Bill Maher Issues Blunt Response to Scott Pelley’s ’60 Minutes’ Firing in CBS Shakeup
What To Know
- Bill Maher responded bluntly to Scott Pelley’s firing from 60 Minutes, expressing support for the CBS shakeup.
- Sen. Chris Murphy argued that the move reflects a broader trend of media censorship and political influence.
- Maher remained skeptical of claims that 60 Minutes has become overtly partisan.
Bill Maher issued a blunt response to Scott Pelley‘s 60 Minutes firing on Real Time With Bill Maher.
On June 5, the stand-up comedian discussed the controversial move with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice. Pelley was fired from 60 Minutes on June 2, after 22 years, following critical remarks he made against the show’s new executive producer, Nick Bilton, and CBS News editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss.
“What does the panel think of the recent shakeup at 60 Minutes? I’m for it,” Maher said during the “Overtime” segment of the CBS late-night show.
To that, Murphy countered, “Listen, you’re watching a censorship state be created. Trump is using the powers that he has available as president of the United States to install only friendly ownership at the big media companies. He’s using regulatory powers to punish people who oppose him.”
The senator added, “I guess it’s fascinating to me that, like, all our big institutions have kind of let us down, right? From academia to the corporate world to big media, they’ve all folded in with him.”
Still, as Murphy pointed out five months ahead of the 2026 midterms, “We might pull off a free and fair election. It’s kind of astounding that the people of this country, even as the corruption of our democracy happens in media, in the corporate world, even around Donald Trump‘s inner circle, the people have just decided they’re hanging on to this democracy.”
Maher was not on board, however. He responded, “That’s a big charge that you just made — that 60 Minutes itself and CBS itself is now completely MAGA. I don’t see it that way.”
Although Murphy acknowledged that 60 Minutes “isn’t completely MAGA,” he insisted that President Trump is “clearly intent on installing people who will tell his story and will keep his critics off the air.”
As an avid viewer of the news magazine, Maher said he hasn’t noticed much of a change, admitting, “If I didn’t hear all the buzz in the media, if I didn’t read about it all the time, would I have ever noticed it was any different? I don’t think I would.”
Murphy then pointed out, “Part of it is you don’t know what they choose not to air, part of what the allegation is that they are killing stories that would be embarrassing for the president,” Murphy hit back. “So it’s hard to know what you’re missing in a censorship environment.”
To that, Maher said he has seen 60 Minutes episodes that are “not very favorable to the president.” He then declared, “I just don’t think being a 60 Minutes correspondent is that hard. I don’t feel like Scott Pelley was a national treasure.”
Maher continued, “Companies change hands all the time. I never liked him, sorry, I just never did. Just because something changes doesn’t mean… I feel like we see everything through such a partisan lens.”
Ultimately, Maher conceded, of Trump, “Yes, I agree. He’s a danger to media. He’s a danger to freedom of speech. But just 60 Minutes, I don’t know. And I’m not gonna make that decision until I see a smoking gun.”
Meanwhile, Pelley just sent a message to supporters after his 60 Minutes firing.
Real Time With Bill Maher, Fridays at 10/9c, HBO
Conversation92 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Register or sign in to join the conversation.
-
Q
If the Paramount-Warner Bros merger goes through, the same people who own CBS will own HBO -- and become Bill Maher's bosses. Given Maher the benefit of the doubt, it seems that he's afraid to speak candidly and truthfully because he doesn't want to get fired.
-
A
He's also in Bari Weiss's camp.
-
W
His show was the first time I saw her. Where she was complaining about the Me Too movement.
