Anderson Cooper to Exit CBS News
Anderson Cooper exit 60 Minutes CBS News
Anderson Cooper is officially stepping down from his role at CBS News’ flagship program, 60 Minutes, after nearly twenty years of contributing to the fabled news magazine. The announcement, made on Monday, February 16, 2026, marks the end of a long-running dual-network arrangement that allowed Cooper to maintain his primary anchor position at CNN while delivering some of the most memorable investigative reports on broadcast television. Cooper, 58, first joined the 60 Minutes team during the 2006-2007 season through a unique partnership between CBS and CNN. His final segment for the program, an interview with legendary documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, aired on Sunday, February 15, and focused on Burns’ insights into the nation’s founding 250 years after the Declaration of Independence.
The veteran journalist cited personal reasons for his departure, specifically a desire to prioritize his family. In an official statement, Cooper expressed deep gratitude for his tenure, noting that being a correspondent for the show was one of the “great honors” of his career. “I got to tell amazing stories and work with some of the best producers, editors, and camera crews in the business,” he said, adding that while he has balanced his duties at both networks for two decades, he now wishes to spend as much time as possible with his young children. Despite his exit from CBS, Cooper remains a central figure at CNN, where he recently signed a new long-term contract to continue hosting Anderson Cooper 360° and the Sunday night newsmagazine The Whole Story.
While Cooper focused on family in his public comments, industry analysts point to a period of significant upheaval at CBS News as a potential backdrop for the move. The network is currently undergoing a massive strategic overhaul under the leadership of Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, who was installed following the acquisition of Paramount Global by David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance. Under Weiss, the network has seen high-profile departures, budget cuts, and a shift toward what she describes as a “streaming-first” mentality. The newsroom has reportedly faced internal tension after Weiss pulled a 60 Minutes segment on El Salvadorian prisons in late 2025, a move that some staff members labeled as “political” rather than editorial. Cooper’s exit is the latest in a string of high-profile staffing changes, including the recent resignation of Thomas Pritzker as Hyatt Chairman and a broader reshuffling of the CBS Evening News anchor chair.
CBS News acknowledged Cooper’s departure with a statement praising his two decades of “unforgettable stories” and “consequential investigations,” wishing him the best in his focus on family life. Throughout his run, Cooper tackled subjects ranging from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the Syrian civil war to groundbreaking reports on artificial intelligence and the discovery of the last known slave ship to land in America. His departure leaves a significant vacancy in the 60 Minutes rotation at a time when the network is struggling to retain traditional broadcast viewers against rising digital competition. As the show prepares for its 59th season this fall without one of its most recognizable stars, the media world will be watching closely to see how Weiss continues to reshape the “Tiffany Network” during the 2026 midterm election cycle.
