Is 60 Minutes Running Out of Time?

Media

Is 60 Minutes Running Out of Time?

What’s going on: It's a fundamental rule that journalists should never become the story, but CBS just can't help itself. Earlier this week, veteran 60 Minutes news anchor Scott Pelley was ousted by the network after a heated exchange with newly hired executive producer Nick Bilton. In leaked audio obtained by The New York Times, Pelley had words for Bilton and accused CBS Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss of “murdering” the show — and then his coworkers clapped. While it may sound like everyone’s fantasy resignation, Bilton said Pelley was fired “for cause.” But Pelley posted a lengthy statement on social media claiming that the network instructed him “to inject falsehood and bias” into his reporting to curry favor with President Donald Trump’s administration. His departure follows several high-profile firings, not to mention former executive producer Bill Owens, who cited a loss of editorial independence when he resigned. Luckily, Pelley has an intriguing option for his next gig.

Sounds messy: It is. And it's part of a broader pattern. Throughout his second term, Trump has aggressively targeted news outlets and reporters that don’t share his views. He regularly exerts pressure through lawsuits, funding cuts, an official list of “media offenders of the week,” and sexist insults targeting women reporters. On Tuesday, he celebrated the “taking out” of CBS’s “REALLY DUMB Stephen Colbert” in a lengthy Truth Social post. CBS maintains that its cancellation of The Late Show came down to finances, but not everyone buys it. Critics compare Trump’s approach to authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin, who threaten the freedom of the press with little pushback from media corporations. As one media analyst put it, “everyone immediately surrenders.” 

Related: What the Paramount Merger Means for Press Freedom (The Wrap)

The News in 5

🗞️ Four Republicans crossed party lines to join Democrats in passing a resolution that limits President Donald Trump's war powers in Iran.

🗞️ The latest release on the Epstein files has created a lot of confusion around what to do with one aspect of his estate. 

🗞️ Ohio State University reached another settlement over its decades-long sexual abuse scandal. The school agreed to pay $100 million in damages to hundreds of former students.

🗞️ The DOJ abandoned its $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, but it’s still standing by its man. Loyal to a fault.

🗞️ One of the US’s leading philanthropists (of course it’s a woman) just announced millions in funding to help close the gap on women’s health issues.

LGBTQIA+ Rights

A Concerning Backslide

What’s going on: “The first Pride was a riot,” so the saying goes, referring to the Stonewall uprising in 1969. It was a historic fight for the LGBTQIA+ community to be seen, heard, and accepted. But a new Gallup poll shows there’s still a long way to go, as new numbers confirm what the queer community already sensed. Acceptance of LGBTQIA+ folks has dipped under the Trump administration. Support for same-sex marriage has fallen by 6 percentage points since 2022. Republican support, especially, has dropped off, from 55% in 2021 and 2022 to just 37% in 2026, though Democratic support has held steady. 

Tell me more: Anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiment has risen around the world, but critics argue the US stands apart because lawmakers and political leaders have increasingly translated it into policy. In recent years, states have passed laws like Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” measure, while the Trump administration has rolled back transgender protections, cut DEI programs, and even changed the definition of "sex." Some Democrats have blamed trans rights for Trump’s success. The downstream effect has normalized homophobic language and a larger cultural shift. This is the seventh year The Trevor Project has found LGBTQIA+ young people face a higher risk of suicide. It’s all connected — and a reminder of the lesson behind the original Stonewall riots. 

Related: What the First School Year Was Like for Students Under Texas’s Anti-LGBTQIA+ Law (The 19th)

Money

Make Way for Whimsy 

What’s going on: Self-care had its moment. Now Zillennials have a new obsession: whimsy. The New York Times recently spotlighted the trend, which encourages people to approach life with more playfulness and curiosity. Think less doomscrolling and more special, carved-out rituals. Maybe it’s reaching for a colorful print instead of another neutral, making Greek coffee instead of a pod, or booking a spontaneous trip. It could be going analog, “dopamine decorating” your home, or simply rejecting trends to just do you. The appeal isn’t hard to understand. We live in a world overwhelmed by the news cycle, stretched by rising costs, and drained by seemingly endless burnout. We’re lonelier, too, which might be why more of us are “whimsymaxxing” to fill the void. Amélie would be proud. 

How do I whimsy?: Critics question whether or not selling the world on “whimsymaxxing” is simply capitalism in a cute package. But as writer and podcast host Liz Plank (who coined the term) said, whimsy doesn’t require a big purchase. A scoop of ice cream works. So does singing in the shower, taking yourself out to a free museum, or doing something simply because it feels good. That’s the point. Adults rarely give themselves permission to play without a goal. The NYT also questions whether whimsy is an armor for Zillennials in the way irony was for Gen X. Sure, X-ers loved their grunge, but don't forget about those Lisa Frank folders. After all, nothing says joy like a rainbow-hued unicorn.

Related: Play Is Just As Important for Adults, Even if We Have Less of It (The Conversation)

Quick Hits

🚫 Throwing out this one common kitchen item could significantly cut down your cancer risk…and declutter your cabinets at the same time.

💧 New research highlights that women and men need to drink different amounts of water each day. For once, men actually have to work harder for something. 

🧑‍⚕️ This is the prep work your doctor is begging you to do before your next appointment.

🎾 After a shocking loss at the French Open, one athlete said she “just wants to quit tennis.” It’s exactly how we feel when we lose at pickleball. 

🌍 Sandwich generation travel inspo: New research says this is the best place to take your entire family.

♥️ Kate Middleton stepped out to support a cause close to her heart in a look by a designer she’s never worn before. 

💍 Another reason to add Dua Lipa’s bridal look to your vision board: It seems that her “something borrowed” has a connection to an American film icon.  

On Our Calendar

Thursday, June 4 

⛳ US Women’s Open begins 

At a new course (the Riviera Country Club), with a $12.5 million purse —  and this favorite hoping to score her first Open title.

🧀 National Cheese Day

Celebrate with one of these summer-ready cheese dishes (we’ll take number 10, please).

🎶 CMA Fest 

The four-day music festival lineup includes Shaboozey, Luke Bryan, and more. Listen to the official playlist if you can’t make it to Nashville.

Psst…this is just the preview: Subscribe to theSkimm app and never miss a moment.

Skimm'd by: Marisa Iallonardo, Molly Longman, Aryanna Prasad Bhullar, Erika W. Smith, Jessica Prois, Marina Carver, and Kylie McConville. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.