CBS News finds itself in mounting turmoil over a now-infamous "60 Minutes" interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. Executive Producer Bill Owens remains on the hot seat following claims of improper editing, potential settlement talks with President Donald Trump's team, and a Federal Communications Commission probe into possible "news distortion." Owens' future is reportedly in question as insiders fear Trump may demand "a head on a spike," according to The New York Post.

The saga began when Trump accused the network of manipulating Harris' responses before airing the segment ahead of the 2024 election. CBS has steadfastly denied tampering with the interview. Nevertheless, the network on Monday surrendered transcripts and footage to the FCC at the request of Commissioner Brendan Carr, who aims to determine whether the broadcast was deliberately falsified. Carr told Fox News: "What was the real answer? Was it edited? Was it edited for clarity and length, which would be fine, or were there other reasons the editing took place?"

• Controversial Edit

  • Trump called the Harris interview "A FAKE NEWS SCAM," demanding CBS' broadcast license be revoked.
  • The FCC, now chaired by Carr, is reopening the complaint initially dismissed by the previous administration.
  • CBS insists it only made standard edits for time and continuity.

During a tense staff meeting, Owens reportedly told "60 Minutes" employees the edit was "perfectly fine" and "the company knows I will not apologize for anything we have done," The New York Times reported Tuesday. Despite his stance, CBS insiders fear the investigation could end unfavorably. "It might not matter what the transcripts show," a CBS source told The Post. "Trump might want a head to roll."

• High-Stakes Settlement

  • Trump is suing CBS for $10 billion, alleging the Harris interview was misleading.
  • Negotiations appear sensitive, as the network navigates intense legal and regulatory pressure.
  • Some at CBS believe Owens could be a sacrificial lamb if Trump's camp demands it.

Owens ascended to "60 Minutes" executive producer in 2019 amid a sexual-misconduct scandal that toppled predecessor Jeff Fager. He has presided over a string of controversies, including criticisms of "left-leaning" coverage and prior "soft-glove" interviews with political figures. Meanwhile, 72-year-old producer Susan Zirinsky looms as a potential replacement if Paramount's controlling shareholder Shari Redstone pushes for leadership change.

"Bill Owens has so many strikes against him," one CBS insider told The Post, adding that the executive could be ousted "if Trump wants a head on a spike." In a separate fiasco, "60 Minutes" came under fire for a segment on the Gaza war, drawing rebukes from the ADL and the American Jewish Committee for alleged anti-Israel bias. Redstone, concerned over the show's direction, had privately pressed CBS News President Wendy McMahon to remove Owens, according to sources familiar with the matter.

• Behind the Scenes at CBS

  • Paramount stands to gain $1.75 billion if an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media closes, making the network wary of regulatory pitfalls.
  • Shari Redstone reportedly supports interim executive editor Susan Zirinsky, who stepped in last month to "quickly and effectively deliver balanced, accurate" coverage.
  • Owens, however, has long run "60 Minutes" with considerable independence, reluctant to cede editorial control.

The reawakened FCC complaint rekindles questions about the boundaries of free speech versus potential broadcast manipulation. Commissioner Anna M. Gomez criticized the inquiry as "FCC weaponization against CBS," but Carr countered that more data is necessary to gauge whether the network committed intentional distortion. The FCC has historically exercised caution in intervening against editorial judgments.