By Zoe Papadakis | Monday, April 6, 2026, 12:30 PM EDT
Veteran journalist Steve Kroft described his time on CBS’ “60 Minutes” as a role he “hated,” likening the newsroom to “a snake pit.”
Kroft, now 80, made these remarks during a recent appearance on Bill O’Reilly’s “We’ll Do It Live!” podcast. During the discussion, he reflected on his three-decade career at CBS.
When asked if he would return to the show, Kroft responded, “No, I probably wouldn’t do it again. I hated it.”
The longtime correspondent noted that tensions within the newsroom became evident after he joined in 1989. He initially viewed the opportunity as “fantastic,” but later realized “not everybody was happy that I got” the position.
“There were other people that wanted, so then you’ve all of a sudden made a bunch of enemies,” he said, highlighting competition among colleagues.
Kroft also cited the demanding nature of the job, describing it as “24 hours a day.” The role required frequent travel, script writing, screenings, and continuous production cycles. Despite these pressures, he acknowledged the appeal: “It was exhilarating… The reason I loved the job was because of the stories that I could do and the fact that they liked good stories.”
When asked if he became reliant on the intensity of the work, Kroft admitted he “probably” did, adding, “You get excited about the fact that you’re still alive.”
Before joining “60 Minutes,” Kroft worked as a correspondent in London for CBS. He called that assignment his preferred role: “Look, the best job I ever had at CBS was when I was correspondent at the London bureau and got to see the world. That was the job I always wanted.”
Kroft also noted he wasn’t well known among peers when he started. “I was kind of at a disadvantage. I was the first person on that show who had not been an anchorman, wasn’t really well known,” he said.
Over his three decades with CBS, Kroft conducted several high-profile interviews, including a 1992 conversation with then-Gov. Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, a 2008 interview with Barack and Michelle Obama, the Obamas’ final interview in the White House in January 2017, and the only TV interview with Woody Allen during Allen’s custody battle with Mia Farrow.
Kroft retired from “60 Minutes” in May 2019 after completing his 30th season.
The show is now facing potential changes. Reports indicate that newly appointed CBS News Editor in Chief Bari Weiss is planning a major overhaul following the current season. This shift follows the Paramount-Skydance merger and has reportedly unsettled staff with internal clashes over editorial decisions, planned layoffs, and uncertainty about top talent.
