A view of an inmate with a tattoo that reads: "better dead than prison" during a media tour at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison, in Tecoluca, El Salvador April 4, 2025. © REUTERS/Jose Cabezas
(New York, NY) – For many conservative Americans who demand something be done about crime, the approach in El Salvador is to be admired. The Central American country — led by Nayib Bukele — has followed a no-nonsense, strict policy of jailing violent criminals and gang members at the CECOT prison. Considered one of the world’s toughest prisons, it’s helped President Bukele crack down on violent crime — with the overall number of offenses down 80-90% since the effort began in 2022.
This past weekend, CBS News was set to air a segment concerning inmate conditions there at CECOT prison — but it was pulled at the last segment by Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. In a network-wide editorial call — as reported by the Wall Street Journal — Weis said she “held a ‘60 Minutes’ story and I held that story because it wasn’t ready.” Apparently the segment was to highlight the treatment of Venezuelan detainees at CECOT — after the Trump White House deported a number of them to El Salvador amid the current illegal immigration crackdown. President Bukele had previously offered to take those offenders off the hands of American authorities.
Weiss further explained her rationale, while vowing the segment would eventually air on TV. “The story has already been reported on by places like the [New York] Times, the public knows that Venezuelans have been subjected to horrific treatment in this prison. So to run a story on this subject, two months later, we simply need to do more.”
There was heavy promotion of the segment ahead of time, but three hours beforehand, Weiss pulled it. “To me, our viewers come first, not a listing schedule or anything else,” she explained. “That is my North Star and I hope it’s the North Star of every person in this newsroom. The only newsroom that I’m interested in running is one where we are able to have contentious disagreements about the thorniest editorial matters and do so with respect and crucially where we assume the best intent of our colleagues.”
Having worked for the New York Times from 2017-2020, Weiss resigned her position there to much fanfare, as she accused the paper of skewing its coverage toward a “narrow” audience. Many interpreted her comments as a criticism of the paper’s left-leaning bend.
Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi produced the segment on CECOT prison. She reportedly accused Weiss of allowing politics to influence her decision making. “Pulling it now … is not an editorial decision, it is a political one,” Alfonsi reportedly emailed other top correspondents and said the story had been “spiked.” “If the administration’s refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a ‘kill switch’ for any reporting they find inconvenient,” Alfonsi complained according to people who have seen the email.
The word is Weiss first expressed reservations last Thursday, at which time she requested changes — such as seeking interviews with Trump administration officials, including top advisor Stephen Miller. Weiss also voiced concerns over terminology like referring to the deported Venezuelans as “migrants.” While CBS News had apparently sought comment from the White House, State Department, and Department of Homeland Security — no officials participated.
CBS News confirmed the segment will air at a later date, with Weiss emphasizing the need for additional reporting. She argued that getting key figures on the record — and on camera — would advance the story beyond existing coverage.