-
-
G
he's too old to start over
-
-
U
Bill Maher has spent decades pretending to be the nation’s smug hall monitor, lecturing everyone else about morality, politics, and “realism,” while his own public history reads like a man who never left the Playboy Mansion mentally, emotionally, or ethically.This is a guy who built a career sneering at hypocrisy while swimming in it — a man who strutted around Hugh Hefner’s empire like a discount philosopher‑king, soaking in the hedonism, the power imbalance, the performative libertinism, and then somehow decided he was the one qualified to judge the rest of America.Maher loves to posture as the adult in the room, but his track record shows a man who has spent years orbiting the exact kind of exploitative, power‑skewed environments he now pretends to be above. His public persona is “truth‑teller,” but his history is pure hedonistic narcissism — the kind that thrives in rooms where women are props, power is currency, and accountability is optional.And then he has the nerve — the absolute gall — to lecture Americans about patriotism, character, and moral clarity. This from a man who has repeatedly platformed, defended, or soft‑pedaled people with no backbone, no integrity, and no loyalty to the country beyond their own ego. He’ll wag his finger at the left, at the right, at anyone who doesn’t fit his self‑appointed role as the nation’s cranky uncle, but he never turns that spotlight on himself.He wants to be seen as the brave centrist truth‑teller, but what he really is — and
-
S
BM ( great initials btw) is the man we love to hate.
AI coming for his job And he knows it, but I love seeing an accident so I’ll continue to watch.
-
-
D
Bill Maher has a right to his opinion about Scott Pelly and his firing, but seems to deny Scott Pelly his right to speak his opinion about his own work place. Expect Pelly knew it would lead to his termination…
-
J
He had a right to shame his new boss in the first meeting with a lot of employees. He also has the right to lose his job when he disrespected his boss plain and simple. I'd lose my job if I pulled that stunt. Too bad so sad buh bye.
-
A
Exactly !! Well said !
-
G
He had a right to refuse to play by their censorship rules and please don't try to say that isn't the issue
-
A
That isn’t the issue. There you go !
-
-
-
G
Possibly a strategy to get out of his contract
-
-
G
Maher used to be impartial but he is clearly scared of Trump.
Pretending not to be able to connect the dots doesn't fly.
His blindness to censorship is a lie.
Maher is MAGA now. He has nothing bad to say about it.
-
A
Had to put on rubber boots to wade through the BS in your comments.
-
C
Better than the orange swill you're accustomed to swallowing.
-
-
-
M
Either Maher has no memory of what 60 Minutes had been, or he is not watching it closely enough now to recognize that the show is pulling its punches.
-
G
Realtime is also pulling it's punches
can't see the forest from the trees
-
R
And they didn't during the Biden presidency? If you are honest you know they did. They definitely were left leaning for many years.
-
-
G
If he hasn't seen a smoking gun pointed at 60 Minutes, then simply either he refuses to see or isn't looking. I guess plausible deniability is not just a strategy to be utilized by politicians.
-
E
Maybe the reason that there's so much negative reporting about Trump in the MSM is because of the rather large amount of questionable activity coming from his administration. War, creating estrangements with longtime allies, $250 bills with his likeness, unapproved destruction of the East Wing, a ballroom that no one needs, his strange lawsuit against the IRS while he is the executive who heads it, unapproved resurfacing of the reflecting pool, having political loyalists illegally place his name ahead of JFK at the Kennedy Center, paving the Rose Garden, pardoning those convicted of crimes for their participation in the 1/6, multiple felony convictions and the well-documented personal behavior that has and should be scrutinized.
For these things and so much more, we need journalism. We need the media. They may be biased right or left, but we need them all. Let the news consumers consider all points of view and decide where truth lies.
-
D
The real changes to 60 minutes have not happened yet. People will see the new version in the fall. That will be the real tell!
-
1
we have a clown as a president. why do we care what some millionaire comedian thinks. we need to start listening to the people
-
G
Maher used to be relevant
-
E
Been a while, though. Years.
-
-
A
Why should “We” listen to your opinion of the President ? You don’t represent everyone in America. Or even a majority, regardless of the Fake News and their skewed polls. Millions upon millions of American don’t share your opinions.
