Former CBS News correspondent Scott Pelley on Sunday accused CBS News chief Bari Weiss of editorial interference and called for her removal from the network’s leadership in his first interview since being fired, telling The New York Times that “CBS News is on fire.”
Pelley, who spent 37 years at CBS News as a White House correspondent, anchor of the CBS Evening News, and correspondent for 60 Minutes, said his firing came during a period of upheaval that included a controversial settlement with US President Donald Trump, the sale of Paramount to David Ellison, the appointment of Weiss to lead CBS News, and a series of dismissals at 60 Minutes.
Pelley recounts events leading to firing
Pelley described the recent changes at 60 Minutes as a shock, noting that they came after what he characterized as a highly successful season for the program.
He said staff members were stunned by the removal of senior leadership, including executive producer Tanya Simon, and the appointment of Nick Bilton as the show’s new executive producer.
According to Pelley, Bilton’s arrival raised concerns among staff because he lacked prior experience managing a television news operation.
Pelley also described a tense staff meeting during which he challenged Bilton’s appointment and questioned why longtime employees had not received a fuller explanation for the leadership changes.
Shortly afterward, Pelley said he was called into a meeting with CBS News president Tom Cibrowski and was informed that his conduct during the staff meeting constituted grounds for termination. Pelley denied allegations that he physically intimidated Bilton and said he was subsequently dismissed from the network.
Claims of editorial interference
A significant portion of the interview focused on Pelley’s allegations that Weiss attempted to influence coverage of politically sensitive stories.
Pelley told The New York Times that Weiss sought changes to a report on protests in Minneapolis related to immigration enforcement operations, arguing the edits would have portrayed protesters as more aggressive and aligned with the administration’s version of events.
He said he rejected the proposed changes after reviewing the underlying footage and concluded that the available evidence did not support the characterization Weiss wanted included in the report.
Pelley described the incident as an example of what he viewed as political influence being exerted on newsroom decisions.
CBS News disputed those allegations, telling The New York Times that Weiss’s comments were part of a standard editorial process intended to make the report “as strong, fair, and accurate as possible.” The network also rejected claims that Weiss had acted on behalf of a political agenda.
Calls for leadership changes
Pelley argued that the larger problem at CBS News was a lack of experience among members of the network’s new leadership team.
While acknowledging Weiss’s success as founder of The Free Press, he questioned whether she was qualified to run a major television news organization.
Asked directly whether Weiss should remain in her position, Pelley responded that she should not.
He also claimed trust inside CBS News had been severely damaged following the recent firings and leadership changes.
In the interview’s closing moments, Pelley expressed hope that Paramount leadership would reconsider the direction of the news division and restore what he described as stability and editorial independence.
“We can save this. It’s possible to land this plane,” he said. “But right now, CBS News is on fire.”
