CBS News head Bari Weiss is under fire following her controversial decision to cancel a segment of the program ’60 Minutes’ just hours before it was set to air. The segment, titled ‘Inside CECOT,’ was meant to explore the deportation efforts of former President Donald Trump, particularly focusing on the conditions in El Salvador’s notorious prison system. Weiss’s last-minute decision has drawn accusations of censorship and has sparked significant outrage among journalists and viewers alike.
In a Christmas Eve email to CBS staff, Weiss emphasized the need to “win back Americans’ trust,” acknowledging that the public perceives the media with skepticism. Her remarks came in the context of the backlash surrounding the shelved segment, which featured interviews with two Venezuelan men who had been deported to CECOT. Weiss stated that the segment required “additional reporting,” leading to speculation about whether her decision was influenced by political pressures from the Trump administration.
She defended her stance in the email, claiming that editorial decisions might provoke outrage, particularly during a “slow news week.” Weiss stated that such decisions are necessary to ensure that reporting meets the standards of fairness and comprehensiveness, especially on contentious topics. “No amount of outrage—whether from activist organizations or the White House—will derail us,” she wrote, indicating her commitment to integrity in journalism.
Despite Weiss’s intentions, her message was met with backlash online. Critics, including historian Kevin M. Kruse and actor Bill Corbett, accused her of hypocrisy, arguing that her career has contributed to public distrust in mainstream media. Corbett characterized Weiss as someone who resorts to “self-victimization” when faced with criticism.
Additionally, Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, called for the firing of the ’60 Minutes’ producers involved in the segment. He described the program as a “hatchet job” designed to elicit sympathy for deported individuals linked to criminal activities. Miller’s comments underscore the political ramifications of Weiss’s decision, as well as the divisive nature of the topic at hand.
The episode, which was scheduled to air on December 24, was ultimately released in Canada, where it went viral online. In the segment, journalist Sharyn Alfonsi interviewed a college student who recounted his harrowing experience upon being deported to CECOT, describing conditions that he characterized as “Hell.” His account, along with others, has drawn attention to the humanitarian issues surrounding deportation practices.
Alfonsi and her team asserted that they adhered to journalistic standards, having cleared the segment through multiple internal reviews. Following Weiss’s decision, Alfonsi expressed her concern that the cancellation was not merely an editorial choice but a politically motivated action. She emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of ’60 Minutes,’ stating, “I care too much about this broadcast to watch it be dismantled without a fight.”
In response to the fallout, Weiss later claimed that the segment did not “advance the ball” and insisted that CBS’s primary focus should be on delivering accurate and timely news. She pointed to other publications that had previously covered similar topics, arguing for a fresh approach to the story.
As CBS News continues to navigate this controversy, the implications of Weiss’s email and decision will likely linger. The network faces a challenging path to restore trust among its viewers while balancing editorial integrity and political pressures.