-
-
P
MSM killed news when they became entertainment over reporting. These aren't journalists, they make the story about themselves and their importance. Mahr included. He's next to get the boot. Nobody cares what these old guys have to say anymore. It's a retirement channel now like QVC
-
G
Real Time only works when it is fearless
Now you can smell Maher's fear
-
-
B
I have no idea who Pelley is but I do know that if I bitched about my bosses I'd probably get fired sooner or later to.
-
D
It's really a shame that the American population who voted in Trump really want to be Segregated , allowing them to be manipulated to such an extent, they really are attempting to alter everyday life, and not for the better
-
A
No that’s MSM and people like Pelley who twist and bend the “news” to their TDS narrative. That’s the shame !
-
G
nothing destroys credibility faster than putting stock in TDS
-
A
Uh Huh. Even though there are a growing number of psychiatrist saying it is a Real mental health phenomena. YOU Obviously have it !!
-
C
As do you - Trump Divinity Syndrome.
-
-
-
C
Reputable, verifiable evidence of this "bending" of the news?
-
A
Again do your own research ! I know as a Leftists you’re used to everything being Give to you .
-
-
-
-
E
I mean, you probably should know who Pelley is. He's an incredibly well-respected and decorated journalist with along history of speaking truth to power. He has 51 Emmys and three Peabody Awards. You not knowing who he is speaks more to your choices than his.
-
A
So he’s Required to know who Scott Pelley is. Right Comrade ! Truth to power. Yeah sure right. 🙄
-
G
Only if he expects to be taken seriously
but then he sounds like maga
they don't need facts
-
A
No MAGA is not in the fertilizer ( imported illegally) like the Left. Have to take them serious else they’ll burn down entire city blocks across the nation……. Repeatedly. Now be sure to bring up J6.🙄
-
C
Perhaps you should do a little research of the judicial public records to find out who was found guilty at trial and sentenced for those fires. I'll bet you'll be shocked - I was.
-
A
Don’t know what you’re talking about. But I’M talking about all the Riots you people have perpetrated then call it “ peaceful protest”. Many many times over the last about 15 years when the Left doesn’t get their way they burn and destroy both public and private property. While assaulting LEOs as well as innocent bystanders, then of course the obligatory looting ! You know gotta make a Political point by looting innocent people’s businesses !! 🙄
-
-
-
-
C
I know who Jesse Watters is even if he's a jerk. All people should be aware what's going on - not every day, but I understand more why MAGA doesn't know what's really going on.
-
A
Jesse light years smarter than You !
-
-
-
R
Incredibly well-respected journalist by some. He thought he was more important than he actually is to a news program, shot his mouth off to his boss and was fired.
-
-
A
He and everyone interested in the truth can see it.
-
G
I have no idea who you are but if Pelly doesn't ring a bell ..
it might be because nobody's home.
-
-
E
Don't see a smoking gun? --- The house is on fire!
-
G
Is the felon still alive?
-
G
possibly .. and with a new identity and a new island
-
-
S
I would much prefer watching Pelley than Maher flip flopping
-
A
Joe Biden and the Liberal Left Deliberately ALLOWED over Ten Million Illegal Immigrants into our country that authorities Know of. An unknown number of got aways also entered. These people have to be fed, clothed, have shelter, and medical care especially for all the diseases they brought from third world countries. NOW the Left is fighting ICE tooth and nail to not let them deport these people Back to where they came from. This Clearly shows where the Liberal Left loyalties lie. And it’s NOT with Legal American citizens. The state of TX came up with some effective blockades, Biden and the Left made them take those down !! They Want these people here to transform them into Voters. Which they are busier than fire ants working on accomplishing. Many Blue States are already allowing Illegals to have Drivers Licenses and Have been. A good first step toward being able to vote. That’s Why the Save America Act is terrifying to the liberal left !! And Voter ID is Kryptonite to them !! The Illegals here are not asking for resources from our country they are Demanding them ! Emboldened by the Liberal Left !! Anything to win, that’s the mantra of the liberal left. And they Mean Anything !!
