Steve Kroft and Ex-staffers Critique Bari Weiss's CBS Tenure
WHO:
The Daily Beast - Steve Kroft stated that Bari Weiss has shown no talent for her position as editor-in-chief of CBS News, claiming, “Everything she’s touched has turned to s--t. Everything she’s touched has gone colossally wrong.”
The Daily Beast - Scott Pelley was fired shortly after voicing concerns about Weiss's leadership, describing her behavior as “cold and callous and beneath the dignity of CBS News.”
The Daily Beast - Steve Kroft, former 60 Minutes correspondent; Bari Weiss, editor-in-chief of CBS News; David Ellison, CBS owner; President Trump; Kamala Harris, former Vice President; Cecilia Vega, 60 Minutes correspondent; Scott Pelley, former 60 Minutes correspondent; Sharyn Alfonsi, former 60 Minutes correspondent; Tanya Smith, executive producer of 60 Minutes; Draggan Mihailovich, executive editor of 60 Minutes.
WHAT:
Fortune - Bari Weiss reportedly told colleagues early in her tenure, “I wanna blow this up,” indicating her intention to radically change CBS News.
Fortune - Ratings for CBS Evening News have plummeted under Weiss's leadership, with staff fearing that she is compromising editorial norms.
Fortune - Scott Pelley accused Weiss of “murdering” the CBS show shortly before his firing.
Fortune - Pelley stated that the 60 Minutes team had garnered 9.1 million viewers on average in its most recent season, a 9% increase from the season prior.
The Daily Beast - Kroft predicts that Weiss will not be overseeing 60 Minutes for much longer, suggesting that “once the deal gets done with Warner Bros., people will demand that she be let go or move into another position.”
The Daily Beast - Staffers have referred to the day of the firings as “Black Thursday.”
The Daily Beast - Several 60 Minutes correspondents and producers were fired late last month under Weiss’s leadership.
Variety - On May 28, a half-dozen senior producers and correspondents at 60 Minutes were fired, including Sharyn Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega, Tanya Simon, and Draggan Mihailovich.
The Daily Beast - Cecilia Vega was fired despite her contract not expiring until March 2027.
The Daily Beast - Anderson Cooper quit 60 Minutes after 20 years, with his final broadcast being on May 17.
The Daily Beast - Paramount agreed to pay Trump $16 million to settle his lawsuit over the Harris interview.
WHERE:
The Daily Beast - CBS News; 60 Minutes; El Salvadoran mega-prison CECOT.
WHEN:
The Daily Beast - Weiss was installed as editor-in-chief of CBS News in October.
The Daily Beast - Anderson Cooper's final broadcast was on May 17.
Variety - The firings at 60 Minutes occurred on May 28.
WHY:
Fortune - Pelley accused CBS News of attempting to “curry favor with the Trump administration” as it seeks regulatory approval for a multibillion-dollar deal.
The Daily Beast - Kroft believes that the Trump administration is concerned with the coverage it receives from 60 Minutes, stating, “The Trump administration is concerned with the coverage of the Trump administration.”
The Daily Beast - Kroft believes Weiss and Ellison lack the ability to report critically on the Trump administration.
The Daily Beast - Kroft stated that the chaos under Weiss's leadership has led to a demand for her removal.
The Daily Beast - Kroft suggested that the Trump administration is concerned with the coverage it receives from 60 Minutes.
HOW:
Fortune - Weiss's vision for CBS News includes restoring audience trust, building brands around talent, and pivoting to a “streaming mentality.”
The Daily Beast - Weiss has reportedly not been seen on the newsroom floor in weeks and has remained in a sixth-floor office suite that is accessible only to executives.
The Daily Beast - Weiss was installed as editor-in-chief after Ellison purchased her anti-woke blog The Free Press for $150 million.
(UPDATED June 12, 2026 16:02 UTC)
Bari Weiss reportedly expressed her desire to radically change CBS News early in her tenure, stating, “I wanna blow this up,” but since then, ratings for CBS Evening News have plummeted, leading to concerns among staff about compromised editorial norms. Scott Pelley, who was recently fired, accused Weiss of “murdering” the show, despite the 60 Minutes team achieving an average of 9.1 million viewers in its latest season, a 9% increase from the previous one. Pelley also suggested that CBS News is trying to “curry favor with the Trump administration” as the network seeks regulatory approval for a multibillion-dollar deal, while Weiss aims to restore audience trust and pivot to a “streaming mentality.”
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(UPDATED June 12, 2026 08:25 UTC)
In a striking critique, Steve Kroft has claimed that Bari Weiss lacks the talent for her role as editor-in-chief of CBS News, asserting that “everything she’s touched has turned to s--t.” Following this, Scott Pelley was fired after expressing concerns about Weiss's leadership style, which he described as “cold and callous and beneath the dignity of CBS News.” Kroft predicts that Weiss's time overseeing 60 Minutes will soon come to an end, especially as staffers have dubbed the day of the firings “Black Thursday,” and he suggests that the Trump administration's concerns about coverage may play a role in her potential departure.
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(UPDATED June 12, 2026 06:35 UTC)
In a significant shakeup at CBS News, several senior producers and correspondents from 60 Minutes were fired under the leadership of editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, including notable figures like Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega. This turmoil follows Anderson Cooper's departure after two decades, with his last broadcast airing on May 17, and has sparked concerns from Steve Kroft about Weiss's ability to provide critical reporting on the Trump administration. Additionally, Paramount has agreed to pay Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit related to an interview with Kamala Harris.