CBS News boss Bari Weiss blindsides Lesley Stahl over Netanyahu interview: report

Key Points:

• CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss assigned Major Garrett, a CBS News White House correspondent but not a “60 Minutes” correspondent, to conduct Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s first major US broadcast interview since the Iran war, bypassing longtime “60 Minutes” star Lesley Stahl who had sought the interview for months.
• This decision sparked frustration among “60 Minutes” staffers who felt Weiss circumvented the traditional team, with some believing Netanyahu preferred Garrett for being a more agreeable interviewer; executive producer Tanya Simon reportedly resisted airing the interview on “60 Minutes” but logistical constraints left it as the only option.
• Weiss has increasingly asserted editorial control over CBS News and “60 Minutes,” causing alarm among staff amid reports of looming shakeups, including shelving a controversial prison report by correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi and potential changes to the program’s lineup as Alfonsi’s contract nears expiration.
• Internal critics accuse Weiss of pushing an ideological agenda, particularly with pro-Israel views influencing coverage decisions, highlighted by the ousting of London bureau chief Claire Day after disagreements over Middle East reporting and allegations of an ideological “purity test” under Weiss’ leadership.