Political analysts and observers called out CBS News's MAGA-friendly boss on Sunday over the "interesting timing" of her decision to finally air a controversial story that is critical of President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
According to multiple reports, CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss decided to air a story on one of the network's signature shows, "60 Minutes," about the Trump administration's efforts to deport immigrants to the infamous CECOT prison in El Salvador. Weiss had previously decided to pull the story in December because no officials from the Trump administration agreed to appear on camera for an interview. It is unclear whether any changes have been made to the new story, according to reports.
The CECOT story still aired in Canada despite Weiss's move to pull it from the U.S. market, and it circulated on social media shortly thereafter.
As CNN's Brian Stelter wrote in his newsletter, "Reliable Sources," the decision to air the CECOT story on Sunday "means media critics will be able to compare the original report to the Weiss-approved version that airs tonight."
Observers shared their reactions to Weiss' flip-flop on social media.
"If it runs, it will be interesting timing as Streisand Effect brought a lot more attention to it," Jason Kint, CEO of Digital Content Next, posted on X. "However, instead of having an NFL game lead-in as is typical in the fall and not competing against an NBC game, it will be going up against Rams v Bears on NBC. I’ll be tuning in."
"lol the only silver lining to Bari running CBS News is the pleasure of watching a dumb, evil mediocrity fail in public," writer Matthew Sitman posted on X.
"Text from an industry source: 'CBS is burying this head-to-head with an NFL Playoff game on NBC, instead of getting the usual post-NFL boost,'" Outkick reporter Bobby Burack posted on X.
"Would appear no admin officials wanted to be interviewed and asked questions on camera on the disappearing-men-to-a-foreign-torture-gulag story after all," Todd Schulte, president of FWD.US, posted on X.