Bari Weiss, CBS News’ editor in chief, has come under fire following the decision to shelve a planned segment for “60 Minutes” titled “Inside CECOT.” The controversial report, which highlights allegations of severe human rights abuses in a Salvadoran prison, managed to gain widespread exposure through a Canadian streaming platform despite its postponement in the U.S.
This past Monday, some viewers in Canada discovered that the anticipated episode had unexpectedly aired on Global TV, which holds the rights to “60 Minutes” north of the border. The segment, led by correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, was originally halted by Weiss, who deemed it “not ready.” Following its release, clips and summaries of the report quickly went viral on social media, sparking a frenzy of reactions from viewers, critics, and progressive commentators alike.
One viewer on Bluesky urged observers to “Watch fast,” anticipating that CBS would contact platforms to remove the content. Shortly thereafter, CBS’s parent company, Paramount, began filing copyright infringement claims, resulting in videos being taken offline. Nevertheless, some prominent critics of former President Trump, including George Conway, predicted that this may become one of the most-watched segments in news history.
In an official acknowledgment, CBS News confirmed that the airing in Canada occurred “mistakenly” and noted that a revised version of the episode was sent out. However, it appears that the original Friday version was still posted on Global TV’s app due to a lapse in communication about the edits. Although Global TV has since taken down the episode, the damage was done, with the segment continuing to circulate on various social media channels.
CBS staffers who favored airing the segment expressed gratitude for the unintentional leak. Many have praised Alfonsi’s report as “excellent” and deserving of airtime, which was unfortunately compromised due to concerns about its balance and the absence of interviews with relevant Trump administration officials.
Some sources close to Weiss defended her decision, insisting that the segment lacked critical responses from officials, including Homeland Security, who declined interview requests. Alfonsi, however, contested this point, asserting that their failure to participate was a deliberate strategy to undermine the story.
The subject matter of the report reveals harrowing accounts from Venezuelan men deported to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, where they describe enduring severe conditions, including torture and abuse. In her segment introduction, Alfonsi indicated that these men’s stories would provide insight into the plight faced within the prison walls.
Philippe Bolopion from Human Rights Watch expressed concern over the ramifications of Weiss’s decision, emphasizing the broader implications for press freedom in the United States. He conveyed optimism regarding the segment’s eventual airing, reaffirming the importance of shedding light on the alleged abuses in CECOT.
While tensions at CBS regarding this decision remain palpable, it represents a pivotal moment for both the network and the broader discourse surrounding media integrity and the responsibility of news outlets to address critical issues. The unexpected outreach of the report has sparked significant conversation and advocacy for those affected by the practices outlined, highlighting the power of media in influencing public awareness and action.