CBS News Fires Veteran Journalist Scott Pelley from ‘60 Minutes’

Veteran correspondent Scott Pelley was terminated by CBS News on June 2 2026 after a heated clash with new 60 Minutes executive producer Nick Bilton and editor‑in‑chief Bari Weiss. Pelley accused the leadership of demanding he insert falsehoods and bias into politically sensitive stories and claimed the network was trying to curry favor with the Trump administration following the acquisition of Paramount by David Ellison.

CBS said the dismissal was “with cause,” while Bilton later issued a memo asserting the program’s editorial independence. Other senior correspondents — Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim — confirmed they will stay with the show. The firing sparked public criticism, including jokes from Jimmy Kimmel and commentary from media figures about the erosion of journalistic standards.

The episode highlights ongoing tensions at CBS over ownership changes, editorial control and the pressures facing legacy news outlets in the streaming era.