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Anderson Cooperis leaving60 Minutesafter turning down an offer from CBS News to renew his contract,reportedBreaker’sLachlanCartwrighton Monday.

Cooper, who also anchors hisAC360show weeknights on CNN and is a correspondent for the cable news network, has been a correspondent with60 Minutesfor nearly two decades. His reports for60 Minuteshave been nominated for multiple Emmys, winning four.

He was reportedly on CBS News editor-in-chiefBari Weiss’short listfor thenext anchorto helmCBS Evening News, but now, according to Cartwright, Cooper has not only rebuffed Weiss’ efforts to recruit him to the evening anchor desk, he’s walking away from his role on60 Minutes.

Citing sources “familiar with the matter,” Cartwright reported that Cooper had been offered a contract renewal, but “decided to pass,” and make his exit instead and not return for the fall season.

SCOOP: Anderson Cooper To Depart 60 Minuteshttps://t.co/MNxLhdqmH7

— Lachlan Cartwright (@LachCartwright)February 16, 2026

Cooper’s departure from60 Minutescomes after atumultuous yearon the venerated television program, after severallongtime staffersleft, network brass pushed through acontroversialsettlement with PresidentDonald Trumpin order to help pave the way for CBS’s parent company Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media to get the administration’s approval, and Weiss’ decision todelay airing a segmenton theCentro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, abbreviated CECOT, a notorious maximum security prison in El Salvador where the Trump administration sent some undocumented immigrants in contravention of court orders.

Variety’sBrian SteinbergconfirmedCartwright’s reporting, noting that the end of Cooper’s tenure on60 Minuteswould also mean the end of one of show’s key promotion tactics, as his contract allowed him to use his segments on his CNN show as well.

“Being a correspondent at ’60 Minutes’ has been one of the highlights of my career. I got to tell amazing stories, and work with some of the best producers, editors and camera crews in the business,” Cooper said in a statement. “For nearly twenty years, I’ve been able to balance my jobs at CNN and CBS, but I have little kids now and I want to spend as much time with them as possible, while they want to spend time with me.”

Source: Drudge Report