An internal CBS News battle over a \u201c60 Minutes\u201d story critical of the Trump administration has exploded publicly, with a correspondent charging it was kept off the air for political reasons and news chief Bari Weiss<\/a> saying Monday the story did not \u201cadvance the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n Two hours before airtime Sunday, CBS announced that the story where correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi spoke to deportees who had been sent to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison<\/a>, would not be a part of the show. Weiss, the Free Press founder named CBS News editor-in-chief in October, said it was her decision.<\/p>\n The dispute puts one of journalism’s most respected brands \u2014 and a frequent target of President Donald Trump \u2014 back in the spotlight and amplifies questions about whether Weiss’ appointment was a signal that CBS News was headed in a more Trump-friendly direction.<\/p>\n Alfonsi, in an email sent to fellow \u201c60 Minutes\u201d correspondents said the story was factually correct and had been cleared by CBS lawyers and its standards division. But the Trump administration had refused to comment for the story, and Weiss wanted a greater effort made to get their point of view.<\/p>\n \u201cIn my view, pulling it now after every rigorous internal check has been met is not an editorial decision, it is a political one,\u201d Alfonsi wrote in the email. She did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.<\/p>\n Alfonsi said in the email that interviews were sought with or questions directed to \u2014 sometimes both \u2014 the White House, State Department and Department of Homeland Security.<\/p>\n \u201cGovernment silence is a statement, not a VETO,\u201d Alfonsi wrote. \u201cTheir refusal to be interviewed is a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story. If the administration’s refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a \u2018kill switch\u2019 for any reporting they find inconvenient.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSpike\u201d is a journalist’s term for killing a story. But Weiss, in a statement, said that she looked forward to airing Alfonsi’s piece \u201cwhen it’s ready.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking Monday at the daily CBS News internal editorial call, Weiss was clearly angered by Alfonsi’s memo. A transcript of Weiss’ message was provided by CBS News.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only newsroom I’m interested in running is one in which we are able to have contentious disagreements about the thorniest editorial matters with respect and, crucially, where we assume the best intent of our colleagues,\u201d Weiss said. \u201cAnything else is completely unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n She said that while Alfonsi’s story presented powerful testimony about torture at the CECOT prison, The New York Times and other outlets had already done similar work. \u201cTo run a story on this subject two months later, we need to do more,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd this is \u201860 Minutes.\u2019 We need to be able to get the principals on the record and on camera.\u201d<\/p>\n It wasn’t clear whether Weiss’ involvement in seeking administration comment was sought. She reportedly helped the newscast arrange interviews with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff this past fall to discuss Trump’s Middle East peace efforts. Trump himself was interviewed<\/a> by Norah O\u2019Donnell on a \u201c60 Minutes\u201d telecast that aired on Nov. 2.<\/p>\n Trump has been sharply critical of \u201c60 Minutes.\u201d He refused to grant the show an interview prior to last fall\u2019s election, then sued the network over how it handled an interview with election opponent Kamala Harris<\/a>. CBS\u2019 parent Paramount Global agreed to settle the lawsuit<\/a> by paying Trump $16 million this past summer. More recently, Trump angrily reacted to correspondent Lesley Stahl\u2019s interview with Trump former ally turned critic Marjorie Taylor Greene.<\/p>\n \u201c60 Minutes\u201d was notably tough<\/a> on Trump during the first months of his second term, particularly in stories done by correspondent Scott Pelley. In accepting an award from USC Annenberg earlier this month for his journalism, Pelley noted that the stories were aired last spring \u201cwith an absolute minimum of interference.\u201d<\/p>\n Pelley said that people at \u201c60 Minutes\u201d were concerned about what new ownership installed at Paramount<\/a> this summer would mean for the broadcast. \u201cIt\u2019s early yet, but what I can tell you is we are doing the same kinds of stories with the same kind of rigor, and we have experienced no corporate interference of any kind,\u201d Pelley said then, according to deadline.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at http:\/\/x.com\/dbauder<\/a> and https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/dbauder.bsky.social<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n