A segment of the newsmagazine 60 Minutes, focusing on men deported to an El Salvador prison, was censored by Bari Weiss, the editor-in-chief of CBS News. This censored report has since appeared online.
The 60 Minutes segment had already been promoted online. Its late withdrawal meant CBS failed to prevent its distribution on all platforms, including Canada’s Global TV. Viewers accessed it via VPNs, and at least one individual recorded and shared it through an iCloud account.
The nearly 14-minute segment reportedly showed men in chains, bent double, being paraded before cameras, forced onto buses, and transported to CECOT. A former detainee interviewed in Colombia claimed he was told he was “the living dead” at CECOT. After seeking asylum in the US, he was reportedly detained for six months before deportation. He detailed severe conditions, including beatings that caused bleeding, being thrown against a wall resulting in a broken tooth, and sexual assault by guards. Another former detainee described torture, such as being forced to kneel for 24 hours and enduring beatings in a dark room for moving from a stress position.
“In my view, pulling it now, after every rigorous internal check has been met, is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.”
These men were among those deported to El Salvador, despite not being from that country. The Trump administration reportedly sent at least 288 individuals, primarily Venezuelans and Salvadorans, to CECOT after El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele agreed to house prisoners for a fee. Many of the deportees had pending asylum cases, as reported by The New York Times. This situation represents a significant human rights concern stemming from the Trump administration’s policies.
The segment also indicated that the Trump administration has additional deals similar to the CECOT arrangement, valued at “millions of dollars.” There is a possibility that the US could begin deporting individuals to countries with which they have no connection, such as South Sudan and Uganda, both of which have “well-documented histories of torturing prisoners.”
The report, which included new information about agreements with other nations, appeared to be thoroughly researched. Both the US Department of Homeland Security and El Salvador were reportedly offered opportunities to provide comments.
Sharyn Alfonsi, the reporter for the segment, reportedly stated in an email to colleagues that “Our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices.” She added, “It is factually correct. In my view, pulling it now, after every rigorous internal check has been met, is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.”
The late decision to cancel the story meant CBS was unable to replace the original program across all scheduled distribution platforms.
The report had reportedly received all standard approvals, including from Weiss, who then unexpectedly reversed her decision. She requested further reporting, specifically “an on-camera interview with a member of the Trump administration,” as reported by The Washington Post. The story was canceled on Saturday night, and promotional content was removed on Sunday. Weiss’s edit note reportedly suggested, among other points, that the segment did not sufficiently explain the administration’s reasoning for sending individuals to El Salvador.
The feedback itself did not appear unreasonable, but its timing was notably delayed and unusual, seemingly designed to provoke controversy. Due to the late cancellation, it appears not all distributors managed to replace the program.
David Ellison reportedly appointed Weiss to lead CBS News in what appeared to be an effort to appease the Trump administration, facilitating Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount, CBS’s parent company. Former President Donald Trump had frequently criticized CBS, particularly 60 Minutes. Prior to the Skydance takeover, Paramount reportedly paid $16 million to resolve a lawsuit filed by Trump concerning the editing of an interview with Kamala Harris.
Ellison’s Skydance is reportedly pursuing a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros.
On an editorial call, Weiss reportedly asserted that the story was “held because it wasn’t ready,” according to The Washington Post. The report also stated that the team had offered the White House an opportunity to comment, which the Trump administration declined. Alfonsi’s email reportedly included the statement: “If the standard for airing a story becomes ‘the government must agree to be interviewed,’ then the government effectively gains control over the 60 Minutes broadcast. We go from an investigative powerhouse to a stenographer for the state.”
The segment now circulates as online samizdat. Due to the censorship, it could become the most discussed CBS News story of the year.
