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Miles Archer

(22,221 posts)
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 04:33 PM Jan 18

CBS "MAGAt" NEWS claims Leavitt threatened to "sue (their) a-- off" if they aired edited Trump interview

After the newly installed CBS Evening News anchor concluded a taped interview with President Donald Trump in January, Leavitt approached the CBS News crew with a warning, according to a recording obtained by the New York Times.

“He said, ‘Make sure you guys don’t cut the tape, make sure the interview is out in full,’” Leavitt said.

“Yeah, we’re doing it, yeah,” Dokoupil responded.

Leavitt then took it a step further: “He said, ‘If it’s not out in full, we’ll sue your a-- off,’” Leavitt deadpan replied. When Dokoupil, 45, tried to defuse the moment by quipping, “He always says that!” Leavitt did not break.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/cbs-news-defends-editorial-call-after-karoline-leavitt-threat-leaked/

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CBS "MAGAt" NEWS claims Leavitt threatened to "sue (their) a-- off" if they aired edited Trump interview (Original Post) Miles Archer Jan 18 OP
The more uncensored trump the better I'm inclined to believe. chicoescuela Jan 18 #1
What's Leavitt hiding in her closet? sakabatou Jan 18 #2
The true father of her children? Sequoia Jan 18 #8
A Little Confused Here ProfessorGAC Jan 18 #3
Punching down. Whipping the slave. underpants Jan 18 #4
Makes Sense ProfessorGAC Jan 18 #5
It's a little twisted, but it does make sense... Miles Archer Jan 18 #7
While Good Points.... ProfessorGAC Jan 18 #9
Doesn't make sense to you, or to me, or to most people. Miles Archer Jan 18 #11
I Get Ya! ProfessorGAC Jan 18 #12
She must be jockeying for an appointment as US Attorney struggle4progress Jan 18 #6
Good Boo1 Jan 18 #10
I'm going to assume not airing it at all isn't an option here jmowreader Jan 18 #13

chicoescuela

(2,804 posts)
1. The more uncensored trump the better I'm inclined to believe.
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 04:50 PM
Jan 18

Surprised he doesn’t want to edit it to his satisfaction first.

ProfessorGAC

(76,119 posts)
3. A Little Confused Here
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 04:58 PM
Jan 18

They would sue if the video only airs unedited? That's odd.
Given the way CBS has capitulated to him, wouldn't a fair assumption be than any editing would be favorable to him?
Why would they sue if a video was edited?
Of course, considering the source I may be looking for sense where none exists.

underpants

(195,550 posts)
4. Punching down. Whipping the slave.
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 05:09 PM
Jan 18

They know the have CBS so they are flexing (as the kids say). It’s also a show of loyalty and fealty by her which he relishes.

Miles Archer

(22,221 posts)
7. It's a little twisted, but it does make sense...
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 06:40 PM
Jan 18

...first step is to not view it from the standpoint of conventional logic.

1). The fact that Bari Weiss has been "installed" at CBS News by David Ellison is as much of a "lock" on consistently Trump friendly news as they're likely to get.

2). Leavitt's "warning" isn't so much out of concern that CBS...under Weiss...will "edit" the video to make Trump look bad (although "looking bad" for Trump is often the direct result of things he actually said).

3). I'm sure Leavitt's "warning" was intended for every other news organization wishing to interview Trump.

4). So reality, it was a "nudge nudge, wink wink" warning..."IF YOU EDIT IT, WE'LL SUE"...("not you, of course, we know we've effectively castrated and neutered you, so we'll just say it out loud for anyone else who might be listening."

Miles Archer

(22,221 posts)
11. Doesn't make sense to you, or to me, or to most people.
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 06:48 PM
Jan 18

But Trump LIVES to make threats, especially litigious threats. Also, he's used to blowing Mafia Boss dog whistles.

Maybe there's nothing to it, I don't know. I'm just looking at it from the Clown Show aspect, which is where most answers are found when trying to figure out Trump.

ProfessorGAC

(76,119 posts)
12. I Get Ya!
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 06:56 PM
Jan 18

But, even from that perspective it's a nothing as a threat.
Besides, they wouldn't want to go through discovery.

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