Scott Pelley says "CBS News is on fire" and news editor Bari Weiss should be fired.
«"I hope Paramount executives say to themselves: This isn't working," Pelley said in an interview with The New York Times, his first since being fired from CBS on June 2.
Pelley said he believed Weiss was "trying to influence the situation" in favor of the Trump administration during the final season of "60 Minutes.".
A CBS News spokesman said Pelley's arguments were not credible and that there was no political interference within the news organization.
According to Pelley, the main problem was "not any political influence. The problem was incompetence.".
An interview published Sunday morning confirmed that Pelley has no plans to go quietly after the controversial staffing purge at "60 Minutes," the most popular news program on American television.
A representative for Weiss declined to comment on CNN's request for an interview with Pelley.
«"Cleaning Up" on 60 Minutes»
In late May, Weiss forced the departure of executive producer Tanya Simon, several other top producers, and two correspondents, Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi.
Simon, who has not publicly commented on the changes, "was absolutely stunned by it," Pelley said.
However, rumors of a revamped version of the program under Weiss's leadership had been circulating for several months. According to people close to her, Weiss concluded that the current "60 Minutes" team was resisting necessary changes and was unable to adapt to the streaming era.
On the same day as the layoffs, Weiss appointed an outsider, former tech writer Nick Bilton, as CEO, further upsetting employees, whom Pelley described as "heartbroken.".
CBS News is known for its insularity and careful handling of its culture, and veterans of the program say that's precisely why its independence and integrity deserve to be protected.
However, those close to Weiss insist the show needs outside energy and ideas. One source said her efforts are aimed at ensuring "60 Minutes—and its DNA of incisive interviews, in-depth investigations, and serious journalism—can survive in a changing media landscape.".
The conflict between Weiss and the staff of the 60 Minutes program was caused by mutual distrust and was overshadowed by political intrigue.
CBS's parent company, Paramount, has sought a close relationship with President Donald Trump while simultaneously seeking Trump administration approval for its purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery, which includes CNN. Some "60 Minutes" veterans claim that CBS is trying to soften the "60 Minutes" format to please Trump, a charge the network denies.
Now Pelley is voicing those concerns too, saying the leadership is "displaying a hidden political bias.".
During a heated meeting with staff last Monday, Pelley called Weiss "incompetent" and questioned Bilton's competence.
Pelley was fired the following day, with Bilton justifying the dismissal by stating that Pelley's "spectacular display of hostility" showed that "you have no interest in contributing to the future success of the show, or in approaching my new position with an open mind to collaboration and progress.".
Pelley told The Times that he clashed with Bilton because "someone had to stand up for not just the broadcast but the people.".
Many "60 Minutes" veterans cited the high ratings, questioning why Weiss would try to fix something that was already working so well. Pelley called the ratings increase last season on 9% "unprecedented for broadcast television.".
In fact, ratings for CBS's regular season NFL broadcasts were up 11%, significantly boosting the popularity of 60 Minutes for much of the season.
Pelley also disputed the notion that 60 Minutes has not evolved with the times.
«"We launched our first online show, '60 Minutes,' '60 Minutes Overtime,' in 2010," he said. "I make vertical videos for TikTok, or at least I used to make them on every assignment. We're there. We're everywhere.".
Scott Pelley (pictured) told The New York Times that CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss exerted "political influence" on his "60 Minutes" story about Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis. — Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/File
Weiss shows little interest in the newsmagazine's history of experimentation. Her management team, largely composed of people outside CBS, expressed surprise at how outdated some aspects of the newsroom seemed. They insisted on change—and the current scandal is the result.
Pelley told CNN contributor Lulu Garcia-Navarro in an interview that Weiss "is a wonderful person. And the organization she founded, Free Press, has been very successful. But television isn't her strong point. It's like someone coming to me and saying, 'Here's a Boeing 747 with 400 people on board, we need you to fly it to Paris.' I'd say no because I have no idea how.".
Pelley's Intervention Statement
Garcia-Navarro asked Pelley to elaborate on his recent accusation that management "instructed me to insert falsehoods and bias into a politically sensitive story" and that he ignored that instruction.
He said the report in question was from February 1 and was headlined "Calls for an independent investigation into the Minneapolis shooting are growing.".
Pelley said he worked hard to present a balanced picture of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's actions in Minneapolis, where federal agents shot and killed two protesters.
He said Weiss sent Simon notes "about four hours after our deadline" urging changes to align with Trump's account of the shooting.
The CBS Broadcast Center in Manhattan, New York, June 2, 2026. — Al Drago/Getty Images
Pelley said it was like "a level of political influence I've never seen in my 37 years at CBS News.".
A CBS News spokesperson said the feedback Weiss sent to Simon "was not politically motivated and was offered solely to make the story as compelling, objective, and accurate as possible.".
Pelley expressed concern about both the reviews and their timing, as they arrived just hours before the broadcast, echoing Alfonsi's complaint about Weiss's interference in the airing of her "Inside CECOT" report last winter.
People close to Weiss said Pelley's comments reflected a stubbornness and insubordination that are unacceptable in any work environment.
But Pelley's interview indicates he will continue to publicly defend the news program's unique features, viewing it as part of a larger fight over the future of CBS News.
And Pelley continues to receive widespread support. After reading the interview, former "60 Minutes" correspondent Armen Keteyian wrote on X: "Incredible. Scott has expressed the views of every family member, past and present. Every word.".
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