’60 Minutes’ Viewers Question New Hires After High-Profile Firings: ‘An Institution Destroyed’

“60 Minutes” fans have thoughts about the program’s latest hires ahead of the Season 59 premiere this September — and they’re not all positive. On Tuesday, CBS News announced several new members to its “60 Minutes” team, including conservative New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, author and filmmaker Sebastian Junger, journalist and filmmaker Gianna Toboni and recent CBS News hire Trevor Phillips. Douthat will join as a correspondent alongside veteran Norah O’Donnell, while Junger, Toboni and Phillips will be considered contributors. Viewers were rankled by the hiring news almost immediately. A lot of that anger was directed at Douthat’s casting, which some viewed as Bari Weiss’ moves to further push “60 Minutes” and all of CBS News more to the right. “Jesus. An institution destroyed. Haven’t turned it on since Pelly was fired… watched it religiously for 40 years,” one X user wrote. “Bari Weiss is doing the opposite of making good TV. Pretty amazing. A failure of a DEI hire!” Jesus. An institution destroyed. Haven’t turned it on since Pelly was fired… watched it religiously for 40 years. @bariweiss is doing the opposite of making good TV. Pretty amazing. A failure of a DEI hire!— VV (@Sqorbnj) July 29, 2026 In June, correspondents Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim shared their intention to remain at “60 Minutes” for Season 59 this fall, despite the high-profile exits of their colleagues – most notably, Scott Pelley. “So disappointed in Lesley Stahl and Norah O’Donnell for choosing money and greed and choosing to continue to stay with CBS News and report lies for Bari Weiss,” another social media user posted. “They should no longer be considered legitimate journalists and everything they have done before is just trash.” Below are some of the most potent social media responses to the new hirings: Congratulations.You've killed 60 Minutes.I've been watching since the 70's but not anymore.— Kathleen (@KeenanKath92981) July 29, 2026 Gotta say -Ross really has a face and voice just built for print! Oh wait…and he’s an opinion writer, not a journalist. Proof objectivity is gone @60Minutes.— Rick Lombardo (@Rick_lombardo) July 29, 2026 Hire a fucking opinion guy from the NYT? I’ve watched 60 minutes for years. YEARS! Done with you shitheads. Will enjoy watching this shit fail and I’ll be back for a victory lap.— Bert, not Ernie (@Bertnoternie65) July 29, 2026 Doesn’t matter who gets hired. CBS is down the tubes. — Michael (@Jcmojock) July 28, 2026 I will not be watching your nonindependent State propaganda network ever again.May as well be living in the Soviet Union when the government controls the Press and entertainment is about fluffing the ego of your version of Lenin or Stalin. — Catseye (@CatsEye33) July 29, 2026 Douthat?! is there a polymarket for how far the CBS ratings will fall?— WRITERRAND. (WriterRand.bsky.social) ♿️ (@WriterRand) July 29, 2026 these comments speak volumes. the 60 minutes we loved for decades is dead. the barbarians have won and pretty soon we’ll be knee-deep (or neck-deep) in Dear Leader garbage and various other “stories” designed to mainstream fringe con nonsense. can’t wait to see the ratings.— Lee Bailie (@itsleebailie) July 29, 2026