Anderson Cooper Refuses to Work for Bari Weiss If She Takes over CNN After His “60 Minutes” Exit: Report

**Anderson Cooper Unwilling to Work Under Bari Weiss at CBS News**

Renowned CNN anchor Anderson Cooper has reportedly expressed his reluctance to work under the leadership of Bari Weiss, the editor-in-chief of CBS News. This revelation comes amid significant organisational changes at CBS’s flagship news programme, *60 Minutes*, which Weiss has been restructuring. Cooper, 59, had previously announced his departure from *60 Minutes* in May, citing family commitments.

According to sources familiar with Cooper’s sentiments, the CNN veteran conveyed his disinterest in working with Weiss, particularly as speculation regarding a corporate merger intensifies. The proposed merger, which involves a deal valued at approximately £111 billion, would see prominent figures in media, including Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, gaining ownership of Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent company.

Cooper’s decision to exit *60 Minutes* earlier this year was part of a broader wave of high-profile departures from the programme, which has witnessed considerable upheaval under Weiss and other senior executives. Upon leaving, Cooper refrained from detailing the reasons behind his decision but has since made it clear that he does not wish to report to Weiss, intensifying the scrutiny surrounding her leadership style.

Recent weeks have seen a tumult of changes at *60 Minutes*, including the dismissal of key figures such as Cecilia Vega, Sharyn Alfonsi, and executive editor Draggan Mihailovich. Furthermore, the network’s high-profile executive producer, Tanya Simon, was replaced by tech journalist Nick Bilton, while seasoned correspondent Scott Pelley was let go following disagreements with the new executive producer.

Following his departure, Pelley accused the programme’s leadership of prioritising political bias and suggested they were aiming to pander to former President Donald Trump. He notably stated that Weiss had “murdered” *60 Minutes*, reflecting the strong sentiments of discontent within the newsroom.

In an internal meeting shortly after these departures, Weiss addressed the dramatic changes, emphasising her intention to foster a newsroom grounded in trust and mutual respect. However, she has faced criticism for her editorial decisions, including pulling a segment about Venezuelan men deported by the Trump administration to a notorious prison in El Salvador. Former correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi contended that the decision to pull this segment was politically motivated rather than an editorial choice.

Cooper first joined *60 Minutes* in the 2006-07 television season, all the while continuing to anchor his CNN programme, *Anderson Cooper 360°*. He remains a prominent face at CNN, having extended his contract until December 2025. Additionally, Cooper co-hosts the network’s annual New Year’s Eve special alongside fellow television personality Andy Cohen.

In his final appearance on *60 Minutes*, Cooper reflected on the enduring legacy of the programme. He acknowledged the importance of adaptation and progress but asserted that the core values and independence of *60 Minutes* should remain intact. “The trust it has with viewers is critical to the success of *60 Minutes*,” he stated, underscoring his hopes for the future direction of the show.

As the media landscape continues to evolve, Cooper’s decision not to align himself with Weiss’s leadership raises important questions regarding editorial independence and the direction of established news programmes. With significant leadership changes afoot, the future of *60 Minutes* remains uncertain, and the implications for its legacy as a trusted news source may be far-reaching.