How Kamala Harris’s 60-Minute Interview Exposed Her Weakness

Back in 2004, the late chairman of Viacom, Sumner Redstone, had his eyes set on enhancing the CBS portfolio by securing additional TV stations. The success of this significant media expansion hinged on the approval of the then Republican-dominated Federal Communications Commission. The political landscape at the time was brewing up to a fierce competition with President George W. Bush striving to secure his reelection against Democratic nominee John Kerry. Though traditionally known as a ‘liberal Democrat’, Redstone expressed an overt preference for a Republican victory, in clear dismissal of his traditional political allegiance.

Redstone’s surprising political pivot carried more weight than just personal preferences. His desire for a Republican administration was tied to the shared values and stances between Viacom and the Republican party, cultivating an environment more advantageous for his business pursuits. Simultaneously, media veteran Dan Rather, the renowned face of CBS news, faced backlash following his 60 Minutes II report that questioned President Bush’s military service. This event was followed by an abrupt termination of Rather’s employment along with four other CBS News employees, suggesting a strong bias in favor of the ruling government to ensure additional station acquisitions for CBS.

Rather, stripped of his position, voiced his interpretation of these unfolding dynamics. He claimed that the corporate pressure for further TV stations effectively ended his CBS News career, as well as the careers of several capable journalists who were caught in the crossfire. The pursuit of profit, according to Rather, overpowered journalistic ethics, as the corporate sectors wished to appease the powers that be.

Fast-forwarding to two decades later, a similar scenario played out during another intense presidential run-off, this time with Donald Trump and Kamala Harris as the candidates. Trump’s discontent became evident following a 60 Minutes interview with Harris, occurring just prior to his reelection as president. This period also coincided with Shari Redstone – Sumner’s daughter – requiring FCC approval for a sale involving Paramount. Furthermore, Trump was involved in a lawsuit against CBS News over the said interview segment, further complicating the political-media landscape.

Yet again, the engagement between political powers and released news evoked the previous scenario with Rather and served as fodder for the documentary ‘Rather’ directed by Frank Marshall. The documentary explores the intriguing complexity of media cases that seem to buckle under ostentatious political pressure, thus undermining unbiased reporting.

Dan Rather, still an active journalist at 93, commented on the release of the documentary with reflections on the current state of the news industry. He drew attention to the potentially compromised integrity of the Fourth Estate, expressing his disappointment in recent developments. Rather condemns the constant onslaught against journalistic professionalism, insisting that such conditions are unprecedented.

According to Rather, the crisis striking modern journalism’s essence emanated far before Trump or even Bush’s time in office. It began during the mid-1980s when the three major networks – ABC, NBC, and CBS were still guided by the principle of news as a public service instead of a vehicle to bolster global conglomerates. During the Watergate scandal in 1972, President Nixon attempted to coerce CBS into sidelining Rather for his hard-hitting questions.

He recalled that, despite Paley, the founder of CBS, being a Republican and a Nixon supporter, he did not pressurize the news division. This marked a stark difference between yesterday’s and today’s journalism where the media is often seen as easily swayed rather than a cardinal pillar of truth. Rather derided this decline, likening the resilience of the modern press to a soft marshmallow instead of the steel-like backbone it traditionally exhibited.

Recounting his own tumultuous dismissal from CBS, as documented in the 2015 film ‘Truth’, was a bitter exercise for Rather. Despite awareness of the necessity of this episode’s inclusion in the documentary, Rather tugged at its roots with discomfort. Nevertheless, he maintains the accuracy of the Bush story, accepting the flaws but still defending its crucial details.

The documentary’s producer, Marshall, held an unwavering stance of not making a glorifying biopic. Instead, he aimed to emphasize pivot points in Rather’s career, helping viewers understand the importance of a robust Fourth Estate in a functional democracy. Journalists uncover inconvenient truths, he argues, and their presence keeps those in power accountable and honest.

Marshall’s comments reflect a concern for the ambiguity and dubious authenticity of fast-paced modern news reporting. He finds it regrettable that an absolute source of truth has become elusive in fragmented news reporting standards of today.

The documentary staff and Marshall were left speculating about the possibility of Redstone’s call for Rather’s termination. They suggested that given the potentially manipulative tactics employed by the powerful, any possibility could not be completely ruled out.

These shifts in the media landscape and journalistic integrity, as highlighted by these events, reveal how substantial impacts are inflicted when monetary benefit and power politics interfere with the media’s function.