The Steady Drip: '60 Minutes' Stars Defend Staying Amid Turmoil (Connecting the Dots: CBS News, 60 Minutes, Scott Pelley & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

'60 Minutes' Stars Defend Staying Amid Turmoil (Connecting the Dots: CBS News, 60 Minutes, Scott Pelley & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

Newsmax.com

By Solange Reyner | Friday, 05 June 2026 04:51 PM EDT

https://www.newsmax.com/thewire/60-minutes-cbs-lesley-stahl/2026/06/05/id/1258707/

Three veteran correspondents at CBS News' "60 Minutes" said they remain committed to the long-running newsmagazine despite concerns about recent leadership changes, warning in a memo to colleagues that they would leave if the program can no longer produce independent journalism.

In a memo obtained by Axios, correspondents Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim said they chose to remain at the program because they do not want to see "60 Minutes" disappear, even as they continue to object to recent management decisions.

"Newsrooms are not supposed to be run like dictatorships," the correspondents wrote. "Collaboration and argument are the way we have always worked at 60."

The trio said they worried that returning to work could be interpreted as support for the program's current leadership.

"We feared that our returning might be construed as an endorsement of the existing power structure. That is simply, categorically not the case," they wrote.

The correspondents said they remain "still deeply upset" over the firings of former Executive Producer Tanya Simon and Executive Editor Draggan Mihailovich, two longtime figures associated with the program.

At the same time, Stahl, Whitaker, and Wertheim said they're trying to work with Nick Bilton, who was recently installed as executive producer.

The appointment has been a hot-button issue. Correspondent Scott Pelley publicly criticized Bilton's qualifications for the role, saying he was poorly suited to lead the iconic news program.

Pelley was fired Tuesday, a day after he reportedly said CBS News head Bari Weiss was "murdering the show" and accused Bilton of having "slender qualifications" for the job.

The move deepened the turmoil at the nation's most influential TV news program, days after a leadership overhaul.

Despite their concerns, the correspondents said they are trying to establish a working relationship with Bilton and preserve the editorial standards that have defined "60 Minutes" for decades.

The correspondents said their continued presence at the program depends on whether it can maintain its journalistic mission.

"If we can continue doing the work that made this show what it is — committing acts of independent, fearless journalism and storytelling — we're here for it," they wrote. "If not, we leave."

Connecting the Dots:

Scott Pelley is a correspondent for 60 Minutes and an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was a funder for the International Rescue Committee.

Michael R. Bloomberg was a donor for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Howard G. Buffett is a director at the ONE Campaign and Warren E. Buffett’s son.

Susan A. Buffett is a director at the ONE Campaign and Warren E. Buffett’s daughter.

Warren E. Buffett is an adviser at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and Howard G. Buffett & Susan A. Buffett’s father.

Michael Douglas is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a friend of George Soros.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of and the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the Center for American Progress.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a supporter for the Center for American Progress, is a friend of Michael Douglas and the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the Center for American Progress.

Morton H. Halperin is a senior adviser for the Open Society Foundations, a director at the ONE Campaign, Mark Halperin’s father, served with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and a director at the Debt AIDS Trade Africa.

Debt AIDS Trade Africa is a merged organization with the ONE Campaign.

Andrew Carnegie was the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the founder of and the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the Center for American Progress and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ted Lieu was honored with the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrants Award, has represented California's 36th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Astrid S. Tuminez was a program officer at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and is the 7th President of the Utah Valley University (Charlie Kirk Shooting).

Mark Halperin is Morton H. Halperin’s son, In 2010, Halperin joined MSNBC, becoming the senior political analyst and a contributor, the founding editor for Bloomberg Politics, and is currently a host and commentator for Newsmax TV.

Harold E. Ford Jr. is a political commentator at MSNBC and was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

Scott Pelley is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and a correspondent for 60 Minutes.

International Rescue Committee is a partner with the ONE Campaign.

Michael R. Bloomberg is an advocate for the ONE Campaign and the founder of Bloomberg LP.

Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign and a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

R. Eden Martin is counsel at Sidley Austin LLP and the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Newton N. Minow was a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

David A. Hamburg was the president emeritus for the Carnegie Corporation of New York and an adviser for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Michael Douglas is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a friend of George Soros.

