A storm erupted in the media landscape this week as former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly publicly accused CBS and Bari Weiss of deliberately misleading viewers through deceptive editing practices. The controversy centers around an interview with Pete Hegseth, allegedly manipulated to present a skewed perspective on the ongoing conflict and its implications for US interests.
Kelly didn’t mince words, asserting that CBS “just cannot seem to help themselves making deceptive edits” to run cover for Israel. She alleged the network actively “tried to shove Israel into the debate” by fundamentally altering the context of a question posed to Hegseth, effectively changing the narrative of his response.
This isn’t an isolated incident. CBS and its parent company, Paramount, previously faced significant repercussions, including multi-million dollar settlements with President Trump, stemming from a similarly edited interview with Kamala Harris in 2024. That case led to a formal change in the network’s editorial policy.
The current situation unfolds under new ownership. Skydance Media, led by David Ellison, recently acquired CBS and Paramount, creating a media behemoth controlling a vast portfolio of channels including CNN, HBO, MTV, and more. This acquisition followed a complex series of events, including Netflix’s withdrawal from a bidding war amid antitrust concerns.
Bari Weiss, co-founder of The Free Press, now holds the position of editor-in-chief at CBS under the Skydance umbrella. The shift in leadership has raised questions about the network’s editorial direction and its commitment to unbiased reporting.
The core of the dispute lies in a specific exchange during Hegseth’s interview. CBS presented a clip where Hegseth appeared to be defending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s actions, framing his comments as a direct response to criticisms that Israel instigated a war not aligned with American interests.
However, the full, unedited interview reveals a drastically different context. Hegseth was initially responding to broader criticisms from figures on the right – including Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, and others – that weren’t specifically related to Israel. His defense centered on the Trump administration’s policies in Iran, with no mention of Israel whatsoever.
The seemingly minor alteration in the question’s framing fundamentally shifted the meaning of Hegseth’s response, creating the impression of support for Israel that wasn’t present in the original exchange. This manipulation, Kelly argues, is a deliberate attempt to shape public opinion.
Kelly’s outrage was palpable, questioning the ethics of the network with blunt force. She accused CBS of a blatant disregard for truth, stating they “do not give a sh*t about misleading you.” She further asserted that the network’s agenda is not pro-Trump, but demonstrably “pro Israel.”
She highlighted the broader implications, playing a clip of Marjorie Taylor Greene outlining concerns about the war that have nothing to do with Israel, emphasizing the diverse range of American anxieties. Greene’s comments focused on domestic issues like healthcare affordability and economic hardship, underscoring the disconnect between the conflict abroad and the struggles of everyday Americans.
Kelly concluded by drawing a parallel to past deceptive practices at CBS, warning that the network’s current approach represents a continuation of a troubling pattern. She believes the manipulation of the interview was a calculated effort to rehabilitate Netanyahu’s image and advance a specific political agenda.
