CBS News Relaunches '60 Minutes' Under Bari Weiss After Summer Staff Changes

Industry Pulse News Desk · 2026-09-13

CBS News executives issued a memo to staff ahead of the 59th season premiere of "60 Minutes," marking a relaunch under editor Bari Weiss and lead producer Nick Bilton.

CBS News leadership heralded the premiere of the 59th season of "60 Minutes" in a company-wide memo sent Sunday, signaling a formal relaunch of the program under top editor Bari Weiss and lead producer Nick Bilton. The debut follows a summer marked by staff exits and internal restructuring at the network.

The new season features a roster of ten regular contributors and five main correspondents, including veteran team members Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, Jon Wertheim, and Norah O'Donnell. They are joined by Ross Douthat, who was hired in July. Additional contributors for the season include Matt Gutman, Sebastian Junger, Gianna Toboni, Trevor Phillips, and Ariel Levy.

In their note to staff, network leaders highlighted the premiere episode's lineup, which includes an interview with a U.S. Air Force officer rescued from Iran in April. The season opener also features an undercover investigation, a profile of a prominent NFL head coach, and a report examining developments in artificial intelligence.

The relaunch arrives after early-summer friction surrounding the program's editorial direction. Bilton was appointed by Weiss in May, leading to executive changes and the departure of long-time correspondent Scott Pelley following internal disagreements. Correspondents Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi also recently departed the newsroom.

Despite the recent turmoil, returning correspondents Stahl, Whitaker, and Wertheim confirmed their intention to stay with the program, reiterating their commitment to maintaining the broadcast's legacy of independent journalism.