’60 Minutes’ top producer resigns, cites loss of ‘independent decisions’

Since its creation nearly 60 years ago, CBS’ “60 Minutes” has had only three executive producers. Now, one of them is leaving the award-winning show.

The top producer of the long-running Sunday news program, Bill Owens, revealed in an internal memo obtained by The New York Times that he’s stepping down. The memo cited the loss of the ability to “make independent decisions” as the reason for his departure.

'60 Minutes' chief resigns, saying show's independence was compromised

The longtime head of CBS' 60 Minutes resigned Tuesday, as the network's parent company contemplates a settlement with President Trump over his lawsuit focusing on an interview the show did with then-Vice President Kamala Harris last fall.

In an emotionally charged meeting Tuesday afternoon, and again in a note to staff released publicly shortly after, the show's executive producer, Bill Owens said he was departing after 37 years with CBS News following months of heavy-handed treatment of the show by corporate leaders.

60 Minutes’ German Censorship Segment: A Recycled NYT Report?

Ahead of German elections, 60 Minutes aired a segment in which it accompanied German police on raids of those who have committed speech crimes. The feature bears striking resemblance to a 2022 report from The New York Times.

Guest On ’60 Minutes’ Claims German Citizens Have Free Speech — ‘But There Are Limits’

A guest on CBS News’ “60 Minutes” attempted to claim on Sunday’s broadcast that despite reports of pre-dawn raids and the confiscation of electronics, German citizens really do enjoy free speech — until they say something that law enforcement interprets as “hate speech.”

Dr. Matthäus Fink sat down with host Sharyn Alfonsi to discuss the topic, and he explained how the recent raids had played out.

“What’s the typical reaction when the police show up at somebody’s door and they say, ‘Hey, we believe you wrote this on the internet’?” Alfonsi asked.

ABC News settles defamation suit with Trump for $15 million

ABC News will pay $15 million to a “presidential foundation and museum” in a settlement reached with President-elect Donald Trump in his defamation suit against the network and anchor George Stephanopoulos.

The settlement, which was filed publicly Saturday, reveals the network will also pay $1 million in Trump’s attorneys’ fees and will issue an apology.