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CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss came under fire — including from the publication's own staff; some of whom who were reportedly threatening to quit — after she pulled a "60 Minutes" segment on the Trump administration's deportation of migrants to an El Salvador prison over the weekend.

Brian Stelter

CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss came under fire — including from the publication's own staff; some of whom who were reportedly threatening to quit — after she pulled a "60 Minutes" segment on the Trump administration's deportation of migrants to an El Salvador prison over the weekend.

The segment on El Salvador's Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, better known as CECOT, was due to air on Sunday evening and had been promoted on the show's social media pages. But hours before the broadcast, the show announced that there had been a change and that: "Our report 'Inside CECOT' will air in a future broadcast."

The segment on El Salvador's Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, better known as CECOT, was due to air on Sunday evening and had been promoted on the show's social media pages. But hours before the broadcast, the show announced that there had been a change and that: "Our report 'Inside CECOT' will air in a future broadcast."

Shortly after, an internal letter from Sharyn Alfonsi, a correspondent that worked on the report, was acquired by a number of publications and circulated on social media. In it, she said she learned of the decision on Saturday and accused Weiss of personally pulling the story for political reasons.

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Michael M. Grynbaum

Shortly after, an internal letter from Sharyn Alfonsi, a correspondent that worked on the report, was acquired by a number of publications and circulated on social media. In it, she said she learned of the decision on Saturday and accused Weiss of personally pulling the story for political reasons.

"Our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices," Alfonsi said. "It is factually correct. In my view, pulling it now — after every rigorous internal check has been met is not an editorial decision, it is a political one." The account that the segment was fully vetted was confirmed by CBS insiders who spoke to the media.

Dylan Byers

"Our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices," Alfonsi said. "It is factually correct. In my view, pulling it now — after every rigorous internal check has been met is not an editorial decision, it is a political one." The account that the segment was fully vetted was confirmed by CBS insiders who spoke to the media.

Alfonsi added that the White House, the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department were all approached for comment for the story but declined to respond. "Government silence is a statement, not a VETO," she said, later adding: "If the administration's refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a 'kill switch' for any reporting they find inconvenient."

Alfonsi added that the White House, the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department were all approached for comment for the story but declined to respond. "Government silence is a statement, not a VETO," she said, later adding: "If the administration's refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a 'kill switch' for any reporting they find inconvenient."

Weiss, a 41-year-old former opinion columnist who was <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/paramount-acquires-the-free-press-for-m-names-bari-weiss">placed at the helm of CBS earlier in the year</a>, issued a statement late on Sunday. "Holding stories that aren't ready for whatever reason — that they lack sufficient context, say, or that they are missing critical voices — happens every day in every newsroom," she said. "I look forward to airing this important piece when it's ready."

Weiss, a 41-year-old former opinion columnist who was placed at the helm of CBS earlier in the year, issued a statement late on Sunday. "Holding stories that aren't ready for whatever reason — that they lack sufficient context, say, or that they are missing critical voices — happens every day in every newsroom," she said. "I look forward to airing this important piece when it's ready."

Sources who spoke to Axios confirmed that the segment was not pulled because the reporters did not obtain a comment from official sources but rather because it needed more reporting and additional elements. As Weiss said in her statement, this segment will air when those extra pieces have been added so this is being turned into a bigger scandal than it really is.

Sources who spoke to Axios confirmed that the segment was not pulled because the reporters did not obtain a comment from official sources but rather because it needed more reporting and additional elements. As Weiss said in her statement, this segment will air when those extra pieces have been added so this is being turned into a bigger scandal than it really is.

Sources who spoke to CNN said the main reason the segment was yanked was because it did not have comment from Trump's administration, adding that Weiss gave the reporters the number for White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. Her attempt to shield the Trump administration from criticism is a severe blow to the show's credibility and no wonder some journalists are considering resigning.

Sources who spoke to CNN said the main reason the segment was yanked was because it did not have comment from Trump's administration, adding that Weiss gave the reporters the number for White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. Her attempt to shield the Trump administration from criticism is a severe blow to the show's credibility and no wonder some journalists are considering resigning.

There's a 50% chance that the Woke index in U.S. elite media topped in September 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 50% chance that the Woke index in U.S. elite media topped in September 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

CBS Editor Bari Weiss Under Fire After Pulling '60 Minutes' Segment

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CBS Editor Bari Weiss Under Fire After Pulling '60 Minutes' Segment

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