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Miles Archer

(21,977 posts)
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 04:33 PM Sunday

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

chicoescuela

(2,687 posts)
1. The more uncensored trump the better I'm inclined to believe.
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 04:50 PM
Sunday

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

ProfessorGAC

(75,961 posts)
3. A Little Confused Here
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 04:58 PM
Sunday

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

(195,228 posts)
4. Punching down. Whipping the slave.
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 05:09 PM
Sunday

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

(21,977 posts)
7. It's a little twisted, but it does make sense...
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 06:40 PM
Sunday

...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."

ProfessorGAC

(75,961 posts)
9. While Good Points....
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 06:44 PM
Sunday

...it does not make sense.
I guess I don't agree that threatening x scares y all that much.

Miles Archer

(21,977 posts)
11. Doesn't make sense to you, or to me, or to most people.
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 06:48 PM
Sunday

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

(75,961 posts)
12. I Get Ya!
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 06:56 PM
Sunday

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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