Scott Pelley, a longtime correspondent for “60 Minutes,” erupted during a Monday staff meeting, accusing CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss of “murdering” the program. The confrontation unfolded as the show’s newly hired executive producer, Nick Bilton, tried to r
The tension didn’t build slowly. It snapped into the air inside a “60 Minutes” staff meeting at 10 a.m. Monday, as Scott Pelley—one of the program’s best-known voices—turned directly on the people now running the show and accused them of destroying it.
Pelley’s anger was so immediate that. at one point. the exchange became physical in tone. with raised warnings and rebuttals flying back and forth as the meeting moved from introductions to a fight about the show’s future. A recording of the session—obtained by The New York Times—captures Pelley lashing out at Bari Weiss. the CBS editor in chief. and Nick Bilton. the newly appointed executive producer.
Pelley told Bilton that he had “slender” qualifications for the job and said Weiss was “murdering” “60 Minutes.” He said. “She does not love this place. She was brought in to kill it. and she’s been doing exactly that.” He added that changes Weiss had made at the “Evening News” had been “catastrophic. ” and asked why “any of this is going to be any better.”.
Monday’s gathering was meant to be formal: Bilton’s introduction to the staff at the program’s midtown Manhattan headquarters in New York City. Bilton. a tech journalist and filmmaker. was appointed last week as part of what CBS described as a major shake-up for the Sunday news institution. CBS fired Tanya Simon, the previous executive producer, and her deputy. The network also let go of Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, two correspondents.
Pelley referred to the firings as “Black Thursday.”
Weiss did not attend the meeting. A CBS executive at the gathering said Weiss had been “prepared to come, and we asked her not to,” pointing to the staff’s ill feelings surrounding the firings.
Before the confrontation, Bilton attempted to calm staff members who feared he would rewrite the program’s identity. “For me, the journalism is the journalism,” Bilton said, according to the recording. “That is why I am here. That is why we are all here.” He added that rumors claiming he would turn the show into “60 one-minute episodes” or make it more like “TikTok” were not changing the program. saying. “The show is going to stay exactly like it is for now.”.
Bilton also warned that the broadcast television industry that incubated “60 Minutes” would soon be obsolete. “Broadcast is an ice cube that is melting, OK?” he said. “Bari loves this institution,” Bilton added.
That was when Pelley interrupted.
“She is murdering ‘60 Minutes,’” Pelley said. He also questioned whether Bilton was joining a team that intended to keep the show intact, telling him, “She does not love this place.”
Bilton responded sharply but with a plan. “Well, I will show you. That’s what I have to say. That is my plan over the next two weeks. I’ll be meeting with everyone. I’m very excited to meet with everyone, yourself included.”
Pelley pressed Bilton repeatedly on why CBS had fired Alfonsi and Vega. Bilton told the meeting those decisions predated his hiring.
Pelley then asked why Bilton accepted a position on a program “knowing that you will never be welcome here.”
“I have no problem taking a job in a place that I am not welcome in,” Bilton said. “I don’t think that will be the case.” He added: “I have been a journalist for 25 years, Scott. I’ve sat across from incredibly powerful people like you have, and none of it intimidates me. OK?. So you are not going to intimidate me in front of this group of people. I want that to be clear.”.
Bilton said he wanted to help “60 Minutes” avoid the fate of old-media stalwarts that failed to adapt, citing Time magazine. When he said, “I care so deeply about this institution,” Pelley interrupted: “Oh, please.”
The meeting also included an attempt to rein in the tone. Charles Forelle, a top deputy to Weiss, urged Pelley not to act “rude” toward Bilton. Pelley replied, “I’m not being rude. You know what was rude? Black Thursday was rude.”
The disagreement was not starting from scratch. Weiss’ handling of “60 Minutes” has generated turmoil for months. In December. Weiss pulled a segment reported by Alfonsi about the brutal treatment of migrants in a Salvadoran prison. saying it needed more reporting. Alfonsi said the decision was “political.” The piece ultimately aired with some additional comments from the Trump administration.
Monday’s meeting ended earlier than many expected. After roughly 15 minutes, Bilton moved to conclude the session, encouraging staff to eat the food laid out for the introduction.
“I just want to thank everyone for graciously being so welcoming,” Bilton said, according to the recording. “I look forward to talking to you in a one-on-one setting as these meetings are scheduled. And enjoy the bagels.”
After Bilton left, the “60 Minutes” staff applauded Pelley.
CBS News did not respond to a request for comment.
Weiss and Bilton had reached out to Pelley several times in recent days for a private discussion, but Pelley did not respond, according to two people familiar with the exchanges.
CBS 60 Minutes Scott Pelley Bari Weiss Nick Bilton Tanya Simon Sharyn Alfonsi Cecilia Vega media shake-up Black Thursday