Veteran “60 Minutes” correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Scott Pelley are at risk of being fired after vocally resisting changes pushed by CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The pair could face termination as Weiss, who took over in October following Paramount Skydance's acquisition of her outlet The Free Press, pursues a major revamp of the long-running newsmagazine.
The NY Post quotes sources who describe the internal conflict as “Game of Thrones”-style drama, with one network insider warning, “It’s going to be a war,” and criticizing “60 Minutes” staff for arrogance.
CBS News is open to buying out contracts for talent and executives to facilitate changes. Alfonsi’s contract expires in a few months; Pelley’s timeline is unclear. Neither correspondent responded to comment requests, and CBS News has not commented.
Weiss has increased her oversight of key political and cultural stories at “60 Minutes,” including joining new Monday meetings with executive producer Tanya Simon—a break from the show’s decades-long tradition of near-autonomous operation under its executive producer.
Staff resistance stems partly from skepticism about Weiss’s qualifications: the 41-year-old former opinion writer and vocal Israel supporter lacks traditional TV news experience, with critics calling for more impartiality in the editor-in-chief role. Some “60 Minutes” veterans, including Lesley Stahl and Bill Whitaker, reportedly share doubts about her leadership.
Insiders suggest Alfonsi and Pelley may be trying to “wait out” Weiss, betting on CBS’s history of frequent leadership turnover. However, others warn this could backfire, as Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison appears to back Weiss’s mandate for change.
“Everybody has a boss,” one source said, “and they need to realize that Bari Weiss is theirs.”The turmoil highlights broader tensions at CBS News under Weiss, amid staff complaints about her background in opinion rather than reporting and her political views.