CBS Names New 60 Minutes Lineup After Major Shakeup

CBS announced a new slate of correspondents and contributors for the 59th season of 60 Minutes on Tuesday, appointing New York Times columnist Ross Douthat as a correspondent. Executive producer Nick Bilton also promoted former network anchor Norah O'Donnell to a full-time correspondent and added Sebastian Junger, Gianna Toboni, and Trevor Phillips as contributors.

These appointments follow a period of significant turmoil and a May restructuring led by Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. The shakeup resulted in the departures of longtime correspondents Scott Pelley, Sharyn Alfonsi, and Cecilia Vega, as well as former executive producer Tanya Simon and executive editor Draggan Mihailovich. Anderson Cooper also left the program earlier this year. Pelley, Alfonsi, and Vega have accused CBS News leadership of interfering with the show's editorial independence, though the network denies these claims.

The restructuring comes amid reported ratings declines for the CBS Evening News and a lawsuit from Donald Trump concerning the editing of a 2024 interview with Kamala Harris. Veteran correspondents Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim will remain with the program. The new season is scheduled to premiere on September 13.