If you thought there was an uproar at "60 Minutes," that was pattycake compared to what happened yesterday.Bari Weiss has been under assault by journalists and commentators since becoming editor-in-chief of CBS, mostly from liberals and left-leaners who are convinced she’s a crazy conservative.That’s not true, and I’ve mostly defended her, but she has made some rookie mistakes as someone who never worked in television.So even as the headlines swirled around President Donald Trump’s decision to drop the $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund – made possible because many Republicans joined Democrats in openly criticizing the fund aimed at the Jan.
6 rioters – Weiss is facing a rebellion of her own.First she fired "60 Minutes" correspondents Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi (whose story on a Salvador prison she held, but ran intact after Trump officials wouldn’t appear), along with executive producer Tanya Simon. SCOTT PELLEY HAS HEATED CONFRONTATION WITH NEW '60 MINUTES' BOSS, ACCUSES BARI WEISS OF 'MURDERING' SHOWBari Weiss has been under assault by journalists and commentators since becoming editor-in-chief of CBS.(Michele Crowe/CBS News via Getty Images)Ratings for "CBS Evening News" have plunged under new anchor Tony Dokoupil, though not all is his fault – CBS failed to get him a visa for Trump’s trip to Beijing, and he had to report from Taiwan.But "60 Minutes" has always been different, the crown jewel of the onetime Tiffany network.
It operates from a separate building, across Manhattan’s 10th Avenue.Its ratings have been terrific, and the show also makes money, over $200 million in advertising for the network.After 58 years on the air, it’s averaging an impressive 9.1 million viewers, a 9% jump over last season, and has a substantial digital presence.SHARYN ALFONSI OUT AT ’60 MINUTES' AFTER FEUD WITH BARI WEISS, RIPS CBS FOR ‘CHILLING MESSAGE’ TO NEWSROOMBut this is why I think Weiss, who I’ve interviewed, made a major mistake ...