FCC Chair Brendan Carr criticized former 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley on social media after Pelley said in a New York Times interview that being fired was “the furthest thing from my mind.” Carr argued that low public trust in media stems from veteran journalists being “out of touch,” adding that such behavior would not be tolerated in ordinary workplaces.
The dispute centers on a broader leadership shake-up at CBS News and 60 Minutes, where Pelley says new management has introduced political pressure and editorial interference. In the Times interview, Pelley accused CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and the network’s leadership of showing “subtle political bias” and of attempting to influence coverage of the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the protests that followed in Minneapolis. Pelley said he was asked to portray protesters as more violent, which he described as a form of political influence he had never experienced in 37 years at CBS News.
CBS, however, rejected that interpretation. A network spokesperson said Weiss’s suggestions were part of routine editorial back-and-forth and were intended to make the story stronger, fairer and more accurate. The spokesperson said the proposed edits were not politically motivated and that, as in many newsroom discussions, not every suggestion made it into the final report.
Tensions escalated after the arrival of new executive producer Nick Bilton on May 28, when several staff changes followed, including the departures of correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega and executive editor Draggan Mihailovich. During Bilton’s first meeting with the staff, Pelley reportedly accused Weiss of “murdering” the show and questioned the qualifications of both Weiss and Bilton.
Former 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens, who resigned in April 2025 over concerns that editorial independence could no longer be guaranteed, publicly praised Pelley for speaking out. Shortly after the confrontation, Pelley was dismissed following an emergency meeting. He later told the Times he was shocked by the decision and believed the meeting would continue into a longer discussion, but instead CBS News president Tom Cibrowski ended it abruptly.
Bilton’s termination letter said Pelley’s “antipathy to the future of the show” made continued employment impossible and stated that his firing was effective immediately. Pelley, a 37-year CBS News veteran and multiple Emmy winner, responded that the leadership of 60 Minutes was “no longer recognizable,” saying the principles he valued were gone and alleging that new management had directed him to inject falsehoods and bias into a politically sensitive story.
Weiss defended the decision, saying CBS had tried to find a way to keep Pelley but could not do so and that leaving was ultimately “the path that he chose.” Pelley has rejected that account, saying he was effectively fired and that there was never any real attempt to resolve the dispute.
After Pelley’s exit, Bilton told staff the company would not be directed by ownership on editorial decisions, but insiders told Deadline morale is extremely low. Labor groups including SAG-AFTRA and the WGAE also condemned the management actions, warning that journalists have legal protections when raising workplace concerns and saying they are prepared to support any legal response to the company’s conduct.
