” CBS News’ flagship show is struggling to fill its guest seats with anyone willing to openly criticize Donald Trump—especially under its new MAGA-curious boss, Bari Weiss.
The latest episode of 60 Minutes focused on Trump’s pardon of billionaire Chinese felon Changpeng Zhao—founder of the cryptocurrency giant Binance—a move critics have blasted as “corruption.”
Zhao, whom the Justice Department accused of causing “significant harm to U.S. national security,” received a pardon months after Binance struck a $2 billion partnership deal with the Trump family’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial.
But while dozens of people directly involved with “all aspects” of the pardon spoke with CBS for the episode, journalist Scott Pelley said they refused to appear on camera—for the same reason.
“We have talked to dozens of people who are involved in all aspects of this,” Pelley said. “And they have informed our reporting but have declined to sit down for an interview on 60 Minutes for fear of retribution.”
One of the few people willing to speak on camera was Elizabeth Oyer, the former head of pardons at the Justice Department—and she wasn’t surprised by the hesitancy.
“I am very worried, Scott, about the future of our country,” said Oyer, who was reportedly fired in March after refusing to sign off on a Trump administration request to restore gun rights to actor Mel Gibson, convicted of domestic battery.
“This president appears to be selling off pieces of our democracy. And the presidential pardon power is a solemn instrument of the presidency that the founders of our country entrusted to the president with the idea that he would use it for the public good.”
The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment. “
casualfrog68 on
Isn’t CBS news a right wing news organization, now?
Ok_Employer7837 on
He can’t frighten people forever, I guess. But we’re not rid of him yet.
rockum on
Trump could call any of them a traitor and they and their families would start getting death threats. Free delivered pizza too, though.
no_kids-and-3_money on
Is this why all of the 60 Minutes advertising on NFL commercials yesterday was about chess-boxing? I kept thinking, “who gives a shit – why are they treating this like it’s super important?”
Maybe they had to run the B-story as the A-story.
thieh on
This would be super weird if you expect a convicted felon accused of SA and raping kids not to spook people.
hymie0 on
I just love the idea of a lawyer named L Oyer.
Arrmadillo on
> The reluctance of potential sources comes as CBS News attempts to rebrand itself with the controversial appointment of conservative commentator Weiss as editor-in-chief—a move by Trump-friendly CBS CEO David Ellison that many saw as a capitulation to the White House.
> In October, billionaire David Ellison’s Skydance—backed by his father, Oracle founder and Trump ally Larry Ellison—acquired The Free Press for $150 million. Since then, Weiss has axed a series of shows and fired dozens of staff.
Bari Weiss is creating a journalism department at her new University of Austin to use as a right-wing feeder to news organizations purchased by MAGA billionaires. Yass just pumped $100M into its endowment fund. It is going to be the “Hillsdale College of the Southwest.”
I could tell they were scrambling when the shows focus was chess boxing the other night lol
Pksoze on
Barry Weiss is going to kill 60 minutes brand.
TintedApostle on
Funny how selling out your reputation affects your business model.
Alwaystired254 on
People still watch this crap? What’s journalism without ethics? No integrity comprises everything you say
Wild_Read9062 on
This country is getting as bad as Trump’s crappy makeup job.
CitySeekerTron on
They let Trump win. Why would anyone want to appear for that?
WafflingToast on
Just play Andy Rooney clips.
Certain-Anxiety-6786 on
who would want to go on what’s now just regime television? It’s really depressing but that’s where we’re at
miz_nyc on
good. I hope 60 minutes gets cancelled from television.
Cautious_Notice_3565 on
60 Minutes is dead.
silsum on
The legal system needs to stand up. We need to have a national strike bring him and his thugs to their knees.
InteractionLittle668 on
60 Minutes???? I remember the old Mike Wallace/Morley Safer TV show. That program got canceled a few months ago. IIRC, CBS traded all of their journalistic integrity and cash for a corporate merger. Are they now showing reruns?
silsum on
Have they made America corrupt great yet?
Stunning_Mast2001 on
This is in theory why the first amendment exists but the Republican Party no longer stands up for democracy
Phydorex on
CBS became trash the moment they hired Weiss.
waffle299 on
They don’t seem afraid so much as cancelling.
