A recent CBS News headline has stirred up some serious online drama, drawing a ‘sketchy’ amount of backlash from digital critics. The controversy centers around Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and a story that revisited his past deleted ‘9/11 tweets’. As the nation prepares to observe 25 years since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the article, posted on the CBS News X feed, hinted at potential renewed scrutiny and political attacks for the well-known politician.
The original CBS News post highlighted that El-Sayed, according to the report, ‘opposed American wars and capitalized on anger over anti-Arab sentiment in a state with a robust and active Muslim community.’ The story pointed to two deleted posts from 2020 where the candidate had compared the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic with the casualties from the September 11 terrorist attacks. This particular framing and the timing of the article’s release definitely raised some eyebrows in the digital sphere.
Online personalities were quick to jump in, calling out the report’s framing. Cenk Uygur, host of ‘The Young Turks,’ didn’t mince words, posting that ‘your mask slipped off,’ which is straight up a critical jab. Tim Miller of The Bulwark also piled on, calling the CBS News post ‘despicable anti-Muslim woke right garbage.’ It’s giving major media scrutiny vibes, no cap.
Despite the online furor, CBS News reportedly saw nothing wrong with reporting on a politician’s deleted social media posts, deeming them newsworthy. A person familiar with the story indicated that the outlet later interviewed El-Sayed and added his response to the article. Additionally, comments from a Michigan State political scientist were included, analyzing how these past tweets might impact the senatorial race in Michigan, adding a layer of political analysis to the unfolding situation.
This digital outrage comes as CBS News, a prominent news outlet, faces broader scrutiny over its editorial decisions. Bari Weiss, who was installed by Paramount as editor in chief of CBS News in 2025, has been a particular focus. Known for founding the online opinion site The Free Press and for her strong stances against ‘woke’ extremes and unwavering support for Israel, Weiss has been scrutinized by media critics and even journalists within CBS News for potential bias or the insertion of opinion into daily reports. The media newsletter Status reported that Weiss praised the story and directed the headline to mention El-Sayed’s deleted tweets.
However, a source familiar with the article clarified that Weiss sought the mention of the politician’s deleted tweets in the headline because their discovery was a central element of the story. According to this source, CBS News considered El-Sayed’s past comments on 9/11, along with his association with the provocateur Hasan Piker, to be significant information that could influence voters’ perceptions of his candidacy. This perspective highlights the outlet’s intent to provide comprehensive coverage of a political figure’s background.
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Livia Dorne covers film, television, music, and pop culture with a keen editorial perspective. She delivers engaging commentary, reviews, and behind-the-scenes insights that keep readers connected to the entertainment world. Her style blends critique with storytelling.
