Trump Interview Gets Deleted at Key Moments in Broadcast

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast Summary Episode: "Trump Interview Gets Deleted at Key Moments in Broadcast" Release Date: May 5, 2025

---

Introduction

In this episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, hosts Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas delve into the contentious issues surrounding former President Donald Trump's recent lawsuit against CBS. The lawsuit alleges significant damages due to edited interviews that, according to Trump, misrepresented his interactions and statements during broadcasts with political figures like Kamala Harris.

---

Trump's $20 Billion Lawsuit Against CBS

Timestamp: [00:59]

The episode kicks off with a political commentator outlining the crux of Donald Trump's lawsuit against CBS. Trump claims that CBS, specifically through its program "60 Minutes," aired edited versions of his interviews that distorted his statements and the overall narrative. The lawsuit seeks a staggering $20 billion in damages, alleging that both Trump and Ronny Jackson were misrepresented, leading to significant harm as consumers.

Key Points:

• Alleged Edits: Trump accuses CBS of editing interviews with Kamala Harris and his own interactions, leading to a misleading portrayal of events and statements.
• Consumer Harm: The lawsuit argues that these distortions deceived consumers, causing emotional distress and misinformation.
• Forum Shopping: Trump strategically filed the lawsuit in the Northern District of Texas, aiming for a favorable judicial environment.

---

Analysis of Deleted Interview Clips

Timestamp: [04:10] to [10:32]

The hosts and commentator examine specific segments of Trump's interviews that were allegedly edited out by CBS and NBC. They assert that these deletions were strategic, aiming to downplay or obscure Trump's viewpoints and statements.

1. Interaction with Jeff Bezos

   • Timestamp: [04:10]
   • Trump's Statement: "He's just a very nice guy. We have a relationship. I asked him about it. He said, well, I don't want to do that. And he took it off immediately."
   • Analysis: The clip where Trump discusses his interactions with Jeff Bezos was reportedly removed, potentially to hide nuances in their relationship and business dealings.

2. Discussion on Tariffs and Economic Policies

   • Timestamp: [09:05]
   • Trump's Statement: "But what people don't understand is, and this is a lot, the country eats the tariff, the company eats the tariff, and it's not passed along at all."
   • Analysis: This segment highlights Trump's stance on tariffs, suggesting that companies absorb the costs rather than passing them to consumers. The removal of this clip undermines the full context of his economic policies.

3. Concerns About Bird Flu Impacting Egg Prices

   • Timestamp: [06:07]
   • Trump's Statement: "Egg prices are down 87%... We had Easter at the White House and we had thousands of eggs, and they were down 87%."
   • Host's Query: "When does it become the Trump economy?"
   • Analysis: The discussion about egg prices and bird flu was edited out, potentially to avoid showcasing Trump's explanations or justification for economic indicators during his administration.

4. Allegations of a Rigged 2020 Election

   • Timestamp: [07:22]
   • Trump's Statement: "When I handed it over, the election was rigged... there's no question about the election was rigged."
   • Host's Rebuttal: Points out that Trump took his case to court over these claims but did not win.
   • Analysis: Eliminating this clip serves to downplay Trump's persistent allegations of election fraud, which have been a focal point of his post-presidency rhetoric.

---

Implications of the Edits

Timestamp: [10:31]

The commentator draws parallels between the situation and the movie "Don't Look Up," emphasizing the denial and avoidance strategies employed by media outlets in addressing pressing economic and political issues. The deletion of critical interview segments is portrayed as a means to control the narrative and prevent the public from gaining a comprehensive understanding of Trump's perspectives and claims.

Key Insights:

• Media Responsibility: The episode underscores the balance between freedom of the press and the responsibility of media outlets to present unaltered and truthful content.
• Public Perception: By editing out significant portions of interviews, media organizations may influence public perception, potentially swaying opinions based on incomplete information.
• Democratic Implications: The alteration of interviews raises concerns about transparency and the integrity of information dissemination in a democratic society.

---

Donald Trump's Legal Standing and Claims

Timestamp: [08:01] to [09:46]

The podcast delves deeper into the legal arguments presented by Trump, highlighting the claims made in the amended complaint filed on February 7, 2025.

Trump's Claims:

• Misrepresentation by CBS: Accuses CBS of tampering with media content to benefit commercially and mislead consumers.
• Freedom of the Press: Asserts that while the press has freedom, it must also uphold responsibility and integrity in its reporting.
• Economic Harm: Links the edited interviews to tangible economic consequences, claiming that misrepresentation led to a loss of consumer trust and financial harm amounting to $20 billion.

