Anderson Cooper Stands Firm Against CBS Chief Bari Weiss: Journalism Matters

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CNN anchor Anderson Cooper has informed colleagues that he will refuse to work under CBS News Chief Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss if a planned corporate merger places both networks under identical ownership, according to reports from The New York Times on June 27, 2026.

The resistance stems from a pending $111 billion consolidation where Paramount, led by tech heir David Ellison, aims to acquire CNN's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery. Insiders noted that Cooper previously left his 20-year role at CBS's 60 Minutes this spring due to discomfort with the editorial direction under Weiss.

Former CBS News presenter Scott Pelley, who was abruptly terminated last month after 37 years, criticized Weiss during an internal meeting regarding her management of the flagship program.

"There's some moments of the day I feel fine. There's some moments of the day that I just, frankly, fall apart, when I least expect it," said Scott Pelley, former presenter for CBS News.

Pelley likened leaving the program to a severe personal loss following his sudden departure from the network. Media newsletter Status reported earlier that Weiss had stalled a segment by Cooper regarding land claims in South Africa, which caused friction among veteran production staff.

"I hope 60 Minutes remains 60 Minutes," said Anderson Cooper, anchor for CNN.

Cooper emphasized the importance of journalistic integrity during his final on-air appearance on the show in May.

"There’s very few things that have been around for as long as 60 Minutes has and maintained the quality that it has," said Anderson Cooper, anchor for CNN.

The anchor further highlighted how critical independence has been to the history of the news program.

"I think the independence of 60 Minutes has been critical," said Anderson Cooper, anchor for CNN.

Cooper concluded his parting comments by expressing hope for the preservation of the program's foundational values.

"I hope the core of what 60 Minutes is always remains," said Anderson Cooper, anchor for CNN.

Paramount chief David Ellison countered the internal concerns during a recent interview with CNBC, asserting that the editorial autonomy of the journalists would be fully preserved across both networks.

"CNN is an incredible brand with an incredible team, and we absolutely believe in the independence that needs to be maintained for those incredible journalists, and we want to support that going forward," said David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance.

Ellison stated that his primary goal is to ensure the news networks appeal broadly to the middle 70 percent of the American public.

"Editorial, independence will absolutely be maintained. It is maintained at CBS, it will be maintained at CNN," said David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance.

President Donald Trump previously praised the management transition at Paramount last year, noting his personal friendship and political alignment with the Ellison family.

"They’re friends of mine. They’re big supporters of mine. And they’ll do the right thing.

They’ll make CBS — they called it the Tiffany Network, and it’s got great potential. CBS has great potential," said Donald Trump, President of the United States.

The corporate acquisition talks continue as Paramount executives consider pairing Weiss with an experienced television executive to oversee the combined news operations.