1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: Hey, the folks sit is Monday, December twenty second, and 2 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:10,640 Speaker 1: just hours before sixty Minutes was set the area yesterday, 3 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: we got an alert that one of the segments was 4 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: being pulled. The correspondent on that segment says this was 5 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:23,920 Speaker 1: a political move by her network, and with that, welcome 6 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 1: to this episode of Amy and TJ. We should check 7 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: to see if she's still employed. 8 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 2: Sharon Alfonsi is her name. I've actually known her for years. 9 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 2: We crossed paths at ABC. She's a lovely, wonderful reporter. 10 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 2: But you know what I'm I don't know that's courageous. 11 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 2: You can speak to this. 12 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 3: To be to guess. It was a private email, but 13 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:44,279 Speaker 3: she had to. 14 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 2: Know what was going to get out, To speak out 15 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:52,560 Speaker 2: against your company that you work for and say, hey, 16 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 2: this wasn't editorial, this was political. 17 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 3: That takes that's an act of courage. 18 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: That was an act of publicly taking on your boss. 19 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: We can say courage if we want, but this was 20 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 1: a very long, detailed internal email in which she absolutely 21 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: went after the head of CBS News, which is Barry 22 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 1: Weis's newly installed only been there a couple of months. Roes. 23 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 1: Let's start off the top here with at least what 24 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 1: this segment was supposed to be about. It was supposed 25 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: to be looking at and this is if you don't 26 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 1: respect sixty minutes. These folks been doing this a long 27 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 1: time and ain't do it better than anybody. But this 28 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:32,839 Speaker 1: was supposed to be a look into the brutal conditions 29 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: of the prison in El Salvador. That the story's been 30 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:38,960 Speaker 1: going on for a while. President Trump wants to get 31 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: certain folks out of the country to port some of 32 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: they end up in some prisons. This is one of them. 33 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 2: Yes, And her reporting, she said she talked to several 34 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 2: men who risked their lives. They have since been released 35 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 2: from this notorious prison, but talked about abuse by our government, 36 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 2: talked about the deplorable conditions. Obviously, this does not look 37 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 2: good for the Trump administration to have these men come 38 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 2: out and talk about basically being tortured at the hands 39 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 2: of Americans. 40 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: So that segment has been promoted, promoted for several days 41 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:11,919 Speaker 1: leading up into Sunday. When sixty minutes airs now, remind 42 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:14,639 Speaker 1: me Romes, is it's eight o'clock or seven? What time 43 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: is sixty minutes here? 44 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 2: I thought it. I don't know if it's seven or 45 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:19,119 Speaker 2: eight pm. 46 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: Okay, it was a matter of hours. 47 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 3: Three hours, I believe. 48 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, before that segment, just a plan alert said this 49 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 1: segment about that prison is now going to air at 50 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: a later date. And that's all we got from CBS. 51 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: We got a whole lot more when the email from 52 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 1: Sharon Alphonsie did get leaked. Now, Rose, this is a 53 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: long email. She wrote it to her colleagues, apparently over 54 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: there at CBS, but it's come out, and I guess 55 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 1: if we take her at her word and some other 56 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: reporting by some other outlets, it's kind of head scratching, 57 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: at least for us as journalists for a long long time. 58 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 1: The reasons being given for why. 59 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 2: It was pulled, Yes, the reasons being given are that 60 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 2: Barry Weisse believed that more reporting was needed, that they 61 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 2: needed to hear from a government official, from someone within 62 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 2: the Department of Homeland Security, someone who could speak to 63 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:19,080 Speaker 2: the other side, or at least give another version of 64 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 2: what we're hearing from these men. The problem is, obviously, 65 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 2: Sharon Alfonsi and Sixty Minutes reached out to the government, 66 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 2: reached out and tried to get a reaction or a 67 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 2: response or even a statement, and they were met with silence, 68 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 2: and silence can be deafening. Silence is a statement in 69 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 2: and of itself. But now to say, wait, we're going 70 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 2: to get you a government official to talk to before 71 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 2: you can air these or this story seems. 