Contestations:

• Media's Defense: CBS and Paramount argue for "unbounded freedom" in broadcasting, rejecting the notion that their editing practices constitute wrongdoing.
• Outcome of Previous Cases: Trump references numerous court cases related to election integrity but acknowledges not all were won, showcasing the complexity and prolonged nature of his legal battles.

---

Conclusion and Reflections

Timestamp: [10:31] onwards

The hosts reflect on the broader implications of Trump's lawsuit and the media's role in shaping political narratives. They suggest that the selective editing of interviews not only impacts Trump's reputation but also sets a concerning precedent for media accountability.

Final Thoughts:

• Media Ethics: Emphasizes the need for media outlets to maintain ethical standards in reporting, ensuring that edits do not distort the truth.
• Public Awareness: Encourages listeners to seek out full interviews and original sources to form informed opinions rather than relying solely on edited broadcasts.
• Democratic Health: Raises questions about how media practices influence democratic processes and the importance of transparent journalism in upholding democratic values.

---

Notable Quotes

• Political Commentator: "If you take that clip with the Bezos clip, it shows that Donald Trump is the most generous thing you can say about him is that either he's an idiot he has major cognitive issues." [10:31]

• Donald Trump: "The election was rigged. The facts are in, and it's still being litigated. Let's go." [08:07]

• Political Commentator: "It almost feels like the current moment is a parody of don't look up." [10:32]

---

Closing Remarks

The episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast provides a critical examination of the interplay between political figures and media representations. By dissecting the nuances of Donald Trump's lawsuit against CBS and the alleged editing of key interviews, the podcast underscores the importance of media transparency and accountability in sustaining a healthy democracy.

For more in-depth analyses and updates, listeners are encouraged to visit MidasPlus.com and subscribe to their Substack for ad-free articles and reports.

Transcript

[Degree Advertiser]

Fellas, you know Degree Cool Rush deodorant, right? Well, last year they changed the formula and guys were mad about it. One dude even started a petition. So guess what? Degree heard us, admitted they messed up and brought the original Cool Rush scent back exactly how it was. And it's in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under $4. So grab some and remember why its cool, crisp and fresh scent made it the number one man's antiperspirant for the last decade. Degree Cool Rush is back, and it smells like victory for all of us.

[Shopify Promoter]

Running a business comes with a lot of what ifs, but luckily, there's a simple answer to Shopify. It's the commerce platform behind millions of businesses, including Thrive Cosmetics and Momofuku. And it'll help you with everything you need, from website design and marketing to boosting sales and expanding operations. Shopify can get the job done and make your dream a reality. Turn those what ifs into sign up for your $1 per month [e-mail] specialoffer.

[Political Commentator]

I just want to make sure I have this correct. Donald Trump is suing CBS in 60 Minutes for $20 billion because he's claiming that back in October of 2024, they aired an interview of former Vice President Kamala Harris that had some edits in it, although the full interview was separately accessible. But then Donald Trump's interviews are always frequently heavily edited by Fox. And then when Donald Trump just did an interview this weekend with Kristen Welker of Meet the Press on NBC, massive portions of the interview were deleted and edited out from what ultimately air to the public. If you went on the NBC website, which our editorial team did, they did post the full interview there. And some of the most damaging clips of Donald Trump were not aired publicly. So I want to get this straight. Can I become a billionaire now? Because Donald Trump sued CBS for $20 billion, claiming that his injury and by the way, Ronnie Jackson, maga, Republican Congress member from Amarillo, Texas was added to the lawsuit so Donald Trump could forum shop to have the case heard in the Northern District of Texas before a judge that Donald Trump likes. They're alleging that they are consumers who were injured because it hurt their eyes as consumers to take in what they said was an edited interview of former Vice President Kamala Harris. They said $20 billion is the damage. Okay, so folks, $20 billion. Maybe I'll buy us all yachts and jets or whatever, whatever the oligarchs get, because I think I've been injured $20 billion. What do you think? Well, we've got the footage here at the Midas Touch Network. Shall we look at what NBC deleted on Meet the Press? It was on their website, but it was not shown publicly on Meet the Press. Let's take a look, shall we? We did a whole report on this on Midasplus.com subscribe to our substack and on Midas news.com as well. What did they take out? Hmm. Maybe a reference to Jeff Bezos and how Donald Trump basically shook down Bezos. Bezos and Amazon were going to include the additional price of the goods and the goods being sold on Amazon that are now caused by the tariffs. There was going to be a tariff line item why your products cost more money. But Donald Trump, who says that the foreign countries eat the tariffs, he goes to eat it. They eat the tariffs. Okay, well, if they're eating the tariffs, then why are you worried about Jeff Bezos and Amazon putting tariffs on their receipt of the consumer? Well, anyway, this clip got edited out by NBC. I wonder why they edited this one out. Here, play this clip.

