CBS News boss Bari Weiss blindsides 60 Minutes icon Lesley Stahl, hands Netanyahu interview to Major Garrett: report

CBS News boss Bari Weiss blindsided “60 Minutes” legend Lesley Stahl by handing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s first major US broadcast interview since the Iran war to Major Garrett — a CBS News veteran who isn’t part of the iconic show’s correspondent roster, according to a report.The decision stunned staffers because Stahl, the longtime “60 Minutes” star, had spent months trying to land the Netanyahu sit-down, according to the Status newsletter.She was bypassed in favor of Garrett — a respected Washington journalist who is currently chief White House correspondent at CBS News.The move marked the second time in recent months that Weiss reportedly secured a marquee interview for “60 Minutes” only to hand the assignment to Garrett instead of one of the program’s own correspondents.In March, Weiss tapped Garrett to interview Secretary of War Pete Hegseth — then instructed that the high-profile sit-down air on “60 Minutes” despite Garrett not being one of the program’s correspondents, according to Status.According to Status, tensions erupted after Weiss personally booked Netanyahu for the interview and once again assigned Garrett to conduct it rather than Stahl or another “60 Minutes” correspondent.The move reportedly sparked frustration among correspondents and producers, who viewed Netanyahu as having effectively gone around the traditional “60 Minutes” team with Weiss’ assistance.Some staffers believed Netanyahu preferred Garrett because he was viewed as a more agreeable interviewer, according to the report.Status also reported that executive producer Tanya Simon resisted airing the interview on “60 Minutes” and floated the possibility of placing it on another CBS News program instead.But logistical complications — including Garrett not arriving in Israel until late Thursday and Netanyahu being unavailable Friday — ultimately narrowed the broadcast window, leaving “60 Minutes” as the only viable lan...