Bari Weiss

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The CBS News kill switch

Defending editorial overhaul amid internal revolt

Three hours before airtime on December 22, CBS News killed a 60 Minutes investigation into Venezuelan migrants tortured in an El Salvador prison after Trump deportations. The segment had passed five screenings, legal review, and standards checks. New editor-in-chief Bari Weiss—appointed two months earlier when Paramount Skydance bought her media company for $150 million—demanded the piece include Trump administration comment or an interview with hardline advisor Stephen Miller. When the White House refused, she spiked it.

Updated May 16

Notable Quotes

"While the story presented powerful testimony of torture at CECOT, it did not advance the ball. We need to be able to get the principals on the record and on camera." — Defending her decision to kill the segment

from The CBS News kill switch · Updated May 16

"I held a 60 Minutes story because it was not ready. To run a story on this subject two months later, we need to do more." — Statement after Canadian broadcast leak

from The CBS News kill switch · Updated May 16

"My job is to make sure that all stories we publish are the best they can be. Holding stories that aren't ready for whatever reason—that they lack sufficient context, say, or that they are missing critical voices—happens every day in every newsroom." — Statement defending decision

from The CBS News kill switch · Updated May 16

"We need to be able to get the principals on the record and on camera." — Staff meeting, December 23

from The CBS News kill switch · Updated May 16