60 Minutes’ Lesley Stahl Speaks Out on Recent Firings, Says New Boss Must Understand One Key Thing

Lesley Stahl, one of the longest-serving journalists in U.S. television news, says the recent wave of firings and leadership changes at CBS News has been the hardest and worst period of her more than 50-year career. Stahl, who has worked at CBS for 55 years and is now 84, said she has witnessed major historic events, including Watergate and the fallout from her well-known interview with Donald Trump, but nothing has felt as jarring as the dismissal of several trusted colleagues at once.

The changes at CBS News reportedly came under the direction of Bari Weiss, the company’s editor-in-chief. Among those let go were executive producer Tanya Simon, correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, producer Draggan Mihailovich, and segment producers Guy Campanile and Matthew Polevoy. Scott Pelley was also terminated after confronting newly hired executive producer Nick Bilton over his lack of experience. Stahl said the firings were sudden and disruptive, noting that Campanile was called while preparing to travel to Madrid, where he was originally scheduled to work on a segment.

Stahl described Tanya Simon’s firing as especially shocking. According to her account, Simon believed she was meeting with Weiss to discuss the upcoming season, only to be dismissed within minutes and told to clear out her office along with her deputy producer. Stahl said the remaining staff was given no clear explanation for why the people were removed, and she criticized the lack of transparency. She also said CBS considered Pelley “insubordinate” for pressing for answers about the firings.

Despite the turmoil, Stahl emphasized that her main concern is protecting the integrity of 60 Minutes, the long-running CBS newsmagazine she has helped define for decades. She said she met with Nick Bilton over dinner on Wednesday, June 3, after returning from Madrid, and used the opportunity to urge him not to make unnecessary changes to the Sunday night broadcast. Stahl said she understands the need for the show to expand its digital presence, including podcasts and YouTube, but argued that the core TV program should remain untouched because it is still successful and remains one of the most-watched non-sports shows on television.

Stahl said the broadcast is not broken and should not be “fixed” in ways that risk damaging what has already worked for 60 years. Although morale is reportedly low following the layoffs, she said the 60 Minutes team is continuing to adapt and is making more of an effort online. Still, she warned that drastic behind-the-scenes changes could threaten the momentum the program has maintained.

The CBS veteran’s remarks suggest deep unease inside one of television news’s most iconic institutions as it enters a new season under a reshaped leadership structure. Stahl, however, appears determined to continue working and to defend the show’s legacy as it faces an uncertain future.