'The Last Minute' Calls Out Ownership

During The Last Minute Sunday of “60 Minutes,” Co-Anchor Scott Pelley delivered a candid tribute to outgoing executive producer Bill Owens, whose resignation stunned viewers with its underlying revelations.

“Bill stepped down Tuesday. It was tough for him and for us. But he did it for us—and for you,” Pelley said. 

“For 57 years, we’ve tackled controversial stories, recently on the Israel-Gaza war and the Trump administration. Bill ensured they were fair and accurate, always rigorous. But our parent company, Paramount, is navigating a merger that needs Trump administration approval. 

Pelley explained to viewers on Sunday, Paramount has begun to supervise “60 Minutes” stories in new ways. Former CBS News President Susan Zirinsky, a longtime news producer, has reportedly been asked to look at the show's stories before they air.

"No stories were blocked, but Bill believed this compromised the independence honest journalism demands. We’re not happy about it. By resigning, Bill showed he was the right leader for ‘60 Minutes’ all along.”

Pelley’s reference to Paramount pointed to its chair, Shari Redstone, who has yet to comment publicly on Owens’ exit.

The segment was quickly pinned on Bluesky, where “60 Minutes” now shares updates, having abandoned Elon Musk’s X months ago.