[Interview Host]

What did you say to Jeff Bezos?

[Donald Trump]

He's just a very nice guy. We have a relationship. I asked him about it. He said, well, I don't want to do that. And he took it off immediately.

[Interview Host]

So he changed course. And will you take that same tactic with other CEOs? If you.

[Donald Trump]

I'll always call people if I disagree with them. If I, if I think that somebody's doing something that's incorrect, wrong, or maybe hurtful to the country, I'll call. Absolutely. Wouldn't you want me to call? Biden wouldn't call because he didn't know what was happening. But I do.

[Political Commentator]

They edited that clip out. $20 billion. Please let me take your $20 billion. Okay, folks, how many yachts should I buy with that? How many jets should I buy with that? Okay, the next clip NBC did not include on the broadcast to the public, which was when Donald Trump said that egg prices are down 87%. Then Kristen Welker, the host, tries to help Donald Trump and goes, look, Donald, we know that eggs were high because of. She, like, tries to give him the answer. Bird flu. That's why. Blame it on bird flu. Even though former President Biden never got the benefit of the doubt on anything. And Kristen Welker and others would just destroy Biden on literally every issue. And by the way, when's the NBC story going to run on how cognitively declined Donald Trump looks? If you have people in your life that you know who have dementia or suffer from cognitive issues. I'm not a doctor. I don't know what I'm observing with Donald Trump, but I can tell you that it certainly looks like people I know that do. So you tell me. But anyway, she tries to help him and goes, it was because of the bird flu. Now, Donald Trump, whatever it is, he doesn't even understand she's trying to help him, so he attacks her and he goes, why would you say that? Why would you say that we had the same bird flu as. As he had. She's trying to help him there. I wonder if that's why they cut this clip out from what was aired to the public. Here, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

People didn't matter what they made because they were losing their shirt. Because, of course, now take a look at what happened. Oil is down, gasoline is down. Groceries are down. Eggs. You were the one that asked me. You asked me about eggs. It was the first week I didn't even know anything about what. What were you talking about? Egg prices were so high you couldn't buy eggs. They didn't have any eggs. And they said, Easter is going to be a disaster. Well, we had Easter at the White House and we had thousands of eggs, and they were down 87%.

[Interview Host]

Yeah, a lot of that, of course, spike, was because of bird flu. But when does it become the Trump economy?

[Donald Trump]

Why do you say that?

[Interview Host]

Well, tell me, when did we had.

[Donald Trump]

The same bird flu as he had?

[Political Commentator]

The next clip that they edited out on the NBC interview that the public didn't get to see unless you went to the NBC website, not a lot of people do. That is when Donald Trump whines about the 2020 election. For a long time in this interview that all got cut, Donald Trump was saying the election was rigged. And Kristen Welker again tries to help him. And she goes, I don't want to look back. Let's look forward, Donald. I want to look back. It was rigged. It was unfair. All right, Donald, let's move forward. It was rigged. I wonder why they deleted this clip. Here, play it.

[Donald Trump]

You know, my four years were phenomenal, as, you know, the stock market, in fact, even though we had to go through the COVID thing, that horrible situation with COVID we did numbers. And when I gave it over, when I handed it over, the election was rigged. And I handed. And because of that, we have a lot of problems, by the way. But when I handed it over, what happened? The market was higher than it was previous to. Just previous to Covid coming in. Nobody could believe it. The stock market I'm talking about.

[Interview Host]

I don't want to look back. But you, you did take your case to court about that.

[Donald Trump]

I look back.

[Interview Host]

You, you took your case to court about your allegations against the, the election. Let me ask you.

[Donald Trump]

There's no question about the election was rigged. The facts are in, and it's still being litigated. Let's go.

[Interview Host]

You did take your case to court more than 60 times and didn't win those cases.

[Donald Trump]

I won a lot of court cases.

[Interview Host]

Just to button that up, though, sir. Just to button that up.

[Donald Trump]

What are you talking about?

[Interview Host]

The election?

[Donald Trump]

Are we talking about the election?

[Interview Host]

Let's talk about here and now.

