UPDATE: CBS’s 60 Minutes has made headlines for abruptly canceling a highly anticipated segment on the Trump administration’s deportations just two hours before airing. The segment, titled “Inside CECOT,” focused on the harrowing experiences of Venezuelan migrants sent to the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador, igniting a firestorm of controversy.
The shocking announcement came late on December 21, 2025, when 60 Minutes revealed on social media that the segment would not air that evening as planned. Instead, viewers were treated to a different story featuring classical musicians in Nottingham, England.
Critics are accusing Bari Weiss, the new CBS News Editor-in-Chief, of censorship. Sources within CBS claim the segment required “additional reporting,” but an email from correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi suggested otherwise. Alfonsi indicated that Weiss “spiked our story,” raising alarms about potential political influence over the network’s editorial decisions.
“Our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices. It is factually correct,” Alfonsi stated, expressing her dismay at the network’s decision.
The segment was set to reveal the brutal realities faced by deportees who believed they were returning to Venezuela but instead found themselves incarcerated in a facility infamous for its harsh conditions. The Trump administration’s actions have sparked ongoing legal battles, with many deportees still unaccounted for.
Public reaction has been swift and fierce, with many viewers taking to social media to voice their outrage. Liberal journalist Krystal Ball criticized the network, stating, “Bari’s CBS pulled their CECOT report, which included interviews with migrants who were tortured in this concentration camp.” Others have echoed sentiments that the network has compromised its integrity, with one user lamenting, “What a sad end to such a storied and long-running institution.”
The decision to cancel the segment comes on the heels of Trump praising CBS’s new ownership at a recent rally, where he stated, “I love the new owners of CBS.” This has led to speculation about the influence of the Trump administration over CBS’s reporting.
Industry insiders have reported that Weiss’s leadership has already raised eyebrows, with some calling her the “laughing stock” of the news industry. Her appointment by David Ellison, CEO of Paramount, was met with skepticism given her lack of experience in leading major news organizations.
The question now remains: what will happen to the CECOT segment? Sources indicate it will air in a future broadcast, but the public is left wondering about the motivations behind this sudden scheduling shift. As the fallout continues, viewers are calling for transparency and accountability from CBS, urging the network to uphold its legacy as a trusted investigative powerhouse.
As this story develops, keep an eye on further updates from CBS and the implications of this controversial decision on press freedom and journalistic integrity.