72 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 3: Manipulative because they were already afforded the. 73 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 2: Opportunity and the government chose to say nothing, do nothing, 74 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 2: and not speak about it. So a story can't go 75 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 2: forward because the government refuses to speak. 76 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 3: That doesn't make any sense. 77 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 1: We would never get stories on the air if it 78 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: was never or that simple. And folks, that we're not 79 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: giving you some great insight into newsrooms. You owe anybody 80 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 1: knows and sees this, because how many times do you 81 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 1: read a story or you see a story on the 82 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 1: air and at the end it says we reached out 83 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 1: for comment to so and so on they said no, 84 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: or they didn't get back to us, or whatever it is. 85 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: You always reach out. You can always stop your reporting 86 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 1: if they could wait until two days, three days, four days, 87 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,719 Speaker 1: two weeks to get back to you. Obviously you can't 88 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: operate like that, So that argument, it says, flies for me, at. 89 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:49,159 Speaker 2: Least, it's not possible. To your point, you could not 90 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 2: be a journalist, You could not get any story on 91 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,279 Speaker 2: the air. If the person who you're reporting about or 92 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 2: the institution you're reporting on, can kill a story or 93 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 2: at least delay a story by not responding, then everybody 94 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:03,920 Speaker 2: who doesn't want a story to go out, or anybody 95 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 2: who's going to have something negative written or said about them, 96 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 2: is just going to refuse to comment, and then you 97 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 2: can just punt the story. That can't be the way 98 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 2: journalists operate. 99 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 3: It's not the way journalists operate. 100 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 2: You understand, there's just no way that that is a 101 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 2: business model for a journalist period. 102 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 1: That we will give some space that we don't know 103 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: what went into the decision that Barry Weiss made. We 104 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:32,599 Speaker 1: don't know exactly what she was doing, what she was thinking. 105 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: She hasn't come out and fully explained, but they did 106 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: at least say there were other factors other than just 107 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: that that further reporting, I think is what they said 108 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,280 Speaker 1: she felt needed to be done. Look, these folks who 109 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 1: are in charge of these newsrooms have to make decisions 110 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: that I haven't had to from that type of standpoint, 111 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: So I will at least leave room to say we 112 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: don't know exactly. However, we are hearing from the correspondent 113 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:00,279 Speaker 1: at least Robes, who was at least giving her in 114 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: about what exactly this was about it. 115 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 2: Yes, and it's interesting she sent it to several of 116 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 2: her colleagues. Internally it was a private email. But again, 117 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 2: Sharon Uplonzie knows if she puts this in writing, and 118 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 2: as accusatory as it was towards Barry Weiss, etc. 119 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 3: She had to know that it was going to be 120 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 3: made public. 121 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:25,840 Speaker 1: And probably wanted to give herself some kind of cover 122 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 1: in putting this out. But you don't talk about your 123 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: boss such a high profile certainly boss right now, your 124 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: new boss in this way in an email, and not 125 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: expect I mean, possibly some repercussions, But how do you 126 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 1: You're trying to make some kind of a point. 127 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 2: She's making a point, and I would say by writing 128 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:49,359 Speaker 2: this email, she was willing to lose her job over it. 129 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 1: Yes, and we might find out something about that later. 130 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 2: Yes, so her email, we can read it for you 131 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 2: now states this. I learned on Saturday that Barry Weiss 132 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 2: biked our story, which was supposed to air tonight. We 133 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 2: asked for a call to discuss her decision. She did 134 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 2: not afford us that courtesy opportunity. 135 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 1: Okay, we can stop right there with that one. 136 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 3: That's significant. 137 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, to throw She immediately in the first couple of 138 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: lines is making a point and drawing a lie in 139 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: the sand with her boss. Now, look at you, you 140 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: look she is taking made a decision now to not 141 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: respect the process. Now, as an employee, I know you, 142 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 1: you stand up and for what's right and whatnot. Go 143 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: in there, scream yell, beat down the door, wait at 144 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 1: the office for her to come until she meets with you. 145 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 1: This is as far as the employee employee relationship. That 146 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: that's tough. She's going after a boss like this. 147 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 3: Yes, that is tough. 