CBS Reporter Apologizes for Post Praising Heckler at El-Sayed Event
CBS News correspondent Jan Crawford deleted a post praising a town hall questioner of Abdul El-Sayed. She then apologized for breaking network standards.
- El-Sayed is a Democrat running for U.S. Senate in Michigan.
- The questioner, Tommy, asked El-Sayed to disavow the Muslim Brotherhood.
- Crawford called El-Sayed's answer a self-own and congratulated the questioner.
- Journalist Marisa Kabas said Tommy's father is Republican strategist Timmy Teepell.
Why it matters: Major news organizations generally want beat reporters seen as neutral. Crawford covers the Supreme Court for CBS News.
- Journalists and media reporters criticized the post before it was deleted.
- CBS News has added more opinion content under editor in chief Bari Weiss.
How 4 sources split on this story
Where they split: Coverage differs on whether this is a lapse by one reporter or a symptom of CBS News blending news and opinion under Weiss.
Center coverage, 1 sources: The center focuses on the deletion, the apology and the wave of criticism from journalists.
Left coverage, 3 sources: The left sees the post as part of wider turmoil over standards and opinion at CBS News under Bari Weiss.
What’s next: CBS News declined to make executives available to discuss the post.
- ABC News did not renew Terry Moran's contract in 2025 after a post about Stephen Miller.
- Will CBS News discipline Crawford beyond the deletion and apology?
- Was the questioner acting on behalf of any campaign or group?
