Topline
Scott Pelley, a former correspondent for “60 Minutes,” was dismissed by CBS News following a heated exchange during a meeting last week. In a candid interview with the New York Times released on Sunday, Pelley criticized the network’s new leadership, accusing them of lacking competence and experience. He also suggested that editor-in-chief Bari Weiss had skewed coverage of the Minneapolis protests and shootings earlier this year to favor the president’s narrative.
Having been with CBS News since 1989, Pelley did not anticipate being fired until a subsequent meeting with Tom Cibrowski, CBS News president and executive editor, who deemed his earlier outburst a “firing offense.”
Pelley further alleged that Weiss interfered in a February segment about the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis. He claimed Weiss requested modifications mere hours before the deadline, aiming to portray the protesters as more violent and to suggest that Good had driven toward the officer who shot her, aligning with President Donald Trump’s perspective, which Pelley found misleading.
Despite already including footage of protesters behaving aggressively and another protester, Alex Pretti, kicking a police car, Pelley refused to incorporate Weiss’ last-minute directions and faced no immediate repercussions following the broadcast. He criticized Weiss for her timing, emphasizing, “You don’t break a deadline. That episode almost didn’t air, missing by 19 minutes.”
When queried about whether Weiss should remain in her position, Pelley responded affirmatively, describing her as a “lovely person” but asserting that “television’s not her thing.”
Pelley said he did not follow Weiss’ instructions and did not receive any feedback or retaliation after the broadcast, but still slammed Weiss for sending the notes last minute: “You don’t break a deadline. That episode came within 19 minutes of not making it to air.”
When asked if he thought Weiss should be removed from her role, Pelley answered, “oh, gosh, yes,” calling her a “lovely person” but insisting “television’s not her thing.”
Crucial Quote
“I need to be a little bit careful here because I don’t want to be hyperbolic,” Pelley said when asked why he thought Weiss asked for changes to the Minneapolis broadcast. “My impression at the time was that she was putting a thumb on the scale on behalf of the administration. Constantly looking out for the views of the president. We’re reporting those views. There’s nothing wrong with reporting those views, but it was never enough.” CBS has disputed Pelley’s interpretation of the events, with a spokesperson telling the Times there is “no credible argument to suggest Ms. Weiss was ‘putting a thumb on the scale on behalf of the administration’ in any instance over the past seven months.”
TANGENT
Pelley said he felt “shock” and “dismay” after the abrupt firing of former executive producer Tanya Simon last month, the first woman to serve as the longrunning newsmagazine’s executive producer—especially after the show saw record growth in viewership and astronomical growth on social media, according to owner Paramount’s own metrics published weeks earlier.
Key Background
David Ellison, the son of billionaire Oracle founder Larry Ellison, bought Paramount from Shari Redstone in a deal that was finally approved last summer. As part of the takeover, Ellison installed Weiss, a former New York Times opinion journalist and founder of the new media startup The Free Press, as the network’s editor-in-chief. Pelley said he thought the sale was “necessary” and praised Ellison’s early vision for the network. “Mr. Ellison came in with a lot of money, a young man of vision, and I thought this was going to be very good for all of us.” Pelley also blasted the previous owners of Paramount over their settlement terms to resolve a lawsuit Trump brought over coverage on “60 Minutes,” calling the multi-million dollar payout they agreed to a “bribe to the president to settle this frivolous, ridiculous lawsuit.” Pelley said he was “concerned” about Weiss’ lack of experience in broadcast television when she was tapped to take over leadership of the network, but also said he wanted to give her a chance at the job. “Those were red flags to me, but I thought, David Ellison thinks she’s the right person for the job,” Pelley said. “We are absolutely going to welcome her, listen to her, and give her the benefit of the doubt.”
Further Reading
https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2026/06/03/scott-pelley-calls-bari-weiss-disingenuous-after-she-defended-firing-60-minutes-journalist/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2026/06/03/pelley-alleges-cbs-management-asked-him-to-inject-falsehoods-into-story-after-60-minutes-firing-full-statement/
