UPDATE: CBS News President Bari Weiss is facing intense backlash following her controversial decision to pull a critical report on the Trump administration just hours before it was set to air on 60 Minutes. The investigation, which spotlighted the traumatic experiences of migrants held in ICE detention and subsequently transferred to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, was reportedly approved multiple times by the network’s legal and standards teams.
The decision to spike the report has drawn sharp criticism from Sharyn Alfonsi, the reporter overseeing the segment, who publicly called out Weiss for what she described as “reporting interference.” In an email to colleagues, Alfonsi stated, “Government silence is a statement, not a VETO. 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.”
The report was set to air on October 23, 2023, but just hours before the broadcast, Weiss claimed it lacked a response from the Trump administration. However, Alfonsi revealed that a response was requested but not provided, raising questions about Weiss’s justification for the decision.
During a staff conference call on Monday morning, Weiss responded to the escalating criticism by emphasizing her commitment to thorough reporting. “The only newsroom that I’m interested in running is one where we are able to have contentious disagreements about the thorniest of editorial matters, and do so with respect,” she stated. She further explained, “I held that story because it wasn’t ready. The story presented very powerful testimony of abuse in CECOT, but that testimony has already been reported… we simply need to do more.”
Weiss has faced scrutiny since her appointment to lead CBS News, with critics questioning her qualifications for the role. Her latest remarks reflect an ongoing commitment to ensuring that the network’s reporting is comprehensive and impactful. “We need to be able to make every effort to get the principals on the record and on camera. To me, our viewers come first,” Weiss asserted.
The fallout from this incident raises urgent questions about editorial independence and the role of government influence in media reporting. As the story develops, many are eager to see how CBS News will navigate this controversy and what steps will be taken to ensure that critical stories are not sidelined in the future.
Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving situation, as it continues to capture attention across social media and news platforms.
