Vega Criticizes 60 Minutes Under Weiss

The former correspondent's remarks come as the CBS newsmagazine faces a creative overhaul and a steep ratings decline.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Television

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a single broadcast mast with a studio-camera housing against a navy field, evoking institutional strain at a television newsmagazine. — Former 60 Minutes correspondent Cecilia Vega criticized the newsmagazine under CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss as its October broadcast drew 5.6 million viewers, down from 9.1 million. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Cecilia Vega criticized the state of 60 Minutes under CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, weeks after she was fired from the program on May 28, 2026. The October 25, 2026 broadcast drew 5.6 million viewers, down from an average of 9.1 million during Season 58.

Why it matters

The criticism lands during a period of major turnover at one of television's longest-running newsmagazines, which has seen several key staff dismissed in 2026. The ratings drop raises questions for CBS about the show's direction as it returns for its 59th season.

The October 25, 2026 broadcast of 60 Minutes drew 5.6 million viewers, compared with a Season 58 average of 9.1 million. The extraction does not say whether the drop continued across subsequent episodes.

The players

Cecilia Vega

A former 60 Minutes correspondent whose 2026 firing and public criticism of the program's direction have drawn attention to the newsmagazine's internal turmoil.

Bari Weiss

The CBS News Editor-in-Chief whose leadership of the network's news division has been central to the 2026 overhaul and staff departures at 60 Minutes.

Scott Pelley

A longtime 60 Minutes correspondent who was fired after publicly accusing Bari Weiss of murdering the show.

Nick Bilton

A journalist who was the only figure to attend the staff meeting held after the May 2026 firings and who addressed employees by reading a statement.

The details

Vega alleged in July 2026 that she was pressured to exude bias into her stories, and she was fired on May 28, 2026, along with Sharyn Alfonsi, Tanya Simon, and Draggan Mihailovich. Scott Pelley was also fired after accusing Bari Weiss of murdering the show, and only Nick Bilton attended the staff meeting held afterward, reading a statement from his phone without looking up at employees.

May 28, 2026: Staff firings at 60 Minutes, internally referred to as 'Black Thursday.'
July 2026: Vega alleged she was pressured to exude bias into her stories.
September 2026: 60 Minutes returned to the schedule for its 59th season.
October 25, 2026: The broadcast drew 5.6 million viewers.

Industry Dynamics

The dispute over 60 Minutes is part of a larger test of how legacy broadcast newsmagazines retain audiences as their editorial leadership changes. The 2026 firings and the ratings decline place the program's Season 59 return under close scrutiny from both viewers and industry observers.

Viewers who follow 60 Minutes will see whether the Season 59 lineup reflects the 2026 staff changes. The program airs on CBS, so audience access depends on the network's regular broadcast schedule.

The takeaway

The 60 Minutes dispute shows how quickly editorial leadership changes can ripple through a long-running program's staff and audience. Readers following the show should watch whether ratings recover as the Season 59 lineup takes shape.