-
A
In Both his terms and Especially this one Trump has had to wade through numerous lawsuits and injunctions coming from Liberal Left Judges. In many, many cases for issues outside of their district. So time that could be spent advancing the agenda that he was elected by Both the popular vote and the electoral vote is held up by the legal antics of the Left. Biden left a huge Mess for Trump to clean up. And the efforts to clean up that mess are often stymied by Democrats in Congress ( with help from some RINOS) and/or the Left manipulating our judicial branch of govt. So many things have had to go to the Supreme Court to be addressed. Fortunately in most cases the Supreme Court has seen through the leftists Garbage and over turned it.
-
E
I'm curious about the whole "Liberal Left Judges" thing. How can we identify them? Do they all wear a special ring or tattoo? Is there a particular blood test result that becomes proof positive? Or is a LLJ identified as such simply because the judge disagrees with Trump on legalities?
I'm just curious, Mr. or Ma. Aguest. Please explain it to me.
-
-
W
Now people know how non-left-wing-extremists have felt for the past few decades. The left is so insulated with their own ideology, that they don't even realize how much censorship they have been involved with to the point that if you don't toe the liberal line, you aren't allowed to be in their large media circles.
-
A
Exactly !! They love to cancel others out but don’t like the taste of it when it comes back to them !
-
C
Again, not one story was factual? Just left propoganda?
-
A
We know that Leftists Love for others to do their work for them. But No you do your own research. Again how about the Fraud coming out of the SPLC ? Put on your dancing shoes now and dance around the question.
-
-
-
C
And your evidence that everything was just left wing? Nothing was truthful?
-
A
And Your evidence on pretty much Everything about Trump on a daily basis ? Proof that what the Left says is True ? Anyone with even a partial brain has seen how the left tries to control the narrative in Both of Trumps terms. And pretty much Anything and Everything GOP and or Conservative. YOU Prove your Garbage then we’ll reciprocate. Here’s one for YOU what’s Your answer to all the Fraud coming out of the Southern Poverty Law Center ? Time for the Left to answer some questions without the Easter Bunny being here to save them !!
-
-
-
S
A couple of pointsIf you are in media and you publicly and pointedly criticize your Editor-In-Chief, you can expect to be fired. People pointing this out and other posts talking about if they criticize the C-suite (CEO/CIO/COO etc) at their companies they would be fired are not wrong. But...This philosophy is in the process of slowly changing in many places. If you are a senior manager or above in many companies these days, chances are you have been taught to embrace criticism from your reports and those further down in your org and try to see the value in it depending on how constructive the criticism is. That being said, Pelley's public criticism of Weiss is that it did not just hurt Weiss, it attacked the credibility of CBS as a company. There are other choices Pelley could have made to address his concerns. The Editor-In-Chief is not the CEO. Bari Weiss reports either directly or ultimately to the board of CBS & Paramount and if Pelley thought there were concerns about how Weiss was choosing stories to air, he could have gone to the board. And by the way, I am sure the board approved the firing. I doubt Weiss did this without informing them first.At the same time, this is not being done in a bubble. This was done in a climate where a President is exerting pressure on all Media to not air stories critical of him and where he personally attacks reporters who not only write/air critical stories but even those who ask tough questions of him. Thats a problem.
-
B
CBS doesn't have a board of directors. It's run as an operating unit called CBS entertainment group. They are owned by Paramount who is owned by Skydance who is owned by the Ellison's. David Ellison is the ceo/chairman of Paramount. Pelley could not have gone to him... To much separation between cbs and ceo/ board of Paramount. This is all part of the media control (that includes tik tok) initiated by those who want to shape what Americans think and feel about specific issues/ topics and primarily ONE topic in particular. I'll let you figure that one out.
