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Jeff Fager: Inside 60 Minutes, Bari Weiss, and the Future of Journalism
Jeff Fager, legendary producer and former chairman of CBS News, joins Lachlan Cartwright at Junior’s Restaurant in Midtown Manhattan for an intimate look inside the newsroom that defined American journalism.
Fager reflects on his decades leading 60 Minutes — from navigating presidential pressure and corporate interference to mentoring the next generation of journalists. He also weighs in on Barry Weiss’s arrival at CBS, the challenge of maintaining editorial independence, and how broadcast journalism can adapt to a world ruled by YouTube, AI, and influencers.
This is a conversation about integrity, leadership, and why good storytelling will always matter.
⏱ Chapters
00:00 – Welcome to The Breaker Pod at Junior’s Restaurant
01:00 – Jeff Fager on CBS, 60 Minutes, and the Barry Weiss era
02:30 – Trump’s Criticisms, Kamala Harris, and Presidential Pressure
04:30 – Shari Redstone, Settlements, and the Chill on Journalism
05:30 – How 60 Minutes Became a Storytelling Powerhouse
07:30 – Inside the Culture of 60 Minutes and CBS News
09:00 – Barry Weiss’s Challenge: Bias or Fairness?
10:30 – Lessons from the Dan Rather “Bush Documents” Story
13:00 – Why Reporting to the CEO Breaks the Church–State Wall
15:00 – The History of White House Pressure on CBS
16:30 – The Tobacco Story and Corporate Pushback
18:00 – David Ellison’s Ambitions and the Business of Influence
19:30 – Can Barry Weiss Protect Independence at CBS?
21:30 – Give Her a Chance: Why Fager’s Hopeful About CBS News
22:00 – How 60 Minutes Keeps Its Edge in the YouTube Era
24:00 – Legacy Media vs. Digital: Lessons from Kodak and Sony
26:00 – Trust, AI Anchors, and the New Media Landscape
28:00 – Managing Egos, Big Talent, and Competing Storytellers
32:00 – Abu Ghraib: The Toughest Story of Fager’s Career
34:30 – Facing Down the Pentagon and Donald Trump
36:00 – Rebuilding Trust in Journalism
37:30 – Why Broadcast News Still Matters
38:00 – Closing Thoughts and Farewell
👉 Subscribe to the newsletter for original scoops, behind-the-scenes media drama, and reporting you won’t get anywhere else: https://www.breakermedia.com/subscribe
🎙️ New episodes weekly — exposing power, decoding media, and asking better questions.
💬 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay in the loop on how the media actually works.
#JeffFager
#TheBreakerPod
#60Minutes
#Journalism
#MediaIndustry
View all episodes
By Breaker
5
44 ratings
Jeff Fager, legendary producer and former chairman of CBS News, joins Lachlan Cartwright at Junior’s Restaurant in Midtown Manhattan for an intimate look inside the newsroom that defined American journalism.
Fager reflects on his decades leading 60 Minutes — from navigating presidential pressure and corporate interference to mentoring the next generation of journalists. He also weighs in on Barry Weiss’s arrival at CBS, the challenge of maintaining editorial independence, and how broadcast journalism can adapt to a world ruled by YouTube, AI, and influencers.
This is a conversation about integrity, leadership, and why good storytelling will always matter.
⏱ Chapters
00:00 – Welcome to The Breaker Pod at Junior’s Restaurant
01:00 – Jeff Fager on CBS, 60 Minutes, and the Barry Weiss era
02:30 – Trump’s Criticisms, Kamala Harris, and Presidential Pressure
04:30 – Shari Redstone, Settlements, and the Chill on Journalism
05:30 – How 60 Minutes Became a Storytelling Powerhouse
07:30 – Inside the Culture of 60 Minutes and CBS News
09:00 – Barry Weiss’s Challenge: Bias or Fairness?
10:30 – Lessons from the Dan Rather “Bush Documents” Story
13:00 – Why Reporting to the CEO Breaks the Church–State Wall
15:00 – The History of White House Pressure on CBS
16:30 – The Tobacco Story and Corporate Pushback
18:00 – David Ellison’s Ambitions and the Business of Influence
19:30 – Can Barry Weiss Protect Independence at CBS?
21:30 – Give Her a Chance: Why Fager’s Hopeful About CBS News
22:00 – How 60 Minutes Keeps Its Edge in the YouTube Era
24:00 – Legacy Media vs. Digital: Lessons from Kodak and Sony
26:00 – Trust, AI Anchors, and the New Media Landscape
28:00 – Managing Egos, Big Talent, and Competing Storytellers
32:00 – Abu Ghraib: The Toughest Story of Fager’s Career
34:30 – Facing Down the Pentagon and Donald Trump
36:00 – Rebuilding Trust in Journalism
37:30 – Why Broadcast News Still Matters
38:00 – Closing Thoughts and Farewell
👉 Subscribe to the newsletter for original scoops, behind-the-scenes media drama, and reporting you won’t get anywhere else: https://www.breakermedia.com/subscribe
🎙️ New episodes weekly — exposing power, decoding media, and asking better questions.
💬 Like, comment, and subscribe to stay in the loop on how the media actually works.
#JeffFager
#TheBreakerPod
#60Minutes
#Journalism
#MediaIndustry
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