canada was trying to be part of a Coast Guard deal but he only likes dealing with Canada “if they’re a state” rather than a nation.

    Trump said:

    We are going to order 40 Coast Guard — big ice breakers, big ones, and all of a sudden Canada wants a piece of the deal. I said why are we doing that? I like doing that if they are a state, but I don’t like doing that if they are a nation.

    And they’re very nasty to us on trade. Historically, Canada has been very bad, very unfair to us on trade. We’ll see how it all works out.

    I would love to see Canada be the 51st state. The Canadian citizens, if that happened, would get a big tax cut, tremendous tax cut, because they’re very highly taxed. You wouldn’t have to worry about military, you wouldn’t have to worry about many of the things, you would have better health coverage, you would have much better health coverage.

    So I think the people of Canada would like it, you know, if it’s explained. But just to start off, they’d have a massive tax cut and they’d have a lot more business because then we’d let business go to Canada routinely and there’d be no tariffs.

    Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of Canada giving up being an independent country since his election victory.

    “The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned,” he wrote on Truth Social this month. “If Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!”

    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation this month, said there’s “not a snowball’s chance in hell” Canada would become part of the United States.

    The Apprentice’ Star Sebastian Stan Scores Best Actor Oscar Nomination for His Portrayal of Trump

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1

    Actor Sebastian Stan scored a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a young Donald Trump in The Apprentice, a film that the now-president slammed as a “pile of garbage.”

    The film, written by Vanity Fair correspondent Gabriel Sherman, tracks Trump’s emergence in the world of business, long before his political career, focusing on his rise as a New York real estate developer and his mentorship under his former attorney Roy Cohn, played by Succession’s Jeremy Strong — who was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

    Stan will join several other of Hollywood’s top actors in the Academy’s leading role category including Adrien Brody for his role in The Brutalist, Conclave star Ralph Fiennes, Timothée Chalamet for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown and Sing Sing’s Colman Domingo.

    The film was denounced by Trump in October in a fiery Truth Social post, days after its release, calling the work a “cheap, defamatory, and politically disgusting hatchet job” he said was an attempt to “hurt the Greatest Political Movement in the History of our Country” – his campaign – ahead of the 2024 presidential election. He went on to blast the makers of the film as “HUMAN SCUM.” Trump’s lawyer also sent a cease-and-desist letter to the filmmakers.

    The Apprentice went on to bomb at the box office, as Trump had hoped, grossing just $1.58 million in its opening weekend. The lacklustre box office pull, however, has not stopped Hollywood from recognizing Stan and Strong for their performances.

    Despite Trump’s criticism, The Apprentice director Ali Abbasi told Mediaite’s Press Club host Aidan McLaughlin in October that the film was a “humanist project” and not a political one that he hoped would shed some light on the polarizing political figure’s origins.

    Trump Reveals Which Living President He Would Call for Advice

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0

    President Donald Trump revealed which living predecessor he would be most inclined to call for advice while signing an executive order in the Oval Office on Monday.

    “Well, I thought Bill Clinton was a very good politician. I don’t think he was used properly. I think they disrespected him when Hillary was running,” answered Trump. “He came back and he said, ‘You know, you better get up to Michigan and Wisconsin.’ You remember that, Peter. Every house has a Trump sign on it. And they all laughed at him because the Republicans had won Michigan and Wisconsin for decades, long time. And they all laughed at Bill Clinton. Like, the hell does he know? And he turned out to be right because I won both of them. And then we just won both in this election, too.”

    “We won Wisconsin and Michigan and every other swing state. We won all the swing states, all seven. They talked about seven swing states, we won them all. So, but I-, Bill Clinton was, he had a great political sense, I think,” he concluded.

    At that point, another reporter jumped in to observe that he seemed to be having “a good conversation” with former President Barack Obama at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral earlier this month.

    “I was! And you’d like to know what it was — ooooooo,” teased Trump. “Everybody wants to know! No, no, I wouldn’t want to. But we were having some crazy conversations.”

    Carrie Underwood Sings A Cappella After Tech Issue

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0

    She’s a pro…

    During Monday’s Inauguration ceremony, country music star Carrie Underwood was forced to sing “America The Beautiful” a cappella after apparent sound issues

    After Trump finished his remarks following the swearing-in ceremony, Underwood entered the Capitol Rotunda with a microphone and prepared to sing.

    Music began to play before abruptly cutting off.

    Several moments passed as Underwood stood among former presidents, lawmakers, business leaders and other dignitaries in silence, smiling awkwardly.

    Television coverage of the proceedings showed Underwood making eye contact with a member of the event’s technical team, and mouthing the words “just sing?” before nodding her head and smiling.

    “OK, if you know the words, help me out here,” Underwood said before beginning her rendition.

    Watch:

    Mark Zuckerberg To Host Trump Inauguration Reception

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    © European Union, 2024, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg is co-hosting a black tie reception Jan. 20 after President-elect Trump’s inauguration.

    The tech giant teamed up with Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertita, who is set to become the new U.S. ambassador to Italy, former Republican National Committee finance chair Todd Ricketts and his wife Sylvie Légère, and Republican mega-donor Miriam Adelson to host the event, according to the invitation obtained by NewsNation.

    The soiree is set to last for three-and-a-half hours, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., prior to the evening inaugural balls in Washington, D.C. 

    Zuckerburg’s has recently attended a series of meetings with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort, made a $1 million donation to the inaugural fund and brought a swift end to Meta’s fact-checking program.

    Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is also planning to attend the 60th inauguration following his $1 million contribution to the ceremony. 

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