Controversial CBS News boss gets put on the chopping block

Wonderwall.com Editors Tue, May 19, 2026 at 9:48 PM UTC

1.1K

Bari Weiss, the editor-in-chief of CBS News, is facing a possible reduction in her role as Paramount leadership informally discusses narrowing her responsibilities and handing day-to-day broadcast operations to a more experienced television executive. The development, first reported by Puck, marks a sharp shift for a figure heavily backed by Skydance CEO David Ellison less than a year ago.

According to Puck, sources familiar with the talks said Weiss “would likely cede day-to-day control over Evening News, CBS Mornings and 60 Minutes to this more experienced, as-yet-unnamed executive, shifting her focus to the news division’s digital growth while maintaining broad editorial influence across all the company’s platforms.”

Paramount quickly denied the report. A spokesperson said, “Bari has the full support of Paramount and David Ellison as the editorial leader overseeing CBS News and 60 Minutes. Reports suggesting otherwise are inaccurate.”

Paramount’s growing frustration

Paramount executives believe Weiss “was given too broad a mandate for someone without previous experience in television,” while frustration has also grown over ongoing negative press coverage. Sources inside CBS News reportedly complained that “Bari is drastically overstretched, and lacks the experience and managerial skills necessary to run the network.”

Puck argued it would be unfair to blame Weiss alone for CBS News’ struggles. He wrote that it was “entirely unfair to pin this misadventure” solely on her, noting the merger created an “unprecedented situation” and that Ellison himself may have been navigating a learning curve.

The scrutiny comes at a difficult time for Paramount. The company, backed by the Ellison family, is pursuing a deal for Warner Bros. Discovery even after the conglomerate agreed to sell its studio and streaming assets to Netflix. Paramount has argued it could provide stability for CNN, making every controversy surrounding Weiss more damaging to its broader ambitions.

The 60 Minutes Crisis

No issue has defined Weiss’s tenure more than the turmoil surrounding 60 Minutes. Veteran correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi became a central figure in newsroom resistance after clashing with Weiss over the “Inside CECOT” segment. The report focused on Venezuelan men deported to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT mega-prison, but Weiss pulled it hours before airtime, insisting that Trump administration officials be allowed to respond. The decision reportedly triggered an internal revolt.

Alfonsi, 53, is reportedly not having her contract renewed following the dispute.

The departure of Anderson Cooper added to the turmoil. Cooper announced he would not renew his contract with 60 Minutes after balancing the role alongside CNN for two decades. According to Status, his segment examining President Trump’s decision to accept refugees from South Africa faced “an intense level of editorial scrutiny” described as “abnormal.”

Advertisement

During his final broadcast, Cooper delivered what was described as an “elegant and emotional retrospective” while subtly criticizing the program’s direction under Ellison and Weiss.

“I hope 60 Minutes remains 60 Minutes,” Cooper said. “There’s very few things that have been around for as long as 60 Minutes has and maintain the quality that it has. Things can always evolve and change, and I think that’s awesome, and things should evolve and change. But I hope the core of what 60 Minutes is always remains.”

Another possible exit involves veteran correspondent Lesley Stahl, 84, who was reportedly upset after Weiss reassigned a planned interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett. Weiss, who has described herself as a “Zionist fanatic,” drew criticism after reports claimed Netanyahu was allowed to choose between Stahl and Garrett for the interview.

Massive changes for 60 Minutes next season

A longtime network insider told The Guardian that viewers should expect “massive changes” during the 59th season of 60 Minutes, including possible layoffs and broader participation from CBS personalities such as Evening News host Tony Dokoupil.

Staffers reportedly fear Weiss could permanently damage the prestige of the program, which has aired since 1968. Former 60 Minutes producer Rome Hartman said of Alfonsi’s reported non-renewal: “If they don’t renew her, it is in direct retaliation for having the temerity to tell the truth.”

Editorial interference beyond 60 Minutes

Concerns over Weiss’s editorial involvement have extended beyond 60 Minutes. According to Zeteo, Weiss allegedly “meddled” in an Israel-related segment for CBS Sunday Morning involving archaeological digs in the West Bank. Four sources told the outlet she made edits shortly before the report aired.

“Oh yeah, she definitely meddled,” a senior CBS News staffer reportedly said, adding that Weiss had “never jumped in editorially on a Sunday Morning story until this one.”

A CBS News spokesperson responded, “We aim to inform audiences, not satisfy story subjects. That’s what this piece did. We encourage everyone to watch it and judge for themselves.”

What’s next

Weiss is expected to return from a White House Correspondents’ Association event attended alongside President Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth and Stephen Miller with plans to further overhaul 60 Minutes and implement another round of layoffs at CBS News.

Whether Weiss survives Paramount’s next phase, especially as the company seeks regulatory approval for the Warner Bros. Discovery deal, remains one of the biggest questions hanging over American television news.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Money”