60 Minutes will look significantly different when it returns to the 2026 TV schedule this fall for its 59th season. Earlier this summer, several correspondents and producers were let go from the show under the tenure of CBS News’ editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss. New staffers have since been brought in to join the series’ veterans. If a recent report is to be believed, further drama is now unfolding behind closed doors as the two subsections of employees mesh. And this all comes after prior concerns about the upcoming season.
Months ago, it was confirmed that Weiss hired journalist and author Nick Bilton to serve as 60 Minutes' executive producer, and he’s since been helping to oversee the changes at the show. On that note, it was confirmed this past week that four new correspondents/contributors would join the show, including Ross Douthat, Gianna Toboni, Trevor Phillips and Sebastian Junger. That quartet will now share the air with series alums Bill Whitaker, Lesley Stahl and Jon Wertheim.
While it can’t be said with certainty how every single person is getting along, insiders quoted in Robert Shuter’s Naughty or Nice substack allege that all is not well. One insider claims this all comes down to supposed issues between “old school” and “new school”:
It’s old school versus new school, and they barely acknowledge each other anymore. Every editorial meeting feels like a fight over what 60 Minutes should be. The tension is thick enough to cut with a knife.
Per another source, a major point of contention allegedly has to do with the differing philosophies that both sides have about running the show. The newcomers reportedly take issue with some of the long-held ideas that the vets have:
They think the legacy team is stuck in another era. Behind closed doors, some have even started calling Lesley Stahl ‘Grandma.’ It’s incredibly disrespectful, but it shows just how deep the generational divide has become.
As part of the recent shakeups at 60 Minutes, correspondents Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi were fired, with Scott Pelley later being let go after accusing Bari Weiss of “murdering” the show. EP Tanya Simon and executive editor Draggan Mihailovich were also fired, as some producers and Anderson Cooper voluntarily left the show. While the new employees purportedly take issue with the seasoned staffers’ ways, a third insider claims the latter group has a keen reason for holding onto their methods of operation:
The old guard believes they’re protecting the soul of the show. The new crowd thinks they’re tearing down a museum and building something audiences will actually watch.
New Report Includes Claims About How CBS News’ Bari Weiss Has Changed Since The 60 Minutes Firings
Weiss’ decision to sever ties with the staffers has been criticized by pundits and fellow series alums. Former anchor Steve Kroft referred to the moves as "journalistic interference” amid claims of editorial partiality against Weiss. All the while, it’s been alleged that a portion of employees have become “increasingly anxious” about whether they can deliver a top-notch show this coming season that doesn’t include filler content.
Regardless of any alleged squabbles amongst staffers, it’s more than clear that a new day is dawning at 60 Minutes under Bari Weiss and Nick Bilton’s leadership. Viewers will see the show’s new look when Season 59 premieres on CBS on September 13.
