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
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