Anderson Cooper is an American broadcast journalist and political commentator. He has two children via surrogacy, Wyatt Morgan Cooper and Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper. In 2020 he shared the following thoughts on parenthood in an editorial interview with WSJ:“[Fatherhood] changed everything,” he said. “I’ve often in my life felt like I was waiting for my actual life to begin—it’s obviously ridiculous because I’m 53 years old—but … I’ve been very focused on getting to some place, getting a story. Because I’m focused on him, it gives an order to everything.”In the latest news about Anderson Cooper, he announced on February 16 that he has opted not to renew his contract with 60 Minutes after nearly 20 years amid a restructuring under new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.“Being a correspondent at 60 Minutes has been one of the great honors of my career. I got to tell amazing stories, and work with some of the best producers, editors and camera crews in the business. 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 still want to spend time with me.”The editorial independence of CBS News and its flagship properties has reportedly been in doubt since the network’s new owner, David Ellison, hired Weiss. Some have posited that her appointment and the changing philosophy of the network are the principal reasons for Anderson Cooper’s exit.Anderson Cooper staying put at CNN, moreWhile Anderson Cooper has elected to step back from his duties at CBS, he remains fully committed to his various roles at CNN. He will continue to anchor the nightly Anderson Cooper 360 show and a weekly newsmagazine, The Whole Story. He also will continue to host All There Is, a podcast and interactive streaming show where Cooper talks live with guests and listeners about their grief and the losses they’ve experienced.Incidentally, CBS also released a statement addressing Cooper’s exit,“For more than two decades, Anderson Cooper has taken 60 Minutes viewers on journeys to faraway places, told us unforgettable stories, reported consequential investigations and interviewed many prominent figures. We’re grateful to him for dedicating so much of his life to this broadcast, and understand the importance of spending more time with family. 60 Minutes will be here if he ever wants to return.”Though he has departed, Anderson Cooper’s near 20-year tenure at CBS will be heralded as one of the brightest spots for the network over that period of time.