Bari Weiss, head of CBS News, addressed the internal backlash following the cancellation of a controversial segment on the show 60 Minutes in a Christmas Eve email to her staff. Weiss emphasized the need for the network to rebuild trust with the American public while suggesting that the criticism stemmed from a “slow news week.”
Weiss, who took the helm of CBS News in October, faced significant scrutiny for her decision to shelve the segment titled “Inside CECOT,” which highlighted the deportation of Venezuelan men to a notorious El Salvador prison. The decision sparked accusations of censorship and alignment with the Trump administration’s policies. Insiders reportedly indicated that the backlash was severe enough to lead some employees to consider resigning.
In her email, leaked by Zeteo reporter Prem Thakker, Weiss stated, “Right now, the majority of Americans say they do not trust the press. It isn’t because they’re crazy.” She urged journalists to engage in thorough reporting, arguing that the integrity of their work required extra diligence, especially on contentious topics: “Sometimes that means doing more legwork.”
Internal Response and Public Backlash
Despite Weiss’s intentions, her message failed to resonate positively with many, who criticized its tone during the holiday season. Historian Kevin M. Kruse highlighted this disconnect, stating on social media, “Bari Weiss, who made her career sowing distrust in mainstream media, is now pretending other people did that and she’s here to right the ship.”
In a more pointed critique, actor Bill Corbett described Weiss as “a particular type of character” who resorts to self-victimization when faced with challenges. Strategist Steve Schmidt took a harsher stance, likening Weiss to the captain of the Titanic, emphasizing a perceived lack of competence and seriousness in her leadership.
The controversy intensified following comments made by Stephen Miller, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, who called for the firing of the producers involved in the 60 Minutes segment. Miller labeled the segment a “hatchet job” designed to elicit sympathy for illegal immigrants, specifically targeting gang members, and emphasized a need for accountability within the network.
Details of the Canceled Segment
The shelved segment included interviews with deported Venezuelan men detailing their traumatic experiences in CECOT. One interviewee recounted being tortured upon arrival, stating, “Welcome to Hell, I’ll make sure you never leave.” The segment had gained traction after a leaked version aired in Canada, prompting public interest and outrage over the decision to cancel it shortly before its scheduled airing.
Sharyn Alfonsi, the journalist behind the segment, defended her work, asserting that it had undergone multiple internal reviews and met all journalistic standards. In an email to her colleagues, she expressed concern that Weiss’s decision was politically motivated rather than editorially sound, stating, “In my view, pulling it now, after every rigorous internal check has been met, is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.”
Weiss, in her defense, denied any political motivations, instead indicating that the segment did not meet the necessary standards for CBS News. She emphasized the need for the network to present comprehensive and fair reporting, stating, “To run a story on this subject two months later, we need to do more.”
The controversy surrounding the cancellation of the 60 Minutes segment and Weiss’s subsequent email reflects the ongoing challenges faced by news organizations as they navigate trust and credibility in an increasingly polarized media landscape.
