Alfonsi added that the story had been screened five times and cleared by the network’s attorneys and standards and practices division. She called the story “factually correct” and claimed the reason it was pulled was not an editorial decision but a “political one.”
Alfonsi went on to add that they had “requested responses to questions and/or interviews with DHS, the White House, and the State Department,” but received no response.
1. BREAKING
Sharyn Alfonsi, a correspondent for 60 Minutes, sent an internal email to colleagues stating that CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss “spiked our story” about the Trump administration and the transfer of deportees to a prison in El Salvador.
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yasharali.bsky.social) December 21, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Weiss has been at the helm of CBS News since October, following Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media. Reporting directly to Paramount CEO David Ellison, Weiss was described as bringing “a passion for reaching broad audiences through rigorous, fact-based reporting and a relentless commitment to amplifying voices from all corners of the spectrum.”
During that time, Weiss has been working to remake the news division and has become one of the faces of the network, recently moderating a town hall with Erika Kirk. She also announced new on-air appointments, including anchor Tony Dokoupil for its franchise evening news program, CBS Evening News.
