“60 Minutes” on Sunday plans to air a story about Trump administration deportations that was abruptly pulled from the newsmagazine's lineup a month ago, sparking an internal battle about political pressure that spilled out into the open.
In the story, correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi spoke to deportees who had been sent to El Salvador's notoriously harsh CECOT prison. When the segment critical of the administration was struck from the Dec. 21 episode on order of new CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, Alfonsi told her “60 Minutes” colleagues that it “was not an editorial decision, it was a political one.”
Weiss argued that the story did not sufficiently reflect the administration's viewpoint or advance reporting that had been done by other news organizations earlier.
The story was updated to include Trump administration statements, although it has no new on-camera interviews. Alfonsi was also set to give more details about the two migrants that she interviewed about their experiences in the prison, according to someone familiar with the broadcast who spoke under condition of anonymity because the person was not allowed to give details in advance.
“CBS News leadership has always been committed to airing the ”60 Minutes" CECOT piece as soon as it was ready," the news division said in a statement. “Tonight, viewers get to see it, along with other important stories, all of which speak to CBS News' independence and the power of our storytelling.”
The decision became a flashpoint for critics who said the appointment of Weiss, founder of the Free Press website who had no previous experience in television news, represented an attempt by the network's new corporate leadership to curry favor with Trump.
Alfonsi said in her email that administration officials had declined to make anyone available for an on-camera interview, calling that a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story.
While pulled from the broadcast in December, Alfonsi's original story mistakenly became available online. CBS News had fed a version of the newsmagazine to Global Television, a network that airs “60 Minutes” in Canada, which posted it on its website before the last-minute switch removing the piece.
That enabled sharp-eyed viewers to see what Weiss had rejected, offering the opportunity to compare it to what “60 Minutes” eventually put on the air.
In the version shown in Canada, Alfonsi said the administration declined requests for interviews and referred questions about the prison's operation to the government of El Salvador, which did not respond to “60 Minutes.” The story included a brief clip of President Donald Trump saying the prison operators “don't play games,” and one from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying that “heinous monsters, rapists, murderers, sexual assaulters, predators who have no right to be in this country” were sent there.
Since Weiss' appointment, Trump administration officials have been more visible on CBS News, in interviews that she sometimes helped arrange. The president himself was interviewed by Norah O'Donnell on “60 Minutes” on Nov. 2.
The New York Times reported Saturday that after Trump was interviewed last week by new “CBS Evening News” anchor Tony Dokoupil, Leavitt told the network that “we'll sue your ass off” if the exchange wasn't aired in full.
All of the 13-minute interview was shown Tuesday, an unusual step for one of the broadcast networks' evening newscasts, a half hour summary of the day's big stories. CBS told The Times that it had decided to run the interview unedited at the time it was booked.
David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social.
CORRECTS NAME OF CENTER: FILE - As prisoners stand looking out from a cell, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a tour of the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
FILE - As prisoners stand looking out from a cell, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a tour of the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
MADRID (AP) — Disallowed goals, hitting the woodwork five times, and great saves.
It was just too much for Barcelona to overcome on Sunday as it lost 2-1 to Real Sociedad in the Spanish league to see its 11-game winning streak come to an end.
Barcelona had three goals disallowed — as well as a penalty-kick call reversed by video review — in the first half alone. It had five attempts hit the woodwork, including an 84th-minute header by Jules Koundé from close range, and Sociedad goalkeeper Álex Remiro made a series of impressive saves.
“Disappointed, we created a lot of opportunities. The result does not reflect our game,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said. “Sometimes it’s like that. At the end, there are some days you invest a lot of energy and at the end you are unlucky. I appreciate a lot what I saw.”
The loss left the Catalan club one point ahead of second-place Real Madrid, which beat Levante 2-0 at home on Saturday.
It was the second consecutive win for Sociedad, which moved to eighth place.
“Three amazing points,” said Remiro. He made one terrific close-range save off a header by Robert Lewandowski in the second half.
Mikel Oyarzabal put the hosts ahead with a volley by the far post in the 32nd minute. Barcelona equalized with a header from Marcus Rashford in the 70th but a minute later Gonçalo Guedes put Sociedad ahead again with a shot from inside the area.
Barcelona had plenty of chances throughout the match. It thought it had taken the lead a few minutes into the game when Fermín López scored with a low shot from outside the area, but the goal was disallowed by video review for a foul by Dani Olmo on Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo in the buildup.
Barcelona also had a goal by Frenkie de Jong called back for offside in the 21st and another by Lamine Yamal in the 27th.
Yamal was awarded a penalty in first-half stoppage time but the call was reversed because he was offside.
“We played well, had many scoring opportunities,” De Jong said. “We deserved to win. We need to be able to capitalize on these chances.”
Sociedad's Carlos Soler was sent off in the 88th for a hard foul.
Barcelona had won 11 in a row across all competitions in a streak that included a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the final of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia last weekend. It hadn't lost since a 3-0 road defeat against Chelsea in the league phase of the Champions League.
Its last Spanish league loss had been a 2-1 defeat against Real Madrid in the first clasico of the season at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in October.
Barcelona forward Raphinha was not included in the squad for Sunday's match. João Cancelo made his debut off the bench in the second half after recently signing with the Catalan club.
Kubo had to be taken off the field on a stretcher in the second half because of an injury.
Alexander Sorloth scored early in the second half to give Atletico Madrid a 1-0 home win over relegation-threatened Alaves.
Sorloth struck in the 48th minute with a firm header from near the penalty spot after Pablo Barrios crossed from the right flank. The ball hit the post at the far corner before going in.
It was the 10th start in 19 league games for Sorloth this season. The Norway forward has six goals, three with headers.
Alaves, winless in five straight league games, came close to equalizing a few times late in the match at the Metropolitano stadium in the Spanish capital.
Alaves has seven losses in its last nine league games, with its only win, 1-0, against Real Sociedad in December.
Earlier Sunday, Valencia moved out of the relegation zone by winning 1-0 at Getafe with an 84th-minute goal by José Gayà.
The result ended Valencia's six-game winless streak in the league. Getafe is now winless in six consecutive league games, with five losses.
Celta Vigo routed 10-man Rayo Vallecano 3-0 at home. The visitors played with 10 men from the 66th after Nobel Mendy was sent off for a hard foul after VAR review.
It was the third win in a row for Celta, which is seventh. Rayo is 13th.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Barcelona's Roony Bardghji, left, and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal react during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Barcelona in San Sebastian, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo is transported off the pitch during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Barcelona in San Sebastian, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Barcelona's Eric Garcia, centre, kicks the ball ahead of Real Sociedad's Mikel Oyarzabal, left, and Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Barcelona in San Sebastian, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, left, in action during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Barcelona in San Sebastian, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Barcelona in San Sebastian, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Real Sociedad's Goncalo Guedes, right, celebrates with Real Sociedad's Alvaro Odriozola after scoring his side's second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Barcelona in San Sebastian, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
