CBS News announced Froiday. that its Sunday public affairs program, Face the Nation, will now only broadcast live or live-to-tape interviews, following complaints from U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The policy change was prompted by backlash over an edited interview with Noem aired on August 31, 2025, where she discussed Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man facing deportation. DHS claimed CBS selectively edited the interview, removing over 23% of Noem’s responses, including details about Garcia’s alleged crimes, to “whitewash the truth” about his threat to public safety.
However, in response to audience feedback and pressure from the Trump administration, CBS implemented the new policy to ensure greater transparency, stating that the television audience will see unedited interviews, except in cases of national security or legal restrictions.
Full transcripts and unedited videos will continue to be posted online. The decision has raised concerns about limiting the ability of moderator Margaret Brennan to challenge false statements during interviews, potentially impacting the show’s credibility and viewership compared to rivals like NBC’s Meet the Press or ABC’s This Week.