[Donald Trump]

Let's talk about the election of 2020.

[Interview Host]

Let's not talk about. Let's talk.

[Political Commentator]

I think you get the point now of which clips they're deleting. And again, as a consumer, Donald Trump says he's a consumer. And Ronnie Jackson. So I'm. Ronnie Jackson's a consumer. And they suffered serious emotional distress. That's why they're suing CBS for 20 billion. And Paramount, I don't know. Are you distressed? I'm distressed. 20 billion. 20 billion seems about right. Thanks for creating that precedent for me, Donald. And then over here, Donald Trump, this is where he goes. What people don't understand is that the countries eat the tariffs. They eat the tariffs. They're eating the dogs, they're eating the cats, they're eating the tariffs, apparently. Here, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

But what people don't understand is, and this is a lot, the country eats the tariff, the company eats the tariff, and it's not passed along at all.

[Interview Host]

Well, some CEOs are saying they're going to have to pass it on. So how do you deal with those CEOs?

[Donald Trump]

How do you deal with those CEOs eating the tariffs? Right.

[Interview Host]

What do you say to those CEOs who were saying we might have to pass this on to the consumer?

[Donald Trump]

Well, they say that because maybe it's to their advantage to say it.

[Interview Host]

Maybe punish them.

[Donald Trump]

No, because you know what? I want them to build plants in the United States. That way they don't have any tariffs. See, tariffs will. And not only will. Look at what's happened. In two months, we're close to $9 trillion of investment. We've never been anywhere near that.

[Political Commentator]

Okay, well, if you want to know my opinion, why NBC edited that out, because if you take that clip with the Bezos clip, it shows that Donald Trump is the most generous thing you can say about Donald Trump is that either he's an idiot he has major cognitive issues. That's the, the nicest interpretation of him, honestly. Right. Because the alternative is that this is just an insane monster, which is it's probably all of the above right here. So the countries are eating it. Okay. But Bezos is putting it on because the countries are eating it. And then you're calling Bezos to say hide the tariffs.

[Donald Trump]

Huh?

[Political Commentator]

