'Fear and uncertainty': News producer quits in scorching note

A CBS News producer has resigned in a blaze of glory, taking aim at the direction of editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.

Alicia Hastey's now-viral farewell note to colleagues, which was posted to X by New York Times reporter Ben Mullin, starts:

“It is with sadness that I write to tell you that...today was my last day in the Broadcast Centre. I joined the network four years ago with gratitude and optimism, and I want to leave you with these thoughts only as a reminder of things I know you already know."

The news producer, who had been at CBS since 2021, said she is proud of the work before blaming Weiss for a new editorial direction.

"[T]here has been a sweeping new vision prioritising a break from traditional broadcast norms to embrace what has been described as ‘heterodox’ journalism.

"The truth is that commitment to those people and the stories they have to sell is increasingly becoming impossible. Stories may instead be evaluated not just on their journalistic merit but on whether they conform to a shifting set of ideological expectations - a dynamic that pressures producers and reporters to self-censor or avoid challenging narratives that might trigger backlash or unfavourable headlines."

Hastey said that none of her comments detracts from the "talent of all the journalists who remain at CBS News," but added, "that is precisely what makes this moment so heartbreaking."

"The very excellence we seek to sustain is hindered by fear and uncertainty."

NEW: “CBS Evening News” producer Alicia Hastey sends a bombshell farewell note:

Stories are “evaluated not just on their journalistic merit but on whether they conform to a shifting set of ideological expectations.” pic.twitter.com/4orZmbkqRI

— Ben Mullin (@BenMullin) February 12, 2026

Who is Bari Weiss?

Weiss was appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News in October 2025, after her outlet, The Free Press, was acquired by Paramount.

Fox News reports that the move drew both internal and external criticism, with some citing her background in opinion journalism and lack of television experience.

Weiss recently told staff they are "not producing a product that enough people want" and detailed her "21st century" vision for the network.

It's not her first controversial move. Weiss annoyed 60 Minutes staffers by delaying a report on an El Salvador prison, and has been accused by liberals of supporting President Donald Trump's administration.

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