An internal battle at CBS News regarding a critical "60 Minutes" story about the Trump administration has erupted into the public eye. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi has accused CBS executives of sidelining the segment for political reasons, while news chief Bari Weiss stated on Monday that the story did not “advance the ball.” Just two hours before the Sunday airtime, CBS made the surprising announcement that the segment featuring Alfonsi's interviews with deportees sent to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison would not be included in the show.
Bari Weiss, the newly appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News and founder of the Free Press, claimed that the decision to withhold the story was hers. This dispute brings into question the integrity of one of journalism's most respected brands, especially given its history as a frequent target of President Donald Trump. Weiss's appointment has sparked speculation about whether CBS News is shifting towards a more Trump-friendly editorial stance.
In an email to her fellow “60 Minutes” correspondents, Alfonsi asserted that the story was factually accurate and had received approval from CBS's legal and standards divisions. She expressed frustration that the Trump administration had chosen not to comment on the story, and Weiss insisted on a greater effort to obtain their perspective. “In my view, pulling it now after every rigorous internal check has been met is not an editorial decision; it is a political one,” Alfonsi wrote in her memo. The Associated Press has not received an immediate response to requests for comment from Alfonsi.
Alfonsi indicated in her email that attempts were made to engage with the White House, State Department, and Department of Homeland Security for interviews or to pose questions. "Government silence is a statement, not a VETO," she stated. "Their refusal to be interviewed is a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story. 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." Here, "spike" refers to the journalistic term for killing a story.
In response, Weiss issued a statement expressing her anticipation of airing Alfonsi's piece “when it’s ready.” During a CBS News internal editorial meeting on Monday, Weiss appeared visibly upset by Alfonsi’s memo. A transcript of her message was shared with CBS News. “The only newsroom I’m interested in running is one in which we are able to have contentious disagreements about the thorniest editorial matters with respect and, crucially, where we assume the best intent of our colleagues,” Weiss emphasized. “Anything else is completely unacceptable.”
Weiss acknowledged that while Alfonsi’s story contained powerful testimonies regarding torture at the CECOT prison, similar coverage had already been done by The New York Times and other outlets. “To run a story on this subject two months later, we need to do more,” she asserted. “And this is ‘60 Minutes.’ We need to be able to get the principals on the record and on camera.”
It remains unclear whether Weiss was involved in efforts to secure comments from the Trump administration. Reports indicate that she assisted in arranging interviews with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff last fall to discuss Trump's Middle East peace initiatives. Notably, Trump himself was interviewed by Norah O’Donnell on a "60 Minutes" broadcast that aired on November 2. Trump has historically been critical of "60 Minutes," refusing to grant an interview before last fall’s election and subsequently suing the network over its handling of an interview with election opponent Kamala Harris. CBS's parent company, Paramount Global, settled the lawsuit by paying Trump $16 million this past summer.
Recently, Trump expressed outrage over correspondent Lesley Stahl’s interview with Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former ally turned critic. Throughout Trump’s second term, "60 Minutes" has been known for its tough coverage, especially in segments reported by correspondent Scott Pelley, who noted that stories were aired last spring “with an absolute minimum of interference” when accepting an award from USC Annenberg earlier this month.