Quick Read
- Bari Weiss appointed Editor-in-Chief at CBS News, bringing a disruptive leadership style.
- Weiss will moderate a prime-time town hall with conservative activist Erika Kirk, preempting regular programming.
- Her decisions have led to high-profile anchor departures and internal tensions at CBS News.
- Weiss is reportedly steering CBS toward a more right-leaning direction, drawing criticism and attention.
- CBS News faces uncertainty as it navigates leadership changes and evolving public perception.
Bari Weiss Steps Into the Spotlight at CBS News
When Bari Weiss was appointed Editor-in-Chief at CBS News, few could have predicted just how dramatically she would reshape the network’s direction—and its public face. Weiss, a former columnist for The New York Times known for her outspoken views and willingness to challenge media orthodoxy, has wasted little time making her mark. Her style? Disruptive, direct, and unapologetically visible.
Traditionally, network news follows a well-worn path. Star anchors are the face of major events, and executives largely stay behind the scenes. But Weiss broke that mold by casting herself as the moderator and headliner of a major prime-time town hall—a one-hour special with Erika Kirk, widow of slain activist Charlie Kirk. This isn’t just a programming tweak; it’s a statement about who sets the agenda at CBS News in 2025.
Prime-Time Shakeup: Weiss Bypasses CBS Talent
The upcoming “CBS News Presents: A Town Hall with Erika Kirk” is more than just another news program. Scheduled for Saturday, December 13 at 8 p.m. Eastern, the special will preempt the previously planned “Family Film and TV Awards,” signaling Weiss’s sway over programming decisions. Instead of the usual CBS News anchor moderating, Weiss herself will guide the conversation, positioning herself as the network’s new public face.
Why take such an unconventional step? According to MediaPost, Weiss may have felt that typical CBS News talent wouldn’t offer the fairness she wanted for Kirk—a prominent conservative figure now leading Turning Point USA. The show’s format itself is a departure: Kirk will field questions from young evangelicals, religious leaders, and diverse political voices, aiming to bridge America’s political divide. It’s a format more reminiscent of Fox News than the CBS of old, and it’s already attracting attention—and criticism.
Internal Tensions: Departures and Disputed Reports
Weiss’s bold moves come as CBS News faces internal upheaval. Longtime anