CBS Whistleblower Shares Internal Memo Prioritizing Ideological Conformity Over Facts
CBS News is facing fresh internal upheaval after veteran producer Alicia Hastey resigned and circulated a blistering memo accusing leadership of fostering an environment that pressures journalists to “self-censor.” Her departure comes amid a broader restructuring effort under editor in chief Bari Weiss — a strategy that has already led to voluntary buyouts and mounting internal criticism.
Hastey’s memo, first shared publicly by a New York Times reporter on X, paints a picture of a newsroom in transition — and tension. She described what she called a “sweeping new vision” that departs from traditional broadcast norms in favor of what leadership has framed as “heterodox” journalism. According to Hastey, stories are increasingly evaluated not only for journalistic merit but also for how they align with evolving ideological expectations, creating what she characterized as fear and uncertainty among staff.
“The very excellence we seek to sustain is hindered by fear and uncertainty,” she wrote, suggesting that producers and reporters may avoid challenging certain narratives to sidestep backlash or negative headlines. While she did not name Weiss directly in the memo, the critique was widely interpreted as aimed at the network’s current direction.
Her resignation follows reports that 11 staffers from “CBS Evening News,” most of them producers, accepted voluntary buyouts ahead of anticipated layoffs. Roughly a quarter of eligible staff reportedly chose to exit as part of the one-time offer extended last month. The buyouts were positioned as an “extraordinary chance” to leave before broader company-wide cuts expected as early as March.
Weiss has been candid about the need for change. In a January town hall, she told employees that if they believed she was not the right leader for them, they were free to depart. “It’s a free country,” she said, emphasizing that the newsroom must confront a difficult reality: declining audience engagement. “We are not producing a product that enough people want.”
Her proposed solution includes a renewed focus on investigative scoops and what she describes as “revelatory journalism,” leveraging both digital platforms and traditional broadcast.
But the overhaul has not been smooth. In December, “60 Minutes” correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi publicly criticized Weiss for shelving a segment on a controversial El Salvadoran prison used by the Trump administration to detain migrants. Alfonsi reportedly described the decision as political.
Weiss has also faced scrutiny for retaining contributor Peter Attia after emails between him and Jeffrey Epstein surfaced in a Department of Justice document release. The correspondence revealed a friendly rapport and references to Epstein’s “outrageous” lifestyle. Attia later issued a public statement expressing shame over what he called “tasteless and indefensible” communications.
Meanwhile, Weiss has moved to reshape flagship programming, replacing “CBS Evening News” anchors John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois with Tony Dokoupil as part of her broader rebranding effort.