Lesley Stahl Denies Report She Considered Quitting '60 Minutes' Over Editorial Dispute
Sources close to the veteran correspondent state she is committed to the program, despite a reported disagreement with CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss regarding a segment on Israeli settlers.
Lesley Stahl, a veteran correspondent for CBS News' "60 Minutes," has reportedly indicated she would "never quit" the program, pushing back against a report suggesting she considered leaving after a disagreement with CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. Sources familiar with Stahl told The Post on Tuesday that the 84-year-old journalist is deeply committed to "60 Minutes" and has no intention of departing.
The report, originating from the Status newsletter, alleged that Weiss and her deputy, Charles Forelle, became heavily involved in editing Stahl's segment on Israeli settlers in the West Bank. This level of editorial intervention reportedly led Stahl to privately contemplate resigning from the show. According to the report, Forelle suggested tabling the segment, but Stahl strongly objected and ultimately saw her version of the piece aired on Sunday.
CBS News has dismissed the report as "ludicrous," asserting that Stahl's West Bank segment underwent a "rigorous editorial process."
Insiders described Stahl as "addicted" to her role on the newsmagazine, with one source stating, "She's not going anywhere. It's her life." This source contrasted Stahl's dedication with former "60 Minutes" correspondents Scott Pelley and Sharyn Alfonsi, who are now journalists in residence at Columbia Journalism School, suggesting they have become "irrelevant."
Stahl, along with fellow veteran correspondents Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim, had previously navigated a period of significant change at "60 Minutes." This included the departure of several senior producers and correspondents following clashes with Weiss, which some staff perceived as the injection of "bias" into reports, a claim CBS News denied. David Ellison, owner of CBS News' parent company Skydance, reportedly personally assured Stahl of the network's commitment to "60 Minutes'" editorial independence after she renewed her two-year contract.
The reported dispute with Weiss over the West Bank segment is seen by some as indicative of a shifting power dynamic within CBS News. This follows a previous incident in December where a segment on migrant inmates from El Salvador's CECOT prison, reported by Sharyn Alfonsi, was initially shelved by Weiss. Alfonsi reportedly pushed back, accusing Weiss of making a "political" rather than editorial decision. The segment eventually aired with minor changes, and Alfonsi's contract was not renewed afterward.
In Stahl's case, Weiss reportedly did not hold the West Bank piece, leading to speculation that she may have avoided further negative press or complications for Ellison, whose company recently acquired Warner Bros. Discovery. Weiss's own future role at Skydance has been a subject of discussion following the merger, with some anticipating a potential shift from her current position as CBS News boss.