A segment of a delayed broadcast on 60 Minutes criticizing the deportation practices of the Trump administration was briefly accessible for viewing via a Canadian network on Monday. CBS News withdrew its coverage on a large prison in El Salvador just hours before it was scheduled to be aired on Sunday evening, yet a portion of the episode made a brief appearance on Global TV’s website and app on Monday.
People in Canada, as well as those utilizing a VPN from various locations worldwide, were able to watch over 13 minutes of the segment online. Some individuals recorded the episode and shared versions on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Reddit, leading to further circulation. The segment remained viewable for a minimum of two hours before being taken down. CBC News has reached out to Global and its parent company, Corus, for their input.
The episode highlighted CECOT, a facility in El Salvador housing numerous Venezuelan deportees from the United States without a fair trial. In the 60 Minutes segment, correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi mentioned interviewing some of the men who endured the harsh conditions of El Salvador’s prisons. The online segment available in Canada referenced a meeting this year between Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and U.S. President Donald Trump. During this meeting, Alfonsi reported that Trump praised El Salvador’s prison system, despite criticisms from human rights organizations for violations.
Trump remarked during the White House meeting in April, “They’re great facilities, very strong facilities, and they don’t play games.” The segment sparked controversy even though it did not air due to CBS News pulling it from the schedule. A CBS News spokesperson explained that the decision was made because the show required additional reporting and would be broadcast at a later date.
Editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, founder of the Free Press website, aimed to incorporate the Trump administration’s viewpoint into the story. Weiss stated that delaying stories that are not fully prepared, lacking context, or missing crucial perspectives is a common occurrence in newsrooms. In a letter obtained by the New York Times, the correspondent involved in the report indicated that the episode was not aired due to “political reasons.”
Alfonsi defended the factual accuracy of the story, mentioning that it had undergone multiple screenings and received clearance from CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices. She asserted that the decision to pull the segment was not an editorial one but a political one. Global, owned by Corus Entertainment, holds a brand licensing agreement to broadcast 60 Minutes in Canada.
Following Skydance Media’s acquisition of Paramount, CBS underwent an ownership change in August. Skydance Media, led by David Ellison, son of prominent Trump supporter Larry Ellison, acquired Paramount, the broadcast network’s parent company. David Ellison played a role in obtaining regulatory approval for the acquisition by pledging that CBS programming would represent the diverse ideological perspectives of American audiences. In October, Weiss was appointed to lead CBS News subsequent to the merger between Paramount and Skydance.