The Bari Weiss-run CBS News deleted an online post Monday after Democratic Senate nominee Angie Nixon of Florida accused the outlet of a serious editorial failure for inaccurately claiming she dodged a question about Cuba.
In a recent interview, CBS News asked Nixon, who is challenging Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, whether she considers Cuba’s government a dictatorship. Nixon replied that’s what people have told her, and that since she has never been to Cuba, she would have to take their word for it.
CBS News posted a clip of the exchange on social media with a misleading description, saying in a now-deleted post that Nixon “declined to say.”
“It’s disappointing to have to say this, but CBS News, this is a serious failure of editorial reporting,” Nixon wrote. “I clearly state in this clip that while I have not personally been to Cuba, I have spoken with Cubans who have described it as a dictatorship, and I believe them. To claim I declined to answer the question is categorically false. That is not journalism. It is misinformation.”
Republicans, including Moody, seized on Nixon’s answer as a dodge. But CBS News soon deleted its post and replaced it with a follow-up that included an editor’s note acknowledging the original was innacurate.
“A previous version of this post did not accurately portray Rep. Nixon’s answer. It has been deleted,” the note read.
Despite CBS News’ correction, several critics argued that the damage had already been done.
“That is how Newsmax behaves on air only when I visit,” wrote Democratic strategist Grant Stern. “CBS News has the d--- tape and can hear the answer. This is a f------ disgrace.”
Actor and comedian Gina DiVittorio pointed the finger at CBS News’ editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, and argued the network was “caught in too obvious of a lie” to defend its previous framing of Nixon’s response. Journalist and podcast host Emma Vigeland mocked the network for having been forced to delete its own post, and Democratic strategist Matt Royer expressed exhaustion over what he argued was becoming commonplace.
“How many times will CBS News or their reporters have to delete tweets or correct misleading reporting under Bari Weiss?” Royer asked. “It’s starting to feel like every day.”