Bari Weiss led 9/11 article on El-Sayed
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The gist
CBS editor Bari Weiss personally directed a headline tying Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed to 9/11. The move sparked backlash from journalists and lawmakers accusing the network of Islamophobia.
Background
CBS News published an article about Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for Michigan's U.S. Senate seat, focusing on his deleted tweets about the September 11 attacks. Reports from Status and other outlets said Weiss, the editor-in-chief, personally directed the headline to mention 9/11 and praised the story in an editorial meeting. Critics, including journalists and lawmakers, condemned the framing as racist and Islamophobic, especially as the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approached.
How it unfolded
- Aug 31, 2026CBS News published an article by Zak Hudak headlined 'Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed's deleted tweets on Sept. 11 attacks invite scrutiny of past remarks.'
- Sep 1, 2026Status reported that Bari Weiss 'personally directed' the headline and praised the story in a newsroom meeting. The Hollywood Reporter and Mediaite confirmed the report, citing sources.
- Sep 1, 2026The Intercept and Common Dreams published critical pieces, and backlash grew from journalists and lawmakers, with some calling the headline 'blatantly racist.'
Who’s saying what
- Critics
- Journalists and lawmakers, including Jeet Heer, said the article revived post-9/11 Islamophobia and was 'blatantly racist.'
- CBS source
- A source familiar with the process said Weiss's edit was meant to 'strengthen and clarify' the headline, not to be offensive.
Still unverified
The claim that Weiss 'personally directed' the headline is based on anonymous sources and reports from Status, which have not been independently confirmed by CBS News.