Full Breakdown
CBS “60 Minutes” Staff Push Back on New Hires Under Bari Weiss
7/29/2026, 8:07:42 PM
Staff Discontent Over New “60 Minutes” Hires
Employees of CBS News’ flagship program “60 Minutes” have voiced strong opposition to the latest round of hires announced by network chief Bari Weiss. The most controversial addition is conservative New York Times opinion columnist Ross Douthat, who lacks a reporting background and on-camera experience. Insiders say the move challenges the program’s long-standing journalistic standards.
Background: Weiss’s Leadership and Recent Changes
Bari Weiss, appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News in October, arrived with little broadcast-news experience and a public record of criticizing television. Since her arrival, the network has added several high-profile figures—including writer Sebastian Junger, former VICE correspondent Gianna Toboni, and ex-Sky News host Sir Trevor Phillips, who has faced past accusations of Islamophobia—to “60 Minutes.” Executive producer Nick Bilton promoted the hires in an internal memo, describing Douthat as a “rigorous thinker with deep empathy” and likening the new team to “the Avengers of news.” Industry veterans, however, have dismissed the memo as an excuse for internal grievances.
Data & Statistics: Ratings Decline
Viewership for CBS’s flagship news offerings has fallen under Weiss’s tenure. The “CBS Evening News,” anchored by Tony Dokoupil, averaged roughly 3.8 million viewers in July, marking the fourth consecutive month below four million. “CBS Mornings” recorded a historic low, drawing an average of 1.6 million viewers for the month—its smallest monthly audience ever. A CBS executive told staff that the overhaul has driven ratings to record lows, with little indication that the “60 Minutes” changes will reverse the trend.
Official Statements & Responses
Nick Bilton’s internal memo praised the new contributors, emphasizing their analytical strengths. In contrast, a veteran TV executive described the notion of Douthat serving as a “60 Minutes” correspondent as a joke, reflecting internal skepticism. CBS leadership has not publicly defended the specific hiring decisions, focusing instead on broader strategic goals.
Criticism & Opposition
Multiple industry figures, referencing the legacy of journalists such as Mike Wallace, Diane Sawyer, Ed Bradley and Scott Pelley, argued that the recent hires would not have met the standards of earlier eras. The criticism underscores a broader concern that the program’s editorial direction is shifting rightward and moving away from its traditional investigative focus.
