CBS News Faces Growing Backlash After Pulled 60 Minutes Report Surfaces Online

CBS News is under fire after it pulled a 60 Minutes report that showed the stories of Venezuelan men deported by the Trump administration. The men were sent to a harsh prison in El Salvador. The report was set to air Sunday. It did not air in the United States. But the full segment later appeared online through a Canadian network.

The move has caused intense debate. The report was removed late in the process. CBS said the piece was not ready. Critics said the network wanted to avoid conflict with the current administration. The issue grew after the bootleg video spread across social media.

CBS News Backlash Builds After 60 Minutes Segment Leak

According to The New York Times, CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss delayed the report due to concerns about missing details. She said the team needed more interviews and stronger sourcing. Weiss asked for changes less than 48 hours before the show. This created confusion inside the newsroom.

The 13‑minute report included accounts from Venezuelan men held in an El Salvador mega‑prison. They said they were beaten, abused, and kept in chains. The report also said nearly half of the deported men had no criminal history. CBS staff said they had tried to confirm records but found gaps.

A version of the episode was already sent to Global TV in Canada. The older cut was posted on the network’s streaming app. That version was quickly downloaded by viewers. It spread fast across social platforms. CBS later sent copyright warnings to sites like YouTube.

Weiss said she wanted an interview with key Trump administration officials. She also wanted more context about the criminal records of the deported men. She told staff the story was powerful but needed more depth. CBS said it plans to air a revised version.

Political Pressure Adds New Scrutiny to CBS Decision

The situation has created stress inside CBS News. Weiss joined the network in October with no broadcast background. Some staff members question her decisions. Others worry the changes may look political.

According to Reuters, the White House had declined on‑camera interviews for the segment. Officials later sent an email urging 60 Minutes to focus on crimes linked to undocumented immigrants. That email did not appear in the leaked version.

The leaked report also included a section with Berkeley researchers who studied the El Salvador prison. Weiss questioned the use of that segment. The team said the researchers helped verify information about prison conditions.

The main impact falls on the audience. Many viewers are now comparing the suggested edits to the leaked cut. Any future version will face scrutiny. This could shape trust in CBS at a critical moment.

The CBS News controversy continues to grow. The leaked 60 Minutes segment has raised questions about editorial pressure and political influence. The final version will likely face intense review, and the main keyword “CBS News” remains central to the debate.

Info at your fingertips-

Q1: Why did CBS News pull the 60 Minutes report?

CBS News said the report was not ready. Leaders wanted more interviews and more detailed records. They said the story needed more context.

Q2: How did the pulled segment leak online?

An older version was sent to a Canadian network. That network posted it online by mistake. Viewers downloaded it and shared it widely.

Q3: What was in the 60 Minutes report?

The report showed claims from Venezuelan men who were sent to a harsh prison in El Salvador. They said they were abused and held in chains. It also showed gaps in government records.

Q4: Why is CBS facing criticism?

Some say CBS acted to avoid political issues. Others say the edits looked like pressure from the administration. Staff members also raised concerns about timing.

Q5: Will CBS air a new version?

CBS said a new cut will air when it is ready. That version will be reviewed closely. Many expect debate to continue.