CBS News Producer Quits, Cites 'Shifting Ideological Expectations'

Alicia Hastey's farewell note criticizes network's move away from 'traditional broadcast norms'

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A CBS News producer named Alicia Hastey abruptly resigned, accusing the network of shifting towards a 'heterodox' journalism approach that prioritizes conforming to 'ideological expectations' over traditional journalistic standards. In her widely-shared farewell note, Hastey quoted CBS legend Walter Cronkite in defending the need for unbiased reporting, even if it means being labeled a 'liberal'.

Why it matters

Hastey's resignation highlights the ongoing tensions within mainstream media outlets as they navigate shifting audience expectations and ideological pressures. Her comments echo broader debates about the role of objectivity in journalism and the influence of political agendas on news coverage.

The details

Hastey, who had worked at CBS News since 2021, said the network was embracing a 'new vision prioritizing a break from traditional broadcast norms' under the leadership of editor-in-chief Bari Weiss. Hastey claimed this was making it 'increasingly impossible' to commit to the stories and people CBS News should be covering, as stories may now be 'evaluated not just on their journalistic merit but on whether they conform to a shifting set of ideological expectations'.

  • Alicia Hastey resigned from CBS News on February 12, 2026.

The players

Alicia Hastey

A CBS News producer who resigned after working at the network since 2021.

Bari Weiss

The editor-in-chief of CBS News, who was handpicked by CEO David Ellison and has been accused of pushing the network in a more conservative direction.

Walter Cronkite

The legendary CBS News anchor who Hastey quoted in her farewell note, defending the need for unbiased journalism.

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What they’re saying

“[T]here has been a sweeping new vision prioritizing a break from traditional broadcast norms to embrace what has been described as 'heterodox' journalism.”

— Alicia Hastey, Former CBS News Producer (New York Times reporter Ben Mullin)

“Walter Cronkite once said in a response to critics: 'If that is what makes us liberals, so be it, just as long as in reporting the news we adhere to the first ideals of good journalism — that news reports must be fair, accurate and unbiased.'”

— Alicia Hastey, Former CBS News Producer (New York Times reporter Ben Mullin)

What’s next

It remains to be seen how CBS News will respond to Hastey's criticisms and whether the network will continue down the path she described under Bari Weiss's leadership.

The takeaway

Hastey's resignation highlights the ongoing tensions within the media industry as outlets navigate political polarization and pressure to conform to certain ideological narratives, even at the expense of traditional journalistic principles of fairness and objectivity.