A major investigative segment for the US news programme 60 Minutes was pulled from its scheduled Sunday night broadcast with only two hours to spare, after a direct intervention from the show's new editor-in-chief. The report, which detailed the ordeal of Venezuelan migrants deported to a notorious Salvadoran prison, subsequently aired unchanged in Canada and has now surfaced online.
Last-Minute Schedule Change Sparks Confusion
The segment, titled 'Inside CECOT', was set to be presented by veteran correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi. It featured interviews with a group of Venezuelan men who believed they were being deported from the United States back to their home country. Instead, they were flown to El Salvador and incarcerated at the CECOT prison, a facility known for its harsh conditions.
In a sudden move, the 60 Minutes social media accounts announced that the night's lineup "has been updated" and that the CECOT report would be postponed to a future broadcast. A source at CBS News later told industry publication Deadline that the decision was made after new CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss requested a number of changes, determining the piece "needed additional reporting."
Canadian Broadcast Circumvents Blackout
However, the eleventh-hour schedule change appears to have come too late for the programme's Canadian broadcaster, Global TV. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the original episode, complete with the 'Inside CECOT' segment, aired as planned on Global's network.
This full episode was then made available on Global TV's streaming platform. Alert viewers quickly began sharing clips and the entire segment on social media platforms like X and YouTube, bypassing the US blackout and making the controversial report readily accessible online.
Implications for Editorial Independence
The incident raises immediate questions about editorial oversight and the influence of new leadership at a flagship news institution. The fact that the segment was deemed fit for broadcast by the production team but then spiked after executive review highlights potential internal tensions.
Furthermore, the rapid online dissemination of the material via Canada demonstrates how modern media landscapes can circumvent traditional broadcast controls. The report's focus on Trump-era deportation efforts and the fate of Venezuelan migrants ensures the story carries significant political and humanitarian weight, making its suppression a subject of intense scrutiny.
As of now, 60 Minutes has not announced a new air date for the revised segment. The original version, however, continues to circulate, ensuring the story of the Venezuelan men sent to CECOT prison reaches a global audience.
