Four correspondents and two top producers have departed “60 Minutes” following a dramatic internal clash over claims of political interference in coverage, leaving the iconic CBS newsmagazine racing to rebuild its roster just months before its new season begins.
CBS News chief Bari Weiss is facing sharp internal backlash from accusations that she is steering the program’s reporting in a direction favorable to President Trump. The tensions persist even as Paramount Global boss David Ellison has privately assured longtime correspondent Lesley Stahl of continued editorial independence.
According to the LA Times, multiple high-profile journalists and documentarians are now under consideration for open roles, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Among the leading candidates and changes:
- Holly Williams, a veteran foreign correspondent based in Istanbul since 2012, is a strong contender. The Australian journalist has covered war zones in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Gaza, and Ukraine. She previously gained rare access inside a Syrian prison holding alleged ISIS fighters and has contributed several reports to “60 Minutes.” She previously worked as a Beijing correspondent for Sky News.
- Tony Dokoupil, anchor of “CBS Evening News,” is expected to join as a contributor — a role previously held by his predecessors including Dan Rather, Katie Couric, Scott Pelley, and Norah O’Donnell. The move would give Dokoupil additional exposure to “60 Minutes’” audience of more than 9 million viewers on Sunday nights and potentially boost his evening newscast.
- Matt Gutman, the network’s national correspondent, was Weiss’ first major on-air hire when he joined from ABC News in December. He has played a prominent role in breaking news and major stories on “CBS Evening News.”
- Mariana van Zeller, the award-winning multilingual journalist known for her National Geographic series “Trafficked,” is also being considered. The 50-year-old has earned dozens of honors for her global reporting on black markets and human trafficking.
- Norah O’Donnell, her role as a contributor is expected to expand. She already appears in the program’s opening and stepped up to conduct two tough interviews with President Trump after CBS settled a $16 million defamation lawsuit over alleged deceptive editing of an earlier interview.
- Major Garrett, chief Washington correspondent, recently interviewed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for “60 Minutes.” The booking created internal friction because Lesley Stahl had also been pursuing an interview with Netanyahu; Weiss personally handled the arrangement and allowed Netanyahu to choose Garrett.
The departures and reshuffling come at a sensitive time for the long-running program as it navigates pressure over editorial direction and prepares for the fall season.