JUST IN: Anderson Cooper Leaving 60 Minutes -- Turned Down Offer to Renew His Deal With CBS News

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: MEDIAite

Feb 16th, 2026, 4:54 pm


Anderson Cooper is leaving 60 Minutes after turning down an offer from CBS News to renew his contract, reported Breaker’s Lachlan Cartwright on Monday.

Cooper, who also anchors his AC360 show weeknights on CNN and is a correspondent for the cable news network, has been a correspondent with 60 Minutes for nearly two decades. His reports for 60 Minutes have been nominated for multiple Emmys, winning four.

He was reportedly on CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss’ short list for the next anchor to helm CBS Evening News, but now, according to Cartwright, Cooper has not only rebuffed Weiss’ efforts to recruit him to the evening anchor desk, he’s walking away from his role on 60 Minutes.

Citing sources “familiar with the matter,” Cartwright reported that Cooper had been offered a contract renewal, but “decided to pass,” and make his exit instead.

Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/just-in-anderson-cooper-leaving-60-minutes-turned-down-offer-to-renew-his-deal-with-cbs-news/

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SCOOP: Anderson Cooper To Depart 60 Minutes
breakermedia.com
🔎 SCOOP: Anderson Cooper To Depart 60 Minutes
Legendary Newsman Will Focus on CNN And Family
4:19 PM · Feb 16, 2026

[JohnnyRingo]

1. Not sad because we know he's not going away

Can't wait to hear where he's going.

[dem4decades]

2. Good for him. Maybe Tony Dotrumpswill can do that too.

[yardwork]

3. Good for him!

[tonekat]

4. Smart Move!

Get as much space between that heinous organization and yourself as possible!

[Bengus81]

5. Pretty soon CBS will be em...."closed for remodeling"

[MustLoveBeagles]

6. Smart move

He knows a sinking ship when he sees one.

[chouchou]

7. Probably is NOT fond of Fox News 2.0

[Joinfortmill]

8. Sent a message

[bmichaelh]

9. WB Discovery

Wonder if his current contract with CNN has an escape clause.

Paramount is still pursuing WB Discovery which owns CNN.

[mdbl]

10. Good move Anderson.

Anywhere is better than Fux Nooze light.

[ForeGoneLegsBirne]

11. Not Sad Because He Has Had Freedom to Say Yes/No Since Birth

Glad he's making that choice though.. hope others join him and help found a new org to host their journalism...

[liberalla]

12. He's just not going to waste his talents for Bari Weiss... or whatever her name is!

The man has standards, for god's sake !!!!

and CBS has none!!




Anderson is on to bigger and better things! I applaud him for this decision.... and wish him only the best.

[Botany]

13. CBS is not the home of Cronkite, Murrow .

Connie Chung, Ed Bradley, Severed, Wallace, and so on anymore. Good on
Anderson Cooper.

[BidenRocks]

14. Dignity?

Intact! Smart move!

60 Minutes should take a leave until this resolves.
After Colbert, I have no reason to turn to C-BS.

[aggiesal]

20. SeeBS n/t

[NBachers]

15. I hear James O'Keefe is available

[RainCaster]

16. I don't blame him

Why stick around when your bosses have no spine? Streaming is where its at.

[Marie Marie]

17. I'm not sure that Bari still wants him...

he's not in the Epstein files.

[BigmanPigman]

18. Aaron Brown was much better than he is.

CNN replaced him with Anderson and I have disliked him for over 20 years.

[BidenRocks]

22. RIP Aaron Brown

Our calm voice of 9-11 on CNN.

[BigmanPigman]

23. I've watched his 911 reports

and that's when I really respected him as a news journalist. I never got that feeling with Anderson.

[FakeNoose]

19. He made the right choice

Bari Weiss won't last long there. Why would anyone want to work for her?
Anderson Cooper will do fine without that anchor around his neck.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

21. I always saw Cooper as 2nd class journalism

Weiss will probably sign Scott Jennings to replace him.