CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss sparked outrage at the network on Sunday after she pulled a “60 Minutes” segment about El Salvador’s infamous prison off the air.
Weiss reportedly made the decision not to run the segment, “Inside CECOT,” as planned after officials in President Donald Trump’s administration refused to be interviewed, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The decision came following President Donald Trump’s recent complaint on Truth Social that “60 Minutes” has treated him worse after Weiss took over the company.
Some staff are threatening to quit over the move, CNN’s Brian Stelter reported on X.
Weiss reportedly suggested that the reporters interview White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller and gave them his number, CNN reported.
Journalist Sharyn Alfonsi wrote in an email to her colleagues that she believed the decision was political rather than editorial, according to the WSJ. She stated that the segment had been repeatedly screened and contained all “factually correct” information.
“Their refusal to be interviewed is a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story,” Alfonsi said in the email. “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 said in a statement to The New York Times that the segment will be aired when it is properly ready.
“My job is to make sure that all stories we publish are the best they can be. 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. I look forward to airing this important piece when it’s ready,” Weiss said.
Weiss stepped into her editorial role in October when Paramount Skydance acquired her publication, The Free Press. Paramount CEO David Ellison handed Weiss the task of bringing more politically balanced coverage to the network, prompting her to make several changes to its coverage and programs.
Weiss held a televised town hall with Erika Kirk on Dec. 13, where they discussed the aftermath of her husband’s assassination and the public’s reaction to his death.
Since her takeover, notable CBS hosts John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois have both departed the network. Weiss has also reportedly considered replacing “CBS Mornings” host Gayle King with a cheaper alternative after her contract expires in 2026, the WSJ previously reported.
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