Truth

Months before the 2004 US election, Mapes and her team seek evidence to verify Bush's military record. They pursue leads and begin assembling documents and testimonies to support a potential story. The effort sets the stage for a high-stakes investigative report.

Bill Burkett tells Mapes he possesses memos and letters about Bush's National Guard service. The team weighs the possibility that these documents could substantiate a breach of duty. They start vetting the materials and looking for corroboration.

Former Texas Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes confirms he used influence to help Bush join the Guard. The claim adds political intrigue and potential leverage for the story. Mapes and crew consider this lead alongside Burkett's documents.

Mapes produces the story and Dan Rather reports it on 60 Minutes. The segment presents the memos as supporting evidence and frames the allegations as significant questions about Bush's service. The broadcast triggers immediate attention and public debate.

After the airing, questions about the segment's accuracy begin to surface. The authenticity of the documents is challenged by critics and media outlets. CBS faces pressure to defend or retract the report.

Analysts point out that the memos' font and spacing resemble Microsoft Word rather than early 1970s typewriters. The discrepancy fuels doubts about when and how the documents were created. The credibility of the central evidence is cast into serious doubt.

Burkett admits he lied about where he obtained the documents. The admission undermines the foundation of the story and raises questions about the team's sourcing. The episode shifts from investigative reporting to a crisis of credibility and ethics.

Killian's supposed documents come under renewed scrutiny when Bobby Hodges recants earlier statements claiming authenticity. Hodges refuses to discuss the truth behind the documents. The investigation pivots to the process and whether procedures were properly followed.

Rather publicly apologizes for presenting the material as fact rather than as unverified material. The apology signals accountability and a turning point in the crisis. Viewers see a veteran anchor acknowledge the error and the toll of the controversy.

An internal review panel is convened to examine potential political bias and the authenticity of the Killian documents. Staff are questioned, and the episode's vetting process is scrutinized. The focus centers on whether proper verification was performed before airing.

Mike Smith, Lucy Scott, and Colonel Roger Charles are banned from their work and fired. Smith rants in the office before being escorted out, illustrating the emotional toll of the scandal. The newsroom faces structural consequences as a result of the inquiry.

Dan Rather retires from broadcasting after the hearings, and Mary Mapes is fired. The central figures of the story exit the scene as the network grapples with credibility. The consequence underscores the personal cost of the investigative effort.

The end credits state that Mapes was fired and four executives resigned in the wake of the controversy. The film emphasizes the organizational fallout and the price of journalistic risk. It frames accountability as part of a larger corporate response.

The closing frames note that CBS won a Peabody Award for Mapes' earlier Abu Ghraib documentary, underscoring that strong journalism persists despite scandal. The contrast highlights the complexity of evaluating truth and ethics across different reports. The film ends by reflecting on the network's broader legacy.