Blab Politics
Scott Pelley Accuses CBS of Editorial Interference, CBS Fires Long-Time Correspondent
Scott Pelley, a former CBS News correspondent who spent 37 years with the network, told the New York Times that CBS News editor‑in‑chief Bari Weiss tried to alter a "60 Minutes" segment on immigration protests in Minneapolis. According to Pelley, Weiss sent notes after the segment had already been approved, asking producers to portray protesters as more violent and to describe the circumstances of a fatal shooting of protester Renee Good in a way that matched the president’s narrative.
Pelley said the notes arrived after the segment was cleared for broadcast. The requests were:
"Can we make the protesters look more violent?" "Renee Good’s car. You need to describe her as driving toward the officer."
He explained that he and his producer had already included footage of protesters acting violently and had reviewed video of Good’s shooting, concluding it did not support Weiss’s characterization. Pelley added that no changes were made to the final piece.
CBS News rejected Pelley’s account. In a statement to the New York Times and NBC News, the network said Weiss made "four points in the course of editorial back‑and‑forth" and that the comments were intended to make the story "strong, fair, and accurate." The statement added that not all of Weiss’s suggestions were incorporated, as is common in a collaborative newsroom.
Pelley’s allegations come amid broader criticism of CBS leadership that began after Paramount Global sold the company to Skydance Media and appointed Weiss as editor‑in‑chief. The sale closed in August 2025, following a July 2025 settlement of a lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump against CBS. Pelley called the settlement a "bribe" intended to secure regulatory approval, a claim that Paramount has denied.
The former correspondent was fired on Tuesday, the day after a heated meeting with the new "60 Minutes" executive producer, Nick Bilton. Bilton introduced himself to staff and read prepared remarks. Pelley said Bilton had sent an email to staff that he described as "insulting" and that announced plans for a new group of correspondents. Pelley told the Times that he feared the changes would lead to the eventual firing of many reporters.
Tension at CBS News had been mounting for weeks. Pelley said the dismissal of former "60 Minutes" executive producer Tanya Simon, who had been with the program for 15 years, was a surprise. He suggested that Simon’s firing may have been linked to the departure of Anderson Cooper, whose contract was not renewed at the end of his run on "60 Minutes." Cooper had said he hoped the program would remain true to itself.
Pelley, who has written a book titled Truth Worth Telling, said the network’s leadership lacked experience and that a subtle political bias had emerged under Weiss. He said the newsroom’s trust had eroded and that he hoped CBS could recover.
CBS has not yet responded to NBC News’ request for comment on Pelley’s description of Simon’s termination or his call for Weiss’s removal.
The firing of Pelley, a veteran journalist known for his work on the White House and as a "60 Minutes" correspondent, has drawn attention to the changes at CBS News following the Paramount‑Skydance merger. The network’s future editorial direction remains uncertain as it navigates new leadership and the legacy of the former CBS News culture.
The current situation is that Pelley has been dismissed, Weiss remains editor‑in‑chief, and CBS has stated that editorial decisions are made collaboratively. No further actions have been announced, and the network has not indicated any plans to reverse the firing or to alter its editorial leadership.
Pelley said the notes arrived after the segment was cleared for broadcast. The requests were:
"Can we make the protesters look more violent?" "Renee Good’s car. You need to describe her as driving toward the officer."
He explained that he and his producer had already included footage of protesters acting violently and had reviewed video of Good’s shooting, concluding it did not support Weiss’s characterization. Pelley added that no changes were made to the final piece.
CBS News rejected Pelley’s account. In a statement to the New York Times and NBC News, the network said Weiss made "four points in the course of editorial back‑and‑forth" and that the comments were intended to make the story "strong, fair, and accurate." The statement added that not all of Weiss’s suggestions were incorporated, as is common in a collaborative newsroom.
Pelley’s allegations come amid broader criticism of CBS leadership that began after Paramount Global sold the company to Skydance Media and appointed Weiss as editor‑in‑chief. The sale closed in August 2025, following a July 2025 settlement of a lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump against CBS. Pelley called the settlement a "bribe" intended to secure regulatory approval, a claim that Paramount has denied.
The former correspondent was fired on Tuesday, the day after a heated meeting with the new "60 Minutes" executive producer, Nick Bilton. Bilton introduced himself to staff and read prepared remarks. Pelley said Bilton had sent an email to staff that he described as "insulting" and that announced plans for a new group of correspondents. Pelley told the Times that he feared the changes would lead to the eventual firing of many reporters.
Tension at CBS News had been mounting for weeks. Pelley said the dismissal of former "60 Minutes" executive producer Tanya Simon, who had been with the program for 15 years, was a surprise. He suggested that Simon’s firing may have been linked to the departure of Anderson Cooper, whose contract was not renewed at the end of his run on "60 Minutes." Cooper had said he hoped the program would remain true to itself.
Pelley, who has written a book titled Truth Worth Telling, said the network’s leadership lacked experience and that a subtle political bias had emerged under Weiss. He said the newsroom’s trust had eroded and that he hoped CBS could recover.
CBS has not yet responded to NBC News’ request for comment on Pelley’s description of Simon’s termination or his call for Weiss’s removal.
The firing of Pelley, a veteran journalist known for his work on the White House and as a "60 Minutes" correspondent, has drawn attention to the changes at CBS News following the Paramount‑Skydance merger. The network’s future editorial direction remains uncertain as it navigates new leadership and the legacy of the former CBS News culture.
The current situation is that Pelley has been dismissed, Weiss remains editor‑in‑chief, and CBS has stated that editorial decisions are made collaboratively. No further actions have been announced, and the network has not indicated any plans to reverse the firing or to alter its editorial leadership.