148 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 2: But I also would say, as a journalist, you should 149 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:52,559 Speaker 2: be able to have some of these heated discussions face 150 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 2: to face, have a call every day, yeah. 151 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 3: And be able. 152 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 2: We did this every day in a newsroom fighting for stories. 153 00:07:57,680 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 2: And look, I lost a lot of times and am 154 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 2: still frustrated by it. 155 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 3: I'm sure you have two. 156 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 1: It's part of it. And you fight with the same 157 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 1: people you end up the next day celebrating with and 158 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 1: the victories of your show is what happens. Now. Maybe 159 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: they don't have that relationship yet, but these two if 160 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: you're telling me she wrote this before talking to her boss. Esh, 161 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: I don't like that. 162 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 3: All right. 163 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 2: The email goes on to say, well, she was pissed, obviously, 164 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 2: I get it. Our story was screened five times and 165 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 2: cleared by both CBS attorneys and standards and practices. It 166 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 2: is factually correct in my view. Pulling it now after 167 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 2: every rigorous internal check has been met is not an 168 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 2: editorial decision. It is a political one. 169 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 1: And you thought that first part was heavy. 170 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, And you and I both know the toughest part 171 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 2: of getting a story on the air, especially one that's investigative, 172 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:57,960 Speaker 2: and especially one that might point fingers at someone powerful, 173 00:08:58,320 --> 00:08:58,719 Speaker 2: i e. 174 00:08:58,920 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 3: The government. 175 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 2: The standards and practices sections of any broadcast newsroom are 176 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 2: intense and frustrating. You have I mean, how many times 177 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 2: have stories been rewritten, new information having to be resourced 178 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 2: or triple sourced. 179 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:17,680 Speaker 3: We've all jumped through these hoops. 180 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 2: So once you make it through your own standards and 181 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:25,439 Speaker 2: practices and attorneys, that's kind of like that's the hardest leap. 182 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 3: It's the hardest hurdle to. 183 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: Leap over lawyers and standards and practices. They're the ones 184 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: that kill. 185 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 3: Stories every day. 186 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:37,960 Speaker 1: They're the ones that recommend to the presidents of networks, 187 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 1: you should kill this story, correct and they have to listen. 188 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: It's and not used to it going this direct. 189 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 3: I've never seen it go in the other direction. 190 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:49,079 Speaker 1: Say something this heavy standards in practice. We sit there nervously. 191 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:50,839 Speaker 3: It's the worst. 192 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 1: So you get that all clear. We hit in the air. 193 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 2: Base exactly so just for people to know how it 194 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 2: works in networks. That is the biggest hurdle to overcome, 195 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 2: is to get through your own lawyers and statters and practices. 196 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 2: Not only are they trying to uphold journalism standards, but 197 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 2: they're also trying to make sure they don't get sued. 198 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 1: Two things, you have been legally and journalistically cleared if 199 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: you are by these two people. 200 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 3: Perfect way to put it all right. Go ahead, perfect 201 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 3: way to put it all right. 202 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 2: We requested responses to questions and or interviews with DHS, 203 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 2: the White House and the State Department. Government silence is 204 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 2: a statement, not a veto. Their refusal to be interviewed 205 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 2: is a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story. If 206 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 2: the administration's refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to 207 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 2: spike a story, we have effectively handed them a kill 208 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 2: switch for any reporting they find inconvenient. If the standard 209 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 2: for airing a story becomes the government must agree to 210 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 2: be interviewed, then the government effectively gains control over the 211 00:10:55,559 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 2: sixty minutes broadcast. We go from investigative powerhouse to a 212 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:02,320 Speaker 2: stenographer for the state. 213 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 1: Yeah. I like that line. Wow, I actually do like 214 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 1: that line. 215 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 3: This is well written. 216 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: Yes, she wasn't mad as she was writing it right. 