Big Changes at "60 Minutes": A Simple Guide to the New Reporters and Behind-the-Scenes Drama

What is Happening with "60 Minutes"?

“60 Minutes” is a famous TV news show on CBS. Think of it as a team of reporters (called correspondents) who tell important true stories. The new 2026-27 season starts in just two months! But four well-known correspondents have left: Scott Pelley, Sharon Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega, and Anderson Cooper. CBS bosses are now trying to find new people to fill their spots.

Important Point: A "correspondent" is just a fancy word for a reporter who appears on camera to tell the news.

Who Might Be the New Reporters?

A CBS spokesperson said the company is looking at many people from inside and outside the business, but wouldn’t name names. However, here are the possible new faces we know about:

• Seth Doane: He lives in Italy and often appears on "CBS Sunday Morning."
• Jim Axelrod: He is the top investigative reporter (someone who digs for truth) and has a lead role in the “Eye On America” series on the “CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil.”
• Trevor Phillips: A British reporter and former politician who just joined as senior global affairs correspondent. He used to host “Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips” on Sky News. He got a knighthood (a special award from the King) in 2022 for helping with equality and human rights. However, he made comments about the British Muslim community that caused controversy and got him suspended from his political party (Labor Party) for a year in 2020.
• Matt Gutman: He joined CBS last year from ABC News as a national correspondent. He is now being shown to test audiences (like a sneak peek to see if viewers like him).
• Holly Williams: She has been a foreign correspondent in Istanbul (Turkey) for CBS since 2012.
• Mariana van Zeller: A journalist from the National Geographic Channel who is still being considered.

Who is Staying and Who Else is Helping?

Some familiar faces are staying on the show:

• Bill Whitaker
• Lesley Stahl
• Jon Wertheim
• Norah O’Donnell (she is also a "senior" correspondent and will occasionally host special episodes)

And here is how others will help out:

1. Tony Dokoupil (a news anchor) is expected to tell four “60 Minutes” stories per season.
2. Major Garrett (CBS’s top Washington correspondent) will be a contributor (a helper).
3. Trevor Phillips is expected to get a role on the program too.

Why Did the Old Reporters Leave? (The Big Shake-Up)

This part is like a schoolyard drama. Here is the simple timeline of what happened:

1. New Boss Arrives: Bari Weiss became the editor-in-chief (head of news) at CBS in October.
2. Cooper Bows Out: Back in February, Anderson Cooper decided not to sign a new contract (he also works for CNN and wanted more family time). He privately told coworkers he didn’t want to work for Weiss.
3. May Firings: On May 28, Weiss’s team let go of Alfonsi and Vega, plus the show’s executive producer Tanya Simon and her assistant Draggan Mihailovich.
4. Pelley Fired: Last month, Scott Pelley was fired for cause. He was angry about the May firings and argued with bosses at a June 1 meeting. He had said Weiss was trying to “murder” the show and unfairly favoring the Trump administration.

Important Point: Before all this drama, the show was super successful! In its 57th season, it was the most-watched news program with 9.1 million viewers a week (according to Nielsen data), and it grew 9% while most TV shows shrank.

The Business Side: Why Is CBS Doing This?

Paramount (the giant company that owns CBS) bought Bari Weiss’s website, The Free Press, which criticizes progressive policies and strongly supports Israel. Paramount’s CEO David Ellison hired her to move the news to the “political center.”

Some people think CBS is trying to be extra nice to the Trump administration because Paramount wants the government to approve a massive $111-billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery (which owns CNN).

Important Point: Even with the drama, CBS reporters are doing fair work—like a “CBS Sunday Morning” story by national security correspondent David Martin about the Department of Defense messing with the editorial freedom of Stars & Stripes (a military newspaper).

Also, Trump was very upset about his last interview with O’Donnell, which happened the day after April 25, when a gunman tried to enter the White House Correspondents Association dinner.

Summary

“60 Minutes” is getting a big makeover for its 2026-27 season after several longtime reporters left following the arrival of new boss Bari Weiss. CBS is considering new reporters like Seth Doane, Jim Axelrod, Trevor Phillips, Matt Gutman, Holly Williams, and Mariana van Zeller, while keeping stars like Bill Whitaker and Norah O’Donnell. The changes come from a mix of political shifts at the company and a giant business merger, but the show remains very popular and its journalists are still doing strong work.

FAQ

1. What is a correspondent?
A correspondent is just a TV reporter who goes out to gather facts and tell stories on the news.

2. Why was Scott Pelley fired?
He was fired after he argued with management about his colleagues (and show leaders) being let go. He also said the new boss was being unfair about political coverage favoring Trump.

3. Who is Bari Weiss?
She is the new top editor at CBS News, hired after Paramount bought her website. She is tasked with moving the news to the political center.

4. Is "60 Minutes" still popular?
Yes! Before the drama, it was the most-watched news show on TV with over 9.1 million viewers each week and grew its audience by 9%.

5. Why does the Trump administration matter to CBS’s business?
CBS’s parent company needs government approval for a $111 billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery, so some think they are trying to avoid upsetting Trump.