CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss reportedly baffled the staff of “60 Minutes” after asking them a blunt question about their perceived political bias.
The reaction from the show’s crew was revealed in a Sunday report from The New York Times.
“Bari Weiss, the new editor-in-chief of CBS News, surprised senior staff at the venerable news program ‘60 Minutes’ during a meeting on Tuesday when she asked a provocative question: Why does the country think you’re biased?” the Times reported.
The question reportedly “was met with stunned awkwardness,” according to three people familiar with the private meeting in Midtown Manhattan.
The Times said the “60 Minutes” staff “view their coverage as firmly nonpartisan and reject criticism from President Trump and his allies who argue that it has a liberal slant.”
Weiss Challenges Status Quo Inside CBS
Weiss, who took over as editor-in-chief earlier this year, is reportedly adopting a far more hands-on approach than her predecessors, personally helping to book guests and steering editorial direction at the network.
According to the Times, Weiss has helped secure high-profile interviews with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Middle East policy advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
She has also made clear that she intends to clamp down on internal leaks after reports and memos from private meetings were shared with the press.
Despite some resistance from left-leaning journalists within the network, others appear optimistic about her leadership.
“The Times reported that some staff members are ‘hopeful’ about Weiss’ leadership, believing it will bring ‘some needed energy’ to the network’s news division.”
“Her interest in big interviews and bigger audiences has buoyed some CBS journalists, who think their network, which has cycled through five presidents in five years, needs a shake-up,” the Times added.
“‘I love to win,’ she told a group of top producers in her first week.”
Fallout from Trump Lawsuit Still Lingers
The reported exchange comes less than a year after “60 Minutes” and CBS faced major controversy tied to coverage of President Donald Trump.
In 2024, Trump filed a lawsuit against CBS News, alleging that the network had deceptively edited an interview between former Vice President Kamala Harris and “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Whitaker ahead of the presidential election.
CBS and its parent company, Paramount Global, agreed to pay Trump a $16 million settlement in July, following months of legal dispute over the edited segment.
A Cultural Shift at CBS
Weiss’s willingness to question entrenched assumptions and challenge newsroom culture marks a sharp departure from CBS’s recent leadership.
Her pointed question — “Why does the country think you’re biased?” — appears to have hit a nerve inside one of America’s most established broadcast institutions.
While some within CBS resist change, others see Weiss’s tenure as a potential turning point.
Weiss’s role is aimed at rebuilding credibility and restoring trust with an audience long skeptical of mainstream media narratives.
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