{
  "id": 4924450,
  "title": "CBS staff accuse network of ‘overt racism’ over Abdul El-Sayed 9/11 story",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/cbs-staff-accuse-network-of-overt-racism-over-abdul-el-sayed-9-11",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T19:56:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/trending/cbs-staff-accuse-network-overt-racism-over-abdul-el-sayed-911-story"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "CBS staff have publicly criticized the network for accused \"overt racism\" in its coverage of Muslim US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. The controversy stems from CBS re-posting old social media messages by El-Sayed, which he deleted, ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11. One staffer stated that CBS took a small piece of news and expanded it into a larger narrative, which they believe was done inappropriately. Another former employee called the story \"shameful\" and emphasized that the racism in the coverage was overt. This incident follows a campaign filled with anti-Muslim smears against El-Sayed, whose Muslim and Arab identity has been repeatedly targeted by his political opponents.",
  "summary": "CBS staff accuse network of ‘overt racism’ over Abdul El-Sayed 9/11 story Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 09/01/2026 - 18:37 Staffers have pushed back against CBS's decision to revive years-old deleted posts by the Muslim Senate candidate and foreground 9/11 in its coverage US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed speaks during the Michigan Democratic Party General Election Kickoff Rally at Renaissance…",
  "key_points": [
    "CBS staff accuse network of overt racism in Abdul El-Sayed's 9/11 story coverage.",
    "Staffer claims CBS expanded small news into larger narrative inappropriately.",
    "Former employee calls the story shameful, emphasizing overt racism in coverage."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}