• A leaked '60 Minutes' segment features migrants detailing severe abuse in a Salvadoran prison.
• The segment was pulled amidst accusations that CBS was shielding Trump from criticism.
• Critics question CBS News' editorial direction under new leadership.

A controversial news segment from the television show “60 Minutes” that was abruptly pulled has been leaked online, igniting a fierce public debate about journalistic independence. The segment included interviews with migrants who faced harsh treatment in the notorious El Salvadorian prison known as the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), under President Donald Trump's strict immigration policies. The recording was initially aired by Canada's Global Television Network, but it was quickly taken down, and representatives from CBS and Global TV did not confirm its authenticity, according to latimes and sfgate.

The leaked segment depicts harrowing testimonies from deportees who reported torture, beatings, and abuse. One Venezuelan detainee recounted experiences of sexual abuse and solitary confinement, while a college student claimed that guards knocked out his tooth upon his arrival. "When you get there, you already know you’re in hell. You don’t need anyone to tell you," he stated. Reports also highlighted that experts questioned the legal grounds for the hastily executed deportations, asserting that only eight of the deported individuals had been convicted of any violent crimes, according to sfgate, scmp, and latimes.

The decision to eliminate the segment, which critiques Trump’s administration, led to allegations that CBS was attempting to shield the president from negative coverage. Journalist Sharyn Alfonsi asserted in an email to colleagues that her story was factually accurate and approved by CBS lawyers. CBS's news chief, Bari Weiss, commented that the story did not “advance the ball” and suggested that a more thorough effort should have been made to include the administration’s perspective, accused by critics of creating a more Trump-friendly editorial stance, according to latimes, sfgate, and scmp.