217 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,959 Speaker 1: This took thought right, It wasn't necessarily angry. She hit 218 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:16,079 Speaker 1: all the points she wanted. This is well written by 219 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 1: somebody from sixty minutes. 220 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 2: Yes, I mean, you can see why she has her position. 221 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 2: She is a wonderful journalist. This actually sounds legal like 222 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 2: she has. This is like she's making an argument to 223 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 2: the jury, and these are her opening statements. 224 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 3: I mean, and she's doing a great job. 225 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 1: And every journalist on the planet agrees with what she 226 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 1: just said. You cannot give somebody that power. All you 227 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: gotta do is say, nope, you didn't talk to the 228 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 1: other side, so we can't do the story. Now the 229 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:43,959 Speaker 1: other side refuses to talk to us, and they refuse 230 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: to talk to us in a timely way, they will 231 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 1: not have to do an interfuse in a statement, do 232 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 1: what you want now, she's this is one oh one 233 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:52,560 Speaker 1: for us in journalism. 234 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 3: And here, yes, agreed. What this is how things work. 235 00:11:56,480 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 2: And you can't give You can't give the people or 236 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 2: the entity you're talking about the power to kill your 237 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 2: story period. Therefore you then take away every single foundation 238 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 2: journalism stands on and is built upon. So this is 239 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 2: another big part of the story. Sharon Alfonsi goes on 240 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 2: to say this, These men risked their lives to talk 241 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:21,959 Speaker 2: to speak with us. We have a moral and professional 242 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 2: obligation to the sources who entrusted us with their stories. 243 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 2: Abandoning them now is a betrayal of the most basic 244 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:32,359 Speaker 2: tenet of journalism, giving voice to the voiceless. 245 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:33,719 Speaker 3: Wow, we have. 246 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 2: Been promoting the story on social media for days. Our 247 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 2: viewers are expecting it. When it fails to air without 248 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 2: a credible explanation, the public will correctly identify this as 249 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 2: corporate censorship. We are trading fifty years of gold standard 250 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 2: reputation for a single week of political quiet. I care 251 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 2: too much about this broadcast to watch it be dismantled 252 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:01,319 Speaker 2: without a fight. 253 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: Okay, she's got to say her piece. I wonder what 254 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 1: is coming next, because something's coming. You can't speak on 255 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 1: your boss this way, no matter what who you think 256 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 1: you're right, and I understand, yes you are right. And everybody, 257 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:21,080 Speaker 1: everybody's picked sides for a fight, and all that CBS 258 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: has gone through lately. Your heart breaks for that newsroom 259 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: because we know good folks who are working in that newsroom. 260 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: But folks, with all this going on, you really didn't 261 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: think we were going to get through this controversy about 262 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 1: CBS News, did you? Without talking about Trump? Yes, he 263 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: also is playing smack dab into the middle of this 264 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:53,959 Speaker 1: latest sixty minutes controversy. Stay here, all right, folks, we 265 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 1: continue here on Amy and TJ. Sixty minutes just cannot robes. 266 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:03,079 Speaker 1: I don't know are they trying to write the ship? 267 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: How long ago was it the EP gave that job 268 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: up right, This is not a job you walk away from, 269 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 1: but he walked away. 270 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:10,679 Speaker 3: From earlier this year. 271 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:13,839 Speaker 1: Is the best I can give you of that show. 272 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 1: The turmoil they've gone through with the lawsuit over there 273 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 1: over Kamala Harris interview and the company paid sixteen million, 274 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 1: and then they got the new turnover with Paramount sky Dance. 275 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 1: Is the new company or sky Dance Paramount? 276 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 3: Which way is it is Paramount's guidance? 277 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 1: Okay, thank you Paramount. All this is going on, but 278 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: now here is another one. She's only been there two months. 279 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 1: Robes and a sixty minutes correspondent is calling out the 280 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 1: new boss, saying you made a political move by killing 281 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:48,040 Speaker 1: my story. That's another headline they don't need. What is 282 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 1: it possible that how many years this show's been on 283 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 1: eighty years? That two years and a couple of controversies 284 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 1: could hurt its credibility that bad? 285 00:14:56,760 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 2: Well, I think the actually hearing ALFONSI seeing people quit 286 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 2: actually to me, bolsters the credibility of the show. 287 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 3: Up until now. 288 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 2: But now that we know that Barry Weiss is now, 289 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 2: obviously she is in charge, so to speak. She's not 290 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 2: necessarily the president of CBS News. We know the president 291 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 2: of CBS News very well, Tom Sebrowski. 