Controversy Over CBS Report Sparks Social Media Debate
CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss has drawn attention for her involvement in a report on Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. The report, which highlighted El-Sayed’s deleted social media posts about 9/11, has provoked strong reactions, especially from the far-left.
The CBS News piece linked El-Sayed’s deleted posts to the upcoming 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The network stated, “As the nation prepares to mark 25 years since Sept. 11, 2001, Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, may be facing the risk of renewed scrutiny and fresh political attack.”
According to Status News, Weiss praised the story during the network’s daily editorial meeting and personally adjusted the headline to emphasize El-Sayed’s deleted tweets regarding 9/11. The finalized headline was “Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed’s deleted tweets on Sept. 11 attacks invite scrutiny of past remarks.” The original headline stated, “For Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, Sept. 11 commemoration invites scrutiny of past remarks.”
Weiss’ participation sparked criticism from some on the left, who deemed it a “scandal.” MeidasTouch, a liberal outlet, expressed outrage on social media platforms. Mehdi Hasan labeled it a “major scandal” and criticized the normalization of Islamophobia in the media and country. Other figures, such as Dan Turrentine and Jennifer Rubin, also voiced their disapproval, urging Democrats to block CBS from hosting debates with Democratic candidates.
Conservative commentators responded differently, often dismissing the reactions and defending Weiss’ editorial actions. Charles C.W. Cooke and Mollie Hemingway of The Federalist defended her role, suggesting that her actions were in line with journalistic responsibilities. GOP strategist Matt Whitlock emphasized the newsworthiness of El-Sayed’s deletions, suggesting they warranted coverage.
CBS News did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. The report included references to El-Sayed’s deleted posts, such as those comparing the 9/11 victims to the coronavirus pandemic fatalities. The Washington Free Beacon uncovered one post from 2021 in which El-Sayed contrasted the losses of 9/11 with the devastation he felt was caused by America abroad.
On the campaign trail, El-Sayed addressed the deletions, saying: “What happened on 9/11 is a disaster. It was a terrible attack on our country. And our responsibility is also to think about, how do we build an America where we are protecting our servicemen and women from being asked to fight in wars we have no business fighting in?”
A CBS News source familiar with the story dismissed the criticisms, noting that reports about politicians’ deleted posts are a common occurrence.