Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to an interview with Major Garrett on Sunday’s episode of “60 Minutes,” following an unusual negotiation process with CBS News chief Bari Weiss. Reports indicate that Weiss temporarily sidelined the show’s renowned correspondent, Leslie Stahl, to secure this interview for Netanyahu, which marks his first significant U.S. broadcast since the onset of the Iran war.
Weiss personally arranged the interview but gave Netanyahu a choice between Stahl and Garrett. While Garrett isn’t a correspondent for “60 Minutes,” he serves as a Washington correspondent for CBS News. This decision came after Stahl had been trying for months to book the sit-down, only to find out that Weiss had handed the interview over to Garrett, which reportedly frustrated Stahl.
Sources familiar with the situation say that the arrangement was made as a final effort to secure the interview, allowing Netanyahu to have a say in who would conduct it. A source mentioned, “Bari did what he had to do to secure the interview. Bibi’s office chose Major over Stahl.”
Netanyahu’s representatives did not respond to requests for comments, and CBS News didn’t comment directly either, but referred to an earlier statement emphasizing that it’s the editor-in-chief’s role to handle bookings, insisting Garrett is a “world-class journalist” known for tough and fair interviews.
Stahl, who is 84, reportedly has a good rapport with Weiss, who privately considers her a “national treasure.” Still, there are concerns that this incident could push her towards retirement, especially since she has been with “60 Minutes” since 1991. Despite this, insiders have indicated that Stahl wishes to continue her work with the network.
This latest move comes as Weiss is contemplating changes for “60 Minutes.” A source suggested that Weiss’s goal is to broaden the show’s reach in the news department, with plans for Norah O’Donnell to feature more prominently in upcoming seasons, alongside other journalists like Matt Gutman and Tony Dokoupil.
While it’s generally frowned upon for interview subjects to choose their own interviewers, it’s not without precedent. For instance, former President Trump reportedly selected ABC News’ Terry Moran for an interview last year, though it was never confirmed whether the network officially granted him veto power.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Weiss has secured a significant interview on “60 Minutes” only to assign it to Garrett instead of a regular correspondent. In March, she suggested Garrett conduct an interview with Army Secretary Pete Hegseth, which was aired even though he wasn’t a correspondent for the show.
Some insiders believe Netanyahu may have favored Garrett because he comes across as a more congenial interviewer. One source specifically noted, “Major Garrett has a friendly face and had no intention of challenging Prime Minister Netanyahu, so he was a reliable choice.” Nonetheless, the interview included notable moments, like Netanyahu declaring that the Iran war is “not over yet” and expressing a desire to eventually end U.S. military funding for Israel.
Meanwhile, there has been backlash against Weiss for a decision to shelve correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi’s controversial report on CECOT prisons, with expectations that significant changes are on the horizon for the show as Alfonsi’s contract nears expiration.
Rumors also swirl regarding the future of executive producer Tanya Simon, who reportedly was hesitant to air Garrett and Netanyahu’s interview on “60 Minutes,” suggesting other CBS programs instead. This has raised concerns about her position, with sources speculating that she might be uneasy about her own job security.