Warren E. Buffett is an adviser at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and Howard G. Buffett & Susan A. Buffett’s father.

Howard G. Buffett is Warren E. Buffett’s son and a director at the ONE Campaign.

Susan A. Buffett is Warren E. Buffett’s daughter and a director at the ONE Campaign.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Scott Pelley is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and a correspondent for 60 Minutes.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign and a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

R. Eden Martin is counsel at Sidley Austin LLP and the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Newton N. Minow was a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, a director at CBS and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

CBS News is the news division of the American television broadcaster CBS.

Mary M. Boies was the VP for CBS and is a director at the International Rescue Committee.

60 Minutes is a CBS News broadcast.

Scott Pelley is a correspondent for 60 Minutes and an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

Tom Brokaw is an overseer for the International Rescue Committee and was an anchor for the NBC Nightly News

Kati Marton is an overseer for the International Rescue Committee and was the Bonn bureau chief for the ABC News.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is a member of the Bretton Woods Committee.

Rhonda Weingarten (Randi) is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and was the president of the United Federation of Teachers.

Samantha Power was a director at the International Rescue Committee and the U.S. ambassador for the United Nations.

Morton I. Abramowitz was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and a member of the Bretton Woods Committee.

Madeleine K. Albright was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and a member of the Bretton Woods Committee.

W. Michael Blumenthal is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and a member of the Bretton Woods Committee.

Maurice R. Greenberg is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and a member of the Bretton Woods Committee.

Henry A. Kissinger was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and a member of the Bretton Woods Committee.

Colin L. Powell was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and a member of the Bretton Woods Committee.

Felix G. Rohatyn was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and a member of the Bretton Woods Committee.

John C. Whitehead was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and a member of the Bretton Woods Committee.

James D. Wolfensohn was a co-chair, member of the Bretton Woods Committee and an overseer at the International Rescue Committee.

Andrew S. Grove was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and a benefactor for the University of California, Berkeley.

Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) was founded at the University of California, Berkeley.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Harold E. Ford Jr. was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and is a political commentator at MSNBC.

Mark Halperin In 2010, Halperin joined MSNBC, becoming the senior political analyst and a contributor, the founding editor for Bloomberg Politics, Morton H. Halperin’s son and is currently a host and commentator for Newsmax TV.

Bloomberg Politics is a division of Bloomberg LP.

Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder of Bloomberg LP and an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

Howard G. Buffett is a director at the ONE Campaign and Warren E. Buffett’s son.

Susan A. Buffett is a director at the ONE Campaign and Warren E. Buffett’s daughter.

Warren E. Buffett is Howard G. Buffett & Susan A. Buffett’s father and an adviser at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, is a friend of Michael Douglas and the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Michael Douglas is a friend of George Soros and a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Morton H. Halperin served with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, is a senior adviser for the Open Society Foundations, a director at the ONE Campaign and Newsmax’s Mark Halperin’s father.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Harold E. Ford Jr. was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and is a political commentator at MSNBC.

Bloomberg Politics is a division of Bloomberg LP.

Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder of Bloomberg LP and an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

Howard G. Buffett is a director at the ONE Campaign and Warren E. Buffett’s son.

Susan A. Buffett is a director at the ONE Campaign and Warren E. Buffett’s daughter.

Warren E. Buffett is Howard G. Buffett & Susan A. Buffett’s father and an adviser at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, is a friend of Michael Douglas and the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Michael Douglas is a friend of George Soros and a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Morton H. Halperin served with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a director at the Debt AIDS Trade Africa, is a senior adviser for the Open Society Foundations, a director at the ONE Campaign and Newsmax’s Mark Halperin’s father.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the Center for American Progress.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, a friend of Michael Douglas, was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a supporter for the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the Center for American Progress and the International Rescue Committee.

Debt AIDS Trade Africa is a merged organization with the ONE Campaign.

International Rescue Committee is a partner with the ONE Campaign.

Scott Pelley is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and a correspondent for 60 Minutes.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign and a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michael R. Bloomberg was an advocate for the ONE Campaign and a donor for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.