Anderson Cooper Leaving 60 Minutes — What's Really Driving the Exit Rumours Now?

After nearly 20 years, Anderson Cooper is leaving 60 Minutes, one of television's most revered news magazines. The longtime CNN anchor joined the television news magazine in 2006, and is reportedly not renewing his CBS contract. This decision is prompted by leadership shakeups, tensions in editorial teams, and internal morale concerns—issues that CBS is facing. Cooper's roles in CNN will not be affected.

According a report by Breaker Media on Monday, Cooper turned down CBS News's offer to renew his contract. Anderson has won four Emmys and received several nominations for 60 Minutes. In the report, Bari Weiss, CBS News editor-in-chief, has shortlisted Cooper to oversee CBS Evening News, but Cartwright of Breaker reported Cooper has not only declined to take the evening anchor desk, he has also decided to drop his role in 60 Minutes.

A Final Segment In Cooper's Legacy

Anderson Cooper's final segment in the programme aired without notice and brought closure to a chapter in international reporting and personal interviews. Anderson said in a statement shared by Yahoo!, 'Being a correspondent at '60 Minutes' has been one of the highlights of my career. I got to tell amazing stories, and work with some of the best producers, editors and camera crews in the business. For nearly twenty years, I've been able to balance my jobs at CNN and CBS, but I have little kids now and I want to spend as much time with them as possible, while they want to spend time with me.'

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Anderson Cooper will stay with CNN in the nightly Anderson Cooper 360, as well as in The Whole Story, a weekly news magazine. Cooper also hosts All There Is, a podcast.

He has renewed his contract with CNN in December of 2025 and will continue to anchor the evening program, Anderson Cooper 360. He will also remain a key presence in CNN's flagship programming, including co-hosting CNN's New Year's Eve special with Andy Cohen, per Daily Mail UK.

Reportedly, his 60 Minutes show is a result of an agreement between his full-time employer, CNN, and CBS. Cooper helped establish 60 Minutes as a respected news magazine.

What It Means for 60 Minutes

Cooper began to appear in 60 Minutes in 2006, and he has since bagged two Emmys. In 2017, his works, 'The Music of Zomba Prison' and 'Little Jazz Man,' won Best Feature Story in a Magazine and Best Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Report respectively.

Anderson Cooper's exit from 60 Minutes marks its first on-air adjustment under its new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss. In December, Weiss drew criticism when he made a last-minute decision to withhold a story about El Salvador's CECOT prison, a facility where Trump administration deportees were sent. Weiss said the story was 'not ready' since White House was yet to issue an 'on-the-record' statement. The story from Sharyn Alfonsi eventually ran on 18 January.

Cooper's move to step away comes amid a leadership change period at CBS News. Newsroom staff are reportedly navigating friction in editorial direction and uncertainty about the future of 60 Minutes. The CECOT issue also reportedly highlighted internal questions about autonomy. These issues within the network, according to reports, have influenced Cooper's decision to step away from the show.