-
-
A
Talk about slanted reporting here. ...who the heck is calling it a "controversial move"???
-
G
everyone it's why you are here
-
A
Or he might have just been scrolling through the site looking at different topics. 🙄
-
🤔
The pot calling the kettle black.
-
-
-
-
S
Go ahead Bill, give us a nuzzle.
-
R
Like 60 minutes wasn't selective on what they aired during Biden's presidency. Where was the in depth journalism report on Biden's mental health, the laptop, and many other stories that were never covered.
-
C
The laptop wasn't Joe's, Trump held Hunter's laptop for the entire first term, and slowness is not a sign of degenerative cognition.
I find it weird that all the things thrown at Biden are actually showing through Trump.
-
A
Do you find it Weird that Joe on at least Three recorded phone sessions discussed Burisma with Hunter while telling the nation he’d Never discussed it with Hunter. Hmm? And you must think anyone not on the Left is utterly stupid. Had that been Donald Jr. or Eric’s laptop Fake News would’ve had it out to the public faster than a Democrat can say higher taxes !! But they Withheld it Knowing it could impact the election !! That’s just One clear example of Leftist control in media.
-
-
S
What laptop did Biden have.I know you couldn’t be referring to Hunter who has never been in politics.But,we can talk about the Trump stealing from a charity
-
-
F
The idea that the media is pro Trump is LAUGHABLE.
Not here to debate him, or his actions, but it should be apparrent to anyone with eyes or ears that anything Trump does gets reported negatively by the vast majority of media outlets.
Kill your television.
-
C
What has Trump done recently that is positive? Even his favorite network is having a hard time spinning something out of the sow's ear into fine silk.
All Murdoch media, OAN, The Epoch, NewsMax, Megan Kelly, Joe Rogan, Judicial Report, Glenn Beck, etc. are all conservative. You have plenty to go on.
-
A
Well his Big Beautiful Bill sure helped my wife and I on our taxes !! Course I know for Tax loving liberals that’s painful to discuss.
-
-
-
M
Scott, welcome to the real working world the rest of us live.
-
R
right. I went through what Mr. Pelley just experienced. My firm got new management that wanted to change what the company did. Laid off many people including me. In my opinion, the new manager was clueless about what our staff did all day and about how our business made money. Anyway, I just found another job and moved on. I didn't think that it was like someone murdering my spouse.
-
-
S
when democRats got reporters, & not only, fired, they didn't have issues with censorship then, only now they screech abt it, cs their propagandists got fired. always with the double standards & hypocrisy that lot..
-
A
Yep. True !
-
T
Maybe you could post less and think more.
-
G
might need to explain "think" since most folks rely on a synonym
-
A
I think You are clueless about “most” people.
-
-
A
Maybe You could follow your own advice. But your probably busy at Newark.
-
-
-
-
W
The Democrat whining about the media and accusing Trump of partisan reporting makes me think he must have dementia and has already forgotten what the media did under Joe Biden towards Trump!
-
A
Dems tend to have convenient amnesia.
-
G
instant bias gets an instant down vote
sowwy
-
-
Y
I am tired of watching any station, cbs,nbc,abc,fox,pbs..., they all are bias with opinion against Trump. There is never anything favorable for Trump. I don't agree with everything Trump does, however he has done allot of good for this country. TDS is real.
-
R
Trump, thy name is corruption.
-
A
Yep. Well said !
-
J
Please tell us what he has done that has personally improved your life.
-
R
Stopped illegal immigration, reduced the amount of Fed taxes I pay (I'm not a $M or $B).
-
-
G
if they all are biased maybe you are wrong
maybe they are right and you are only biased and opinionated
maybe TDS is just a made up term to keep you from thinking for yourself
-
W
Gee I wonder why that is...
-
A
@Whatevah Let me help you. Because most media is either directly owned or controlled by the liberal socialist communist Left. Thats why. Your welcome !
-
-
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services