Editorial Independence Questioned After 60 Minutes Segment Pulled

CBS News has faced significant backlash after it pulled a segment from its Sunday broadcast of 60 Minutes, a decision criticized by correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi. The segment was set to feature the experiences of Venezuelan men deported by the Trump administration to a prison in El Salvador, described as brutal.

CBS announced the removal just three hours before airing, attributing the decision to the need for additional reporting after requests from Bari Weiss, the new editor in chief. Alfonsi expressed her discontent in a private note, claiming the segment was factually correct and had passed multiple internal reviews.

She argued that pulling it was not an editorial decision but a political one. Weiss defended the move, stating it was standard practice to hold stories that lacked sufficient context or critical voices.

This incident has reignited discussions about the intersection of political influence and media independence, particularly regarding sensitive topics like immigration and deportation.