Immolation_E on
Maybe if they didn’t fold early on, others would be willing to take a chance on them.
25 Comments
From the article:
” CBS News’ flagship show is struggling to fill its guest seats with anyone willing to openly criticize Donald Trump—especially under its new MAGA-curious boss, Bari Weiss.
The latest episode of 60 Minutes focused on Trump’s pardon of billionaire Chinese felon Changpeng Zhao—founder of the cryptocurrency giant Binance—a move critics have blasted as “corruption.”
Zhao, whom the Justice Department accused of causing “significant harm to U.S. national security,” received a pardon months after Binance struck a $2 billion partnership deal with the Trump family’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial.
But while dozens of people directly involved with “all aspects” of the pardon spoke with CBS for the episode, journalist Scott Pelley said they refused to appear on camera—for the same reason.
“We have talked to dozens of people who are involved in all aspects of this,” Pelley said. “And they have informed our reporting but have declined to sit down for an interview on 60 Minutes for fear of retribution.”
One of the few people willing to speak on camera was Elizabeth Oyer, the former head of pardons at the Justice Department—and she wasn’t surprised by the hesitancy.
“I am very worried, Scott, about the future of our country,” said Oyer, who was reportedly fired in March after refusing to sign off on a Trump administration request to restore gun rights to actor Mel Gibson, convicted of domestic battery.
“This president appears to be selling off pieces of our democracy. And the presidential pardon power is a solemn instrument of the presidency that the founders of our country entrusted to the president with the idea that he would use it for the public good.”
The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment. “
Isn’t CBS news a right wing news organization, now?
He can’t frighten people forever, I guess. But we’re not rid of him yet.
Trump could call any of them a traitor and they and their families would start getting death threats. Free delivered pizza too, though.
Is this why all of the 60 Minutes advertising on NFL commercials yesterday was about chess-boxing? I kept thinking, “who gives a shit – why are they treating this like it’s super important?”
Maybe they had to run the B-story as the A-story.
This would be super weird if you expect a convicted felon accused of SA and raping kids not to spook people.
I just love the idea of a lawyer named L Oyer.
> The reluctance of potential sources comes as CBS News attempts to rebrand itself with the controversial appointment of conservative commentator Weiss as editor-in-chief—a move by Trump-friendly CBS CEO David Ellison that many saw as a capitulation to the White House.
> In October, billionaire David Ellison’s Skydance—backed by his father, Oracle founder and Trump ally Larry Ellison—acquired The Free Press for $150 million. Since then, Weiss has axed a series of shows and fired dozens of staff.
Bari Weiss is creating a journalism department at her new University of Austin to use as a right-wing feeder to news organizations purchased by MAGA billionaires. Yass just pumped $100M into its endowment fund. It is going to be the “Hillsdale College of the Southwest.”
Oliver has a good piece on Weiss:
YouTube – [Bari Weiss: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gieTx_P6INQ) (Oct 2025)
I could tell they were scrambling when the shows focus was chess boxing the other night lol
Barry Weiss is going to kill 60 minutes brand.
Funny how selling out your reputation affects your business model.
People still watch this crap? What’s journalism without ethics? No integrity comprises everything you say
This country is getting as bad as Trump’s crappy makeup job.
They let Trump win. Why would anyone want to appear for that?
Just play Andy Rooney clips.
who would want to go on what’s now just regime television? It’s really depressing but that’s where we’re at
good. I hope 60 minutes gets cancelled from television.
60 Minutes is dead.
The legal system needs to stand up. We need to have a national strike bring him and his thugs to their knees.
60 Minutes???? I remember the old Mike Wallace/Morley Safer TV show. That program got canceled a few months ago. IIRC, CBS traded all of their journalistic integrity and cash for a corporate merger. Are they now showing reruns?
Have they made America corrupt great yet?
This is in theory why the first amendment exists but the Republican Party no longer stands up for democracy
CBS became trash the moment they hired Weiss.
They don’t seem afraid so much as cancelling.
Maybe if they didn’t fold early on, others would be willing to take a chance on them.