CBS News wants to take 'middle ground' on airing Trump's speech as network chiefs wrestle over whether to carry it live

[highplainsdem]

Source: Independent

Stelter said in his Reliable Sources newsletter Thursday that he has been told CBS may take a “middle-ground” approach by quickly editing clips of Trump’s address to air shortly after, rather than playing the whole speech live.

The network’s controversial evening news host, Tony Dokoupil, would host a special report later in the 9 p.m. hour, fact-checking Trump’s claims.

Other broadcasters are also reportedly considering tape-turning clips rather than airing the full speech live.

-snip-

CBS News has been accused of catering to the Trump administration at the expense of journalistic integrity.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/cbs-trump-speech-tonight-elections-b3016411.html

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Dokoupil hasn't shown any signs of fact-checking Trump lately, or at least I haven't heard about them.

But it's still good news that even Trump-pandering CBS won't give the White House lunatic as much of a prime time platform as he wants.

These plans remind me of ABC's GMA not covering Hegseth's Iran War press briefings live, even when other networks did - just summarizing and fact-checking them.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. US networks face dilemma over whether to air Trump's election security speech

trump is going to lie tonight. You can understand why the networks are concerned

Trump has denied for years that Russia interfered in U.S. elections.

Now he wants us to believe the Chinese “communist” are interfering in U.S. elections.

www.reuters.com/legal/govern...

— Robert (@robertmcmillan.bsky.social) 2026-07-16T17:40:27.645Z

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-networks-face-dilemma-over-whether-air-trumps-election-security-speech-2026-07-16/

NEW YORK, July 16 (Reuters) - U.S. television networks are weighing whether to carry a ​planned primetime address on Thursday by President Donald Trump, who is expected to focus his remarks on election security, ‌four months before critical midterm elections.

Networks have historically carried most such speeches on the grounds that they provide information of public importance.

The White House is considering using the speech to disclose sensitive intelligence related to China's intention or ability to interfere in the 2020 U.S. election, Reuters reported on Wednesday, which some Trump ​officials worry could be misleading.....

Spokespeople for the three major ​U.S. networks -- ABC, CBS and NBC -- did not respond to Reuters questions about whether they planned to carry the address live. CNN ​and Fox News (FOXA.O), opens new tab also did not respond to a request for comment

[highplainsdem]

2. The OP is more recent news, I believe, and probably the best prediction of what they'll do.

[JBTaurus83]

3. US Networks are the new Pravda.

[twodogsbarking]

4. Middle ground is a myth. Poor attempt at being objective. You know what you are doing.

[JBTaurus83]

7. Exactly. Why not just go with facts?

[FakeNoose]

5. Well nobody expects See-BS to have any spine

Last edited Thu Jul 16, 2026, 05:21 PM - Edit history (1)

But I do have hopes for NBC and ABC to show some gumption.

EDIT TO ADD: It's just been announced that neither NBC or ABC will cover Chump's speech live tonight.
Very good!

I will have my TV on CBS at 9 p.m. and I will click them off as soon as Chump comes on, about 9:05 or so.

[MLWR]

6. The news corporations are going to do what they want to do.

And I will not be watching any of them because I, too, will be doing what I want to do -- which is not waste time listening to their orange lord and savior rant and rave and LIE to us.

[Ritabert]

8. I'll be watching "Trivial Pursuit" and "Scrabble" on the CW.

Can't stand looking at or listening to him.

[SamuelAdams]

9. Bari Weiss realizes it is better for Trump to show only parts of his speech than show the whole thing.

CBS is just trying to help him as best they can.

[durablend]

14. CBS will just play the sane parts

And edit them together if needed.

[underpants]

10. How telling is that? The in bed CBS has to filter it for him.

[sop]

11. They're doing Trump a favor. They'll edit the clips to make him appear semi-sane, and cut all the truly unhinged shit.

[BlueKota]

12. Fact Checking

More like reporting every falsehood uttered out of tsf's mouth as the truth.

[Raven123]

13. I'd watch if Colbert were doing the editing/commentary

[C_U_L8R]

15. Middle ground?

Is that what they call the vast territory up inside Trump’s sphincter?
Enjoy your middle ground, CBS.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

16. JUST IN: NBC and ABC Will Not Air Trump's Primetime Address Live

I also hope MS NOW does not broadcast this speech live

JUST IN: NBC and ABC Will Not Air Trump’s Primetime Address Live

— Mediaite (@mediaite.com) 2026-07-16T20:24:32Z

https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/just-in-nbc-and-abc-will-not-air-trumps-primetime-address-live/

NBC and ABC will not be airing President Donald Trump’s planned national address this evening, multiple reporters shared Thursday and Mediaite has confirmed. Instead, both networks will show the speech on their streaming platforms. There is precedent for the move — networks previously declined to air certain speeches given by President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden in real time.

Brian Stelter posted the news via a series of threaded posts on X.

“In sum: Trump will not be getting the wall-to-wall airtime he wants from everyone, but the speech will be widely streamed and available,” he explained.

Link to tweet

“NBC says ‘we will provide live coverage of the president’s remarks at 9pm ET tonight on NBC News NOW. We plan to air a special report on the network following the remarks,'” Stelter continued.

A spokesperson for ABC said in a statement shared with Mediaite, “ABC News will run President Trump’s speech on ABC News Live and ABC News Radio with comprehensive, anchored coverage. We will also cover the speech in our regular network newscasts and, as always, our Special Report team is fully prepared to break into network programming to deliver live updates and reporting should significant developments occur.”

[highplainsdem]

18. NBC is planning a brief special report after his speech, which is what Stelter expected. ABC is probably going

to do the same thing, unless they decide the speech didn't contain any significant developments.

So this agrees with the OP.

[SheltieLover]

17. Barf

[EarlG]

19. "...quickly editing clips of Trump's address to air shortly after"

AKA sanewashing. Either show it live or don’t show it at all (preferably the latter).

[highplainsdem]

20. See replies 16 and 18. It looks like NBC and ABC will probably do quick special reports on the speech,

almost certainly with fact-checking, after it's over - they won't carry it live - and I expect them to do REAL fact-checking, which I have doubts CBS would dare do as well.

FWIW, while it's a good thing all 3 networks won't carry the speech live, it's ALSO a good thing that NBC and ABC will have their analysis of Trump's lies out immediately, and not leave that analysis until tomorrow's morning news shows.

[marble falls]

21. "CBS" is all I need to hear to discount that notion of 'middle ground'.