‘60 Minutes’ Staff Recoil at MAGA-Curious Boss’ ‘Joke’ Hires
The Daily Beast • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Staff at CBS’s 60 Minutes are unhappy with new hires made by network boss Bari Weiss, particularly Ross Douthat, a right-wing New York Times columnist with no reporting or on-camera experience.
- Executive producer Nick Bilton praised Douthat as a leading public intellectual, but insiders question the suitability of Douthat and other recent additions like Sebastian Junger and Sir Trevor Phillips for the flagship investigative program.
- Industry veterans doubt the new hires have the experience or public profiles to enhance the show, comparing them unfavorably to past 60 Minutes legends such as Mike Wallace and Diane Sawyer.
- Bilton has struggled to fill senior producer roles and has been criticized for his management style, with insiders describing interviews as airing grievances and questioning his leadership approach.
- The shake-up under Weiss, who lacks broadcast experience and is seen as steering CBS News rightward, has coincided with sliding ratings, with CBS Evening News failing to clear 4 million viewers for four consecutive months.
