A segment of a delayed episode of the TV show “60 Minutes,” which was critical of the deportation policies of the Trump administration, was briefly accessible through a Canadian network on Monday. CBS News decided to pull the report on a large prison in El Salvador just hours before its scheduled broadcast on Sunday evening, but a portion of the episode was briefly viewable on Global TV’s website and app on Monday.
Individuals in Canada, as well as those using a VPN from around the world, had the opportunity to watch slightly over 13 minutes of the segment online. Some viewers recorded the episode and shared versions on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Reddit, leading to further circulation.
The segment remained available for at least two hours before it was taken down. CBC News reached out to Global and its parent company, Corus, for comments.
The episode focused on CECOT, a facility in El Salvador housing numerous Venezuelan individuals deported from the U.S. without undergoing a trial. In the “60 Minutes” segment, correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi highlighted interviews with men who experienced the harsh conditions of one of El Salvador’s toughest prisons.
The online segment available in Canada included a discussion about a meeting earlier this year between Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and former U.S. President Donald Trump, during which Trump praised El Salvador’s prison system despite criticisms from human rights organizations for violations.
Trump commented during the White House meeting in April, stating, “They’re great facilities, very strong facilities and they don’t play games.” The segment stirred controversy even though it never aired due to CBS News pulling the episode from its programming schedule. A CBS News spokesperson explained that the decision to postpone the broadcast was due to the need for additional reporting and that it would be aired at a later date.
Bari Weiss, the editor-in-chief at CBS News and founder of the Free Press website, aimed to include the Trump administration’s perspective in the story. Weiss mentioned that delaying stories that lack proper context or essential viewpoints is a common practice in newsrooms.
In a letter obtained by the New York Times, the correspondent involved in the story mentioned that political reasons prevented the episode from airing. The correspondent affirmed that the story had undergone thorough checks by CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices and was factually accurate, suggesting that the decision to pull it was more political than editorial.
Global, a network owned by Corus Entertainment, holds a brand licensing agreement to broadcast “60 Minutes” in Canada. Following the acquisition of Paramount by Skydance Media in August, David Ellison, son of prominent Trump supporter Larry Ellison, helped oversee the deal, ensuring that CBS would continue to represent diverse ideological viewpoints. Weiss was appointed to lead CBS News in October after the Paramount Skydance merger.