292 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 3: But being the editor in. 293 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 2: Chief, she reports directly, you said to David Ellison, who 294 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 2: owns Paramount's guidance. So when you have folks who aren't 295 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 2: necessarily reporting to a newsman like Tom Sebrowski, who is 296 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 2: the CBS president, it puts into question the future of 297 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:41,600 Speaker 2: the show if she can kill a story, if she can, 298 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 2: obviously as editor in chief, decide what they cover and 299 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 2: how they cover it, and it kind of goes outside 300 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 2: of the news division in a sense because if she's 301 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 2: reporting directly to a businessman who actually needs Trump right now, 302 00:15:55,760 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 2: it gets yes, it absolutely impacts the credibility of that 303 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 2: show as viewers. People go to that show, they trust 304 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 2: the reporters and the investigations that they do to hold 305 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 2: our government accountable, to hold people accountable. 306 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 3: And they have done so. 307 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 2: That is their history, that is the foundation of their show. 308 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 2: So if that is called into question, what is the 309 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 2: future of sixty minutes again? 310 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:21,240 Speaker 1: This might be you know what, this might I don't know. No, no, no, no, 311 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 1: this is I was going to say, this is the 312 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 1: timing of it is a bump. That's kind of it 313 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 1: just goes in line with some of the others. But 314 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 1: this is not no, no, no, no, I'll scratch all of that. 315 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 1: This is absolutely a problem. This is a problem because 316 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 1: it's the appearance that it was something other than a 317 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: journalistic standard used to make a decision about a story airing, 318 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 1: And given Trump's connection to this news division at this point, 319 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 1: that's worrisome for sixty minutes? Or is it? Do they 320 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 1: want to change the show? I know for the journalists, 321 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 1: you know, I'll stop for a second. Wait minute, Maybe 322 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: Barry Wise has another idea for sixty minutes? Does she? 323 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 2: We will find out soon enough, I imagine, But there 324 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 2: are several people media insiders who say that there is 325 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 2: now a potential mass exodus that sixty minute staff is 326 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 2: are claiming they're going to quit over this. And it's 327 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 2: not just this, it's a series of things that we've 328 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:20,119 Speaker 2: just been discussing. So this could be the straw that 329 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 2: broke the camel's back. But it'll be very interesting to 330 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 2: see what happens in the days and weeks, and maybe 331 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 2: a lot of people will go home for the holidays 332 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 2: and have a real gut check and ask themselves, do 333 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:31,879 Speaker 2: I want to keep working here as a journalist? Do 334 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:33,879 Speaker 2: I feel good as a journalist being a part of 335 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 2: this organization and a part of this broadcast, or maybe 336 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 2: they think they need to stay there to hold a 337 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 2: standard as high as they can, But you can't. 338 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 3: I mean, you know, that's a losing battle. 339 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 1: And again, I don't know what's going to happen to 340 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:51,680 Speaker 1: her now after reading this, but that's not going to 341 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: be received very well by Barry Weiss at all. And 342 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,159 Speaker 1: what was the right thing to do journalistically, What's the 343 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:00,880 Speaker 1: right thing to do as an employee? This is all 344 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 1: just kind of a mess over that CBS News at times, 345 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 1: and I hated for him. We've been in newsrooms that 346 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:08,359 Speaker 1: have been in turmoil. It is plenty of times over. 347 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 2: The years they have they have been in turmoil. But 348 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:14,359 Speaker 2: this is a whole other level that I have never 349 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:18,199 Speaker 2: seen before in my years as a journalist. I have 350 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 2: never seen this occur, and I don't think anybody has well. 351 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:26,480 Speaker 1: Folks will keep an eye on us again, CBS News, 352 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:30,120 Speaker 1: we will see, but they will be saying something about this, 353 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,200 Speaker 1: I'm sure, and folks, when they do, we certainly hop 354 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:34,640 Speaker 1: on and let you know. But for now, I'm TJ. 355 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 1: Holmes On behalf of Amy Robot. We'll talk to you 356 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 1: also