CBS News Head Defends Delay in ’60 Minutes’ Segment Amid Claims of Political Pressure

Bari Weiss, editor-in-chief of CBS News, defended her decision to delay a scheduled “60 Minutes” segment focused on the Trump administration’s deportation of Venezuelan migrants to an El Salvador prison known as the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), stating the move was part of efforts to address declining public trust in media by applying stricter standards of fairness and completeness.

In an email sent Wednesday and cosigned by CBS News President Tom Cibrowski and two senior editors, Weiss wrote that widespread skepticism toward the press requires additional care in editorial decision-making, even when it leads to internal disputes. She noted that “the majority of Americans say they do not trust the press” and emphasized the need to work hard to regain that trust.

The delayed segment had been promoted for a Sunday broadcast but was halted after correspondents raised concerns about potential interference from the Trump administration. Sharyn Alfonsi, CBS News’ correspondent, later informed colleagues that the story had been “spiked,” warning that requiring participation from the Trump administration could allow it to block unfavorable coverage by declining interviews.

Weiss told staff in a separate meeting that she held the segment because it was not yet ready, and that the network should make every effort to secure principal figures on camera. CBS News confirmed the segment would air at a later date.

The decision has drawn criticism from several quarters. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) accused CBS News of political interference, while White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller criticized “60 Minutes” staff members and defended Weiss’ authority. Tanya Simon, executive producer of “60 Minutes,” told staff that the segment cleared internal review but was revised late in the process at Weiss’ direction.

In her email, Weiss rejected claims that CBS News is catering to political pressure. “We are not out to score points with one side of the political spectrum,” she wrote. “We are out to inform the American public and to get the story right.”