CBS' 'Face the Nation' will not edit taped interviews

CBS News' “Face the Nation” will no longer edit taped interviews after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem complained about how her remarks were cut in her last appearance on the Washington-based program.

- BY STEPHEN BATTAGLIO

"FACE the Nation," moderated by Margaret Brennan, will present unedited interviews live or "live to tape."

The news division said Friday that the Sunday show moderated by Margaret Brennan will present only interviews live or “live to tape” in which no edits are made. Exceptions will be made when classified national security information is inadvertently stated or language is used that violates Federal Communications Commission broadcast standards.

“In response to audience feedback over the past week, we have implemented a new policy for greater transparency in our interviews,” a CBS News representative said in a statement. “This extra measure means the television audience will see the full, unedited interview on CBS and we will continue our practice of posting full transcripts and the unedited video online.”

The representative declined to comment on the reason for the policy change beyond the statement.

But the timing makes it clear that CBS News is reacting to Noem’s complaints after her Sunday appearance in which she discussed the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man wrongly deported to his native El Salvador. He was returned to the U.S., where he faces deportation efforts.

The complaints from Noem and the White House led George Cheeks, president and chief executive of CBS, and CBS News President Tom Cibrowski to come up with the new policy, according to a person familiar with the discussions who was not authorized to comment.

Noem wrote on X that “CBS shamefully edited the interview to whitewash the truth about this MS-13 gang member and the threat he poses to American public safety.”

The Trump administration has accused Abrego Garcia of being a member of MS-13, which he has denied.