Full Breakdown
Turmoil at CBS News’ “60 Minutes” Under Bari Weiss
6/12/2026, 7:49:32 AM
Background & Context
Bari Weiss, founder of the anti-woke outlet The Free Press, was installed as editor-in-chief of CBS News in October of the previous year after Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison purchased her blog for $150 million. Weiss entered broadcast news with no prior experience, inheriting a network whose flagship newsmagazine 60 Minutes had long been a ratings staple.
Core Event: Mass Firings and Leadership Overhaul
On May 28, Weiss dismissed several senior 60 Minutes staff—including correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, executive producer Tanya Smith, and longtime anchor Anderson Cooper (who left on May 17). The same day, tech columnist Nick Bilton was appointed executive producer, replacing Smith. CBS employees later dubbed the day “Black Thursday.” Within weeks, veteran correspondent Scott Pelley was fired after confronting Weiss and Bilton, and he subsequently accused Weiss of “putting a thumb on the scale on behalf of the administration.”
Timeline of Key Developments
- October (previous year) – Weiss appointed editor-in-chief after Ellison’s acquisition of The Free Press.
- May 17 – Anderson Cooper’s final 60 Minutes broadcast.
- May 28 – “Black Thursday” firings of Alfonsi, Vega, Smith, and others; Bilton hired as executive producer.
- Early June – Former correspondent Steve Kroft predicts Weiss’s tenure will end soon; CBS settles a $16 million lawsuit with former President Donald Trump over a Harris interview.
- June 2026 – Reports emerge of a planned hire of British broadcaster Trevor Phillips as global affairs correspondent.
Key Figures & Groups
- Bari Weiss – CBS News editor-in-chief, former founder of The Free Press.
- David Ellison – Paramount Skydance CEO, owner of CBS News, son of billionaire Larry Ellison.
- Steve Kroft – Retired 60 Minutes correspondent, vocal critic of Weiss.
- Scott Pelley – Veteran correspondent, dismissed after criticizing Weiss.
- Nick Bilton – Tech columnist, appointed executive producer of 60 Minutes.
- Trevor Phillips – British broadcaster slated for a global affairs role.
Data & Statistics
- Dozens of staffers have been fired or quit since Weiss’s arrival.
- At least five senior correspondents (Alfonsi, Vega, Cooper, Pelley, Bilton) left the program in May 2024.
- Two rounds of network-wide layoffs occurred under Weiss’s tenure.
Criticism & Opposition
Steve Kroft warned, “Everything she’s touched has turned to s--t… I don’t think she’s shown any talent for this position.” Scott Pelley accused Weiss of “tilting coverage in President Trump’s favor.” A former 60 Minutes staffer described the overhaul as “you don’t give a facelift with a f------ machete.” Alfonsi alleged that the cancellation of a segment on El Salvador’s CECOT prison was a “political” decision, not a journalistic one.
Official Statements & Responses
CBS News declined comment on the firings and on the reported hire of Trevor Phillips. The network’s settlement of the Trump lawsuit was noted without further comment. No official response from Weiss was provided in the sources.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Everything she’s touched has turned to s--t. Everything she’s touched has gone colossally wrong. And I don’t think she’s shown any talent for this position. She’s only fulfilling other people’s agendas,” — Steve Kroft, former 60 Minutes correspondent
- “She does not love this place. She was brought in to kill it, and she’s been doing exactly that,” — Scott Pelley
- “My impression at the time was that she was putting a thumb on the scale on behalf of the administration,” — Scott Pelley
- “You don’t give a facelift with a f------ machete,” — Former 60 Minutes staffer (anonymous)
- “We will never be instructed by ownership of the company” — Nick Bilton, executive producer
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
CBS officials said the CECOT segment was shelved because it “needed additional reporting,” while Alfonsi contended the decision was politically motivated. Pelley’s claim that Weiss asked him to “make the protesters look more violent” is presented as a paraphrase; no direct email evidence is provided.
What’s Next
CBS is pursuing regulatory approval for a multibillion-dollar acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal whose outcome may affect Weiss’s position. The network also plans to integrate Trevor Phillips, signaling an effort to bolster its global affairs coverage amid ongoing staff turnover.
