Ross Douthat's Trump Interview Draws Praise but Ratings Slip Without NFL Lead‑In

The eighth episode of CBS’s “60 Minutes” drew 7.8 million viewers overall, a sharp fall from the prior week’s NFL‑boosted broadcast. The same episode attracted only 918,000 viewers in the 25‑54 age group that advertisers prize, marking a 26% drop in total audience and a 69% plunge in that key demo compared with the same week a year earlier, when nearly two million 25‑to‑54‑year‑olds watched. The previous week, lifted by an NFL game, had pulled almost 10.5 million viewers overall and 2.23 million in the demo, so the current numbers represent declines of about 30% and 59% respectively. Despite the dip, the show posted its highest rating for a “60 Minutes” episode that did not follow a football telecast this season, a modest win in a period where the series has struggled to keep viewers without a game lead‑in.

CBS Changes

Ross Douthat, the new correspondent, earned acclaim from Fox News commentator Brit Hume and CNN media analyst Brian Stelter for his hard‑hitting questions to President Donald Trump about the midterm loss, his afterlife, and whether he would stop insulting opponents for the nation’s good. The telecast also featured senior global affairs correspondent Trevor Phillips interviewing far‑right French leader Marine Le Pen amid street protests. CBS News continues to feel pressure after a chaotic overhaul that saw editor‑in‑chief Bari Weiss replace longtime executive producer Tanya Simon with Nick Bilton, and phase out veterans Scott Pelley, Cecilia Vega, Sharyn Alfonsi and Anderson Cooper. New hires such as Douthat, Ariel Levy and Sebastian Junger bring strong print credentials but limited weekly TV experience.

Context

Network news shows often see a ratings boost when an NFL game airs beforehand because many football viewers stay tuned for the next program. Without that lead‑in, “60 Minutes” must rely on the strength of its own reporting to hold the audience.