CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss has ignited a firestorm of controversy and internal dissent after making the last-minute decision to pull a scheduled 60 Minutes investigation from broadcast. The segment focused on the CECOT prison in El Salvador, a facility where the United States has sent migrants.
Christmas Eve Justification Sparks Fury
Weiss defended her controversial move in an email to staff sent on Christmas Eve, Wednesday 24 December 2025. In the communication, she stated the decision was part of a necessary effort to "win back" public trust in the media. She argued the segment needed to be more comprehensive, fair, and include the perspective of the current US administration before it could air.
This justification has done little to quell the significant unrest within the CBS newsroom. Reports indicate staff are threatening a 'revolt' over the handling of the situation, with many criticising Weiss's leadership. The internal backlash is compounded by Weiss's own limited experience in television news and the network's recent merger with a company linked to a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump.
Allegations of Political Pressure and Avoidance
Critics have been quick to allege that political pressure influenced the spiking of the report. These claims gained traction when reporter Sharyn Alfonsi asserted that officials from the administration deliberately avoided providing comment, an act she suggested was intended to stifle scrutiny of its deportation policies.
In a further twist, former Trump advisor Stephen Miller entered the fray, publicly calling for the dismissal of the 60 Minutes producers who disagreed with the decision to kill the segment. This external commentary has only intensified the debate over editorial independence and external influence.
A Crisis of Trust and Authority
The incident has rapidly escalated into a crisis for CBS News, posing fundamental questions about its editorial direction under Weiss. The central conflict pits a management drive to rebuild perceived credibility with the public against the newsroom's commitment to investigative journalism and freedom from perceived interference.
Weiss's Christmas Eve email, intended to clarify and unify, has instead highlighted a deep rift. The fallout continues, with the integrity of a flagship news programme and the morale of its staff hanging in the balance.
