By Trendsetter Tribune 
In a significant shake-up for television news, Anderson Cooper announced on Monday, February 16, 2026, that he is stepping down as a correspondent for “60 Minutes.” His departure marks the end of a historic two-decade tenure at the CBS newsmagazine, where he maintained a unique partnership with his primary home at CNN.
While Cooper’s official statement focuses on his young family, the move follows months of high-profile internal friction and a major editorial shift under the network’s new leadership.
A Clash Over Leadership and “Kill Switches”
While Cooper cited a desire to spend more time with his children, media insiders report that his decision not to renew his contract was influenced by the turbulent tenure of Bari Weiss, who was appointed Editor-in-Chief of CBS News in October 2025.
- The El Salvador Controversy: The breaking point for many at the network occurred in December 2025, when Weiss abruptly pulled a completed segment on CECOT, El Salvador’s brutal mega-prison. The report detailed the treatment of Venezuelan migrants deported there by the Trump administration.
- The Stand-Off: Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi accused the network of “political censorship” after Weiss spiked the story—which had already passed legal and standards checks—because it lacked on-camera interviews with Trump administration officials.
- The “Kill Switch”: Critics and staff argued that allowing the government’s refusal to comment to “kill” a story effectively gave the White House a veto over investigative journalism. The segment eventually aired in January 2026 after intense public pressure and a leak of the footage in Canada.+1
The Changing Face of CBS News
The exit of a pillar like Cooper is seen as a bellwether for a broader overhaul of the “60 Minutes” brand.
- Editorial Shift: Since taking over, Weiss has sought to move CBS toward what she calls a “21st-century vision,” which includes hiring contributors from her digital outlet, The Free Press, and moving away from traditional investigative formats.
- Economic Pressure: The departure also comes amid reports of impending layoffs across CBS News, following parent company Paramount’s efforts to finalize a massive merger with Warner Bros. Discovery (which owns CNN).
- The Settled Lawsuit: Public confidence in the show’s independence was also shaken when Paramount settled a $16 million lawsuit with President Trump over a 2024 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, a move many staffers viewed as an act of corporate appeasement.
Anderson Cooper’s “60 Minutes” Legacy (2006–2026)
| Notable Report | Subject |
| The Last Slave Ship | Investigation into the Clotilda, found in Alabama. |
| The Iraq War | In-depth reporting on the front lines and the human cost of conflict. |
| Covid Long-Haulers | One of the first major broadcast reports on the long-term effects of the virus. |
| Mindfulness | An award-winning look at the science of meditation and stress. |