Story perspectives

CBS staff protest Ross Douthat hire amid rating slump

7/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

CBS “60 Minutes” staff protested network chief Bari Weiss’s hiring of conservative columnist Ross Douthat.
Executive producer Nick Bilton called Ross Douthat a thinker, a remark insiders mocked.
New hires include Sebastian Junger, Gianna Toboni and Sir Trevor Phillips, accused of Islamophobia.
CBS promoted Norah O'Donnell to full correspondent.
July ratings fell to 3.8 million for Evening News and 1.6 million for Mornings, prompting a CBS executive to warn of low viewership.

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Story summary

CBS “60 Minutes” staff protested network chief Bari Weiss’s hiring of conservative columnist Ross Douthat.
Executive producer Nick Bilton called Ross Douthat a thinker, a remark insiders mocked.
New hires include Sebastian Junger, Gianna Toboni and Sir Trevor Phillips, accused of Islamophobia.
CBS promoted Norah O'Donnell to full correspondent.
July ratings fell to 3.8 million for Evening News and 1.6 million for Mornings, prompting a CBS executive to warn of low viewership.