Lesley Stahl considered leaving ‘60 Minutes’ after editorial clash with CBS chief Bari Weiss

CBS News insiders say the veteran correspondent thought about resigning after Weiss’s edits to a story on Israeli settlers.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 13 Oct 2026 20:43:24 GMT

Sources told the New York Post and Variety that longtime CBS News correspondent Lesley Stahl privately considered quitting the Sunday newsmagazine after editor‑in‑chief Bari Weiss and deputy Charles Forelle became heavily involved in her segment on Israeli settlers in the West West Bank.

What happened

The segment, titled “Lost Sheep,” aired on Oct. 11, 2026. According to the Status newsletter, Weiss and Forelle pushed to table the piece, but Stahl resisted and the story ran as scheduled.

What the reports add

The New York Post reported that Weiss and Forelle were “very, very hands on” editing the segment, prompting Stahl to think about leaving the show.
Variety noted that the piece received “far fewer edits than most” and that Stahl never formally threatened resignation, but “privately floated the possibility” of quitting.
Both outlets cite the same Status newsletter source, Oliver Darcy, who said Forelle suggested tabling the segment and that the editorial screenings became “so heated” the team wasn’t sure the story would air.
The Post added that a CBS insider said, “She’s not going anywhere…she’s addicted to the limelight,” quoting the source’s reference to Jay‑Z’s lyric.
Variety identified the segment’s producer as Shachar Bar‑On, a longtime collaborator with Stahl on more than 80 reports.
The Post mentioned that Stahl had recently signed a two‑year deal with CBS News after Weiss “cleaned house,” firing Pelley, Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega, executive producer Tanya Simon and three other senior producers.
The Post also reported that Skydance CEO David Ellison personally called Stahl to assure her that the company would respect “60 Minutes” editorial independence.

What was said

"This is a ludicrous, twisted narrative. All ‘60 Minutes’ pieces go through a famously rigorous editorial process — which includes edits from editors. This piece received far fewer edits than most,"

— CBS News spokesperson, as quoted by Variety.

"She’s not going anywhere…she’s addicted to the limelight,"

— CBS insider quoted by the New York Post.

"The precise nature of her objections remains unclear, but I’m told they were not confined to a particular factual assertion or isolated element of the report. Rather, her concerns were much broader, setting the stage for what spiraled into a highly contentious editorial process,"

— Status newsletter, as cited by Variety.

How it came about

The clash occurs amid a broader power struggle at CBS News between Weiss and president Tom Cibrowski, detailed in Felo’s Sep. 13 article CBS News Power Struggle: Weiss vs. Cibrowski. Earlier this month, the network’s “60 Minutes” ratings rose modestly, as reported in Felo’s Oct. 6 piece CBS’s “60 Minutes” tops last‑season average. The editorial dispute adds a new dimension to ongoing tensions within the news division.

Key facts

Lesley Stahl privately considered quitting '60 Minutes' after editorial intervention by Bari Weiss and Charles Forelle. (nypost.com)
The West Bank segment titled 'Lost Sheep' aired on Oct. 11, 2026. (variety.com)
CBS News called the reports of Stahl's possible resignation 'ludicrous' and 'twisted'. (variety.com)