CBS News’ foreign editor boarded a pre-planned team-building cruise after the meeting was leaked in what one attendee called “the strangest night.”
Noam Galai/Noam Galai/Getty Images for The Free Press
CBS News’ hand-picked foreign editor-in-chief threatened to fire staffers for “insubordination” during a 15-minute tirade that was leaked in the Status media newsletter.
Shayndi Raice, former Wall Street Journal Middle East bureau chief, made the statement Tuesday morning during a virtual editorial meeting regarding internal reactions to the network’s coverage of Gaza.
“This is not your publishing platform,” Raice said in the leaked audio recording. “It’s a company that we all work for, and there’s a hierarchy in place. And ultimately you have to answer to that hierarchy.”
Shayndi Raice joined CBS News in May.
“If you can’t respond to that hierarchy and you don’t listen to what we say, that’s called insubordination, and it’s legal grounds for termination,” she added.
Earlier this week, Status reported, CBS boss Bari Weiss clashed with 60 minutes Journalist Lesley Stahl on a report on rising Israeli settler violence in the West Bank.
Bari Weiss has been named editor-in-chief of CBS News by David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance.
Leigh Vogel/Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Uber, X and The Free Press
The argument was so intense that Stahl, a 35-year veteran of the network, reportedly considered leaving the show.
Get the best of The Beast delivered straight to your inbox
Network officials also intervened in a report by foreign correspondent Holly Williams, removing any reference to the Palestinian death toll and deleting allegations that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had advance warning of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
Stahl joined CBS News as a reporter in 1972.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
At the end of the meeting, Williams can be heard questioning Raice about the edits, saying he was told there were “no negotiations” on changes to the story.
Ultimately, Williams’ story did not air.
Raice then attempted to ease tensions with staff during a pre-planned team-building cruise after details of the meeting were leaked.
Status reported that she apologized directly to some members of the foreign office for the tone she used during the meeting.
Several prominent correspondents left 60 Minutes after Weiss’ takeover. Sharyn Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega and Scott Pelley were all ousted, while Anderson Cooper resigned voluntarily.
CBS Photo Archive/Mark Seliger/CBS News via Getty Images
“It was the weirdest night,” one attendee told Status.
Weiss named Raice to replace Claire Day, a 25-year veteran of the network who reportedly left after a clash with Weiss.
Weiss, who was named editor-in-chief of CBS News in October 2025, has had a controversial tenure that has included most 60 minutes’ correspondents resigning or dismissed, his appointment of Tony Dokoupil as presenter of CBS Evening News his inability to increase ratings and his complaints about his management style and lack of television experience.
60 Minutes Staff Before Bari Weiss’s Term. From left Sharyn Alfonsi, L. Jon Wertheim, Bill Whitaker, Lesley Stahl, Scott Pelley, Cecilia Vega, Anderson Cooper and former executive producer Bill Owens.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Best value for money
*Substack access provided the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement with Substack. Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Log in
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You are ready!
Thank you for subscribing.
Subscription$0.00
Total$0.00
Gn world
