In an election season that feels more like a high-stakes drama than a dignified exchange of ideas, the latest round of media coverage—particularly from CBS—takes bias to a whole new level. CBS News recently edited a "60 Minutes" interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, omitting portions of her comments and, according to many, twisting the overall message.
Public outrage demanded a full transcript, which CBS refused to provide, raising serious questions about transparency and journalistic integrity. Instead of addressing the backlash, CBS seemingly doubled down by airing an opening segment on Wednesday night that has left viewers shaking their heads in disbelief.
CBS's Norah O'Donnell opens the 'CBS Evening News' mad about Trump's garbage truck "stunt" and that people are "giving" Biden any "no grace" for calling Trump supporters "garbage" last night:
"Both campaigns are locking their focus on the battleground states. Vice President… pic.twitter.com/qLAfynERaG
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 31, 2024
At the center of this segment is anchor Norah O'Donnell’s attempt to spin recent statements made by both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. The media recently seized on a comedian’s joke made at a Trump rally about Puerto Rico’s trash problem, keeping it alive for days in a relentless cycle of critiques and finger-pointing. Meanwhile, President Biden managed to label half of America as “garbage” in a shocking slip-up, yet this comment received significantly less criticism from the mainstream press.
Norah’s take was jaw-dropping: she suggested Trump’s latest campaign moment, where he made an appearance in front of a garbage truck, was a “stunt” and implied that Trump should show “grace” toward Biden’s error.
CBS News and @NorahODonnell are just STRAIGHT UP unfiltered and subliterate propagandists now.
They still have not released the 60 Minutes transcript, continuing to hide whatever really happened there. https://t.co/PIOLDdv3jj
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) October 31, 2024
The insinuation that Trump and his supporters ought to give Biden a free pass for calling them “garbage” is mind-boggling. It’s as if O'Donnell missed the entire context—that Biden’s words weren’t just a minor misstep but a blatant insult directed at a substantial portion of the electorate.
O'Donnell’s segment is a classic example of how media spin can redefine the narrative, nudging viewers toward particular interpretations. The outrage over a joke about trash becomes a major storyline, while Biden’s “garbage” comment, a statement with far greater weight in an election year, is casually glossed over. And, all the while, the network assumes viewers won’t see through this selective reporting.
Yet, this isn’t just about spin; it’s about the stark double standards permeating modern media. In the same breath that mainstream outlets vilify Trump and label his policies as extreme, they turn a blind eye when Biden’s own rhetoric crosses lines.
Whether it’s Harris, Clinton, or Biden, divisive statements from one side receive a fraction of the scrutiny, leaving Americans wondering if these news sources are interested in fairness or simply wielding influence.