In the midst of a turbulent political era, veteran journalist Mary Mapes finds herself at the center of a media storm when she decides to investigate the life of then-President George W. Bush, focusing on his time as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. Along with her team at CBS, led by her mentor Dan Rather, Mary uncovers a series of documents that, according to her, corroborate that Bush received preferential treatment to avoid military service in Vietnam. Aware of the implications of her reporting, the team feels both thrilled and anxious, but soon becomes the target of a fierce backlash when their sources and the authenticity of the documents are called into question.
As the pressure mounts, Mary finds herself caught between defending her work and the skepticism that begins to cloud her credibility as a journalist. The story explores not only the struggle for truth but also the complex dynamics of journalism in an era of misinformation and media manipulation. As the media and the public become divided over her report, Mary must confront her own decisions and the ethics behind her pursuit of the truth. Through a tense and gripping narrative, the film depicts the impact of a news scandal that would redefine the careers of its protagonists and their legacy in the world of journalism.