CBS senior global affairs correspondent Trevor Phillips urges staff to respond to criticism of Bari Weiss
Trevor Phillips, a new senior global affairs correspondent at CBS, told colleagues in a London bureau meeting to confront criticism of editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, while acknowledging the backlash he has faced for joining the network.
CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss has drawn criticism since her appointment about a year ago, intensifying after she reshaped the "60 Minutes" lineup for its 2026 season and dismissed several veteran anchors and correspondents. The changes have been accompanied by accusations of editorial bias.
Sir Trevor Phillips, a veteran British broadcaster who joined CBS in June 2026 as senior global affairs correspondent, addressed the issue during a meeting of the network’s London bureau. Phillips reportedly used strong language to suggest how staff should respond to critics, echoing remarks made by foreign editor Shayndi Raice, who warned that staff who compare editorial oversight to "interference" could face disciplinary action.
"The great thing about her is that she’s one of those people who will either change the world or crash and burn," Phillips said of Weiss in a prior interview, adding that the network has a "huge tanker of a news organisation to turn around."
Phillips also noted his surprise that the need to discuss the matter was being raised, and he defended Raice’s stance on maintaining editorial control. The discussion took place amid broader staff concerns following the dismissal of long-time correspondents such as Sharyn Alfonsi, Scott Pelley and Cecilia Vega, as well as former executive producer Tanya Simon and Draggan Mihailovich.
Despite the controversy, Phillips said he remains committed to supporting Weiss and the network’s efforts to improve its news programming, which has experienced mixed performance in recent months.