Doesn't this seem a little bit like. Like a miracle it's all going to go away? Stop the testing. Stop the testing. I've given this example before and it just bears repeating right now. I saw that movie was with Leonardo DiCaprio and others. It's called don't look up. And the asteroid is about to hit the Earth and people see it coming. They see it coming. And then there's a whole movement of just don't look up, don't look up. Which to me is like a miracle. It's all going to go away. Don't look at the ports. Don't see that shipping has come to a complete halt in Seattle, in Long beach, in Boston. Don't look up. Don't see that the ships are all in Shanghai and in Chinese ports and they're not coming here. Don't look up. Don't see that this is having a disastrous impact systemically on our economy. And we know what the next several quarters are going to look like if we go down this path. Don't look up. I want to tell you to look up. See it. Let's look at it. Let's try to solve it. Let's try to fix it. The parallels there are uncanny. It almost feels like the current moment is a parody of don't look up. What does the future hold for business? You ask nine experts, you get 10 different answers. Bull market, bear market. Will rates rise? Will rates fall? Can someone please invent a crystal ball? Until then, over 40,000 businesses have future proof their business with NetSuite by Oracle. The number one Cloud ERP. Bringing accounting, financial management, management, inventory, HR into one fluid platform with one unified business management suite. There's one source of truth giving you the visibility and control you need to make quick decisions. Like we need to do at the Midas Touch network. With real time insights and forecasting, you're peering into the future with actionable data. You know I love data. When you're closing the books in days, not weeks, you're spending less time looking backwards and more time on what's next. That's why I use this. And you should, too. So whether your company is earning millions or even hundreds of millions. NetSuite helps you respond to the immediate challenges and seize your biggest opportunities. Speaking of opportunity, download the CFO's guide to AI and machine learning at netsuite.com Midas the guide is free to you at netsuite.com MidAS that's n e t e s u I t e dot com MidAS One more time, go to netsuite.com MidAS Thanks Netsuite. All right, let me just show you what Donald Trump's lawsuit's all about, because you may go. Ben. He's saying that he's a consumer who suffered $20 billion of damages, him and Ronny Jackson for what they observed with they said the former Vice President Kamala Harris interview being edited by the way. They like took out and CBS took out like some UMS or OZ when it was look, it was probably like 45 seconds where Kamala Harris wasn't bad. She was just like a little bit non responsive to the question and it just slowed down the answer. So they put it on the full one and they like removed it. There was nothing substantive that drastically or that even materially changed any of the answers here. Just take a look at the lawsuit. This is the amended complaint filed February 7, 2025. And then this is how it's written in plain English. Freedom carries with it responsibility, even for the press. Freedom of the press is not freedom from responsibility for its exercise. Then it says Paramount and CBS disagree. They believe in unbounded freedom to harm media content. Competitors, including President Trump, by misrepresenting the nature, characteristics and qualities of their broadcast and digital services, deceive consumers, including plaintiffs Donald Trump and Ronny Jackson, through advertisement and commercial promotion of substantially distorted broadcast and digital media content masquerading as news. See freely disseminate such substantially distorted broadcast and digital media content to the detriment of competitors and consumers. D brand their distorted broadcast and digital media content as legitimately edited news, all for profit without any level of responsibility commensurate with their influence over the American public. That's what this lawsuit is about. Then it says in October 2024, one month before Trump's landslide victory. It wasn't a landslide. Defendants, consistent with their modus operandi of advertising and disseminating false election related content for commercial benefit, advertised and promoted their CBS News 60 Minutes election special show, which was to air in PrimeTime on Monday, October 7, 2024, and feature interviews with then candidate Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Walls. By the way, Trump was too chicken shit, excuse my language, to even do the interview. Trump refused to interview at 60 Minutes because he was too afraid. Remember the 202060 Minutes interview with Leslie Stahl where Donald Trump brought a fake binder with blank pages and claimed it was his plan and then she asked to take a look at it and it was all blank pages and Donald Trump just walked off and said, you're just being nasty to me. He was too scared to do it. Kamala Harris did the interview. And then you go through it and like, you're trying to take a look, like, what the hell is this lawsuit even about? Like, randomly has photos of Trump's art of the deal. And then it goes as an initial matter, the unedited transcript revealed that the advertised Harris reply and the manipulated Harris reply were both part of a single answer mangled beyond recognition by defendants tampering. I just want to show you what the whole lawsuit is based on. I'm reading Trump's lawsuit. So the bold portion aired on Face The Nation on October 6, 2024. The underlying portion aired during election special on October 7, 2024. The remainder is unused. Okay, so this is what the lawsuit is about. Everything is in this paragraph. And Trump says that if you were to see this entire par paragraph, that would have changed what you won the election. Whitaker from 60 Minutes. We supply Israel with billions of dollars in military aid, and yet Prime Minister Netanyahu seems to be charting his own course. The Biden Harris administration has pressed him to agree to a cease fire. He's resisted. You urged him not to go into Lebanon. He went in anyway. Does the US have no sway over Prime Minister Netanyahu? Harris the work that we do diplomatically with the leadership of Israel is an ongoing pursuit around making clear our principles. WHITAKER but it seems that Prime Minister Netanyahu is not listening. Harris well, Bill, the work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by a result of many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region. And we're not going to stop doing that. We are not going to stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end. So what Donald Trump saying is that entire thing that I just read should have all been just like that, but because it was a little bit sliced and diced and not all of that was in there. That's his injury. That's his damage. I'm reading you from his lawsuit, page 63. That's the claim for $20 billion in injury. So if you take that and then you take a look at what I just said was edited by NBC. Maybe. Maybe it's 1 trillion. Maybe my lawsuit should be for 1 trillion gazillion dollars. I mean, at this point, folks, there's the Turkish proverb, and I've heard this in other cultures as well, which is when you bring the clown into the palace, the palace doesn't make the clown a king. The palace becomes a circus. No offense to clowns and circuses. Real professions and circuses can be enjoy enjoyable. Not in politics, though, and not with fascist clowns. Fascist circuses. That's what's happening here. What are we talking about? What are we. This isn't a. Shouldn't it be a Democrat, Republican, independent, political. What are we talking about, people? Well, there you have it. Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe and let's get to what, 5 million subscribers together. Can we get there in May? Let's get to 5 million subscribers and check out MidasPlus.com can't get enough Midas? Check out the Midas plus substack for ad Free articles, reports, reports, podcasts, daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski and more. Sign up for free [e-mail].

[T-Mobile Advertiser]

Like your favorite travel guide, T Mobile's network knows all the spots because T Mobile helps keep you connected from the heart of Portland to right where you are on America's largest 5G network switch. Now keep your phone and T Mobile will pay it off up to $800 per line via prepaid cart. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more at T Mobile. Com. KeepAndSwitch up to 4 lines of your virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device, credit service port in 90 plus days device ineligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card is no cash access and expires in six months.