The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

Incident

FCC chair reopens 'news distortion' complaints against CBS and NBC

United StatesRSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180

Engraving of an empty press briefing room with a lectern and rows of chairs

Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr reopened complaints alleging CBS and NBC distorted the news, demanding CBS turn over the full tape and transcript of a 60 Minutes interview and later accusing NBC's parent Comcast of misleading coverage of an immigration case.1234

What happened

On January 22, 2025, newly installed FCC Chair Brendan Carr revived a 'news distortion' complaint against CBS over how 60 Minutes edited an October 2024 interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, complaints his predecessor had earlier rejected as being at odds with the First Amendment. The FCC demanded CBS turn over the interview's full, unedited transcript and camera feeds; CBS complied on February 3 and 5, 2025, saying the broadcast was not doctored. On April 16, 2025, Carr said Comcast's NBC and MSNBC had spent days misleading the public about Abrego Garcia's case, and on April 21 the advocacy group Center for American Rights filed a complaint against NBC, ABC and CBS alleging misleading coverage, adding to investigations Carr had already reopened against the three networks in February.12345

What reason was given

Stated justification

Carr said Comcast's outlets had engaged in "news distortion" by, in his words, "implying that Abrego Garcia was merely a law abiding U.S. citizen."1

What changed for reporting

CBS turned over an unedited interview tape and transcript to a communications regulator under the threat of a broadcast-license investigation, while NBC, ABC and CBS all separately faced revived license-related complaints over their coverage of specific news events.2

Timeline

2025

22 January 2025
FCC chair reopens 'news distortion' complaints against CBS and NBC

Who acted

NameRole in this incidentOffice at the time
Brendan CarrorderedChair, Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications CommissionenforcedIndependent federal regulatory agency

Outlets and journalists

NameKindRelation
CBS Newsoutletaffected
NBC Newsoutletaffected

Sources

  1. Brendan Carr targets news outlets as chair of the FCCU.S. Press Freedom Tracker, 2025-05-01, reporting. Source record

Claims and evidence

Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.

  1. Carr said Comcast's outlets misled the public by suggesting Abrego Garcia was simply a lawful resident.Comcast outlets spent days misleading the American public—implying that Abrego Garcia was merely a law abiding U.S. citizenBrendan Carr targets news outlets as chair of the FCC, U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, 2025-05-01.Claim 352, checked 2026-09-22.
  2. The FCC demanded CBS turn over the full unedited transcript and camera feeds of the Harris interview.full, unedited transcript and camera feedsBrendan Carr targets news outlets as chair of the FCC, U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, 2025-05-01.Claim 353, checked 2026-09-22.
  3. CBS said the broadcast had not been doctored or deceitful after submitting the material to the FCC.was not doctored or deceitfulBrendan Carr targets news outlets as chair of the FCC, U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, 2025-05-01.Claim 354, checked 2026-09-22.
  4. Carr indicated he had not ruled out further action against the networks.open mindedBrendan Carr targets news outlets as chair of the FCC, U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, 2025-05-01.Claim 355, checked 2026-09-22.
  5. FCC Chair Brendan Carr reinstated the dismissed complaints against the networks on January 22, 2025; the demand for the CBS transcript followed on January 29.Jan. 22, 2025 | FCC chair reinstates complaints against three news outletsBrendan Carr targets news outlets as chair of the FCC, U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, 2025-05-01.Claim 488, checked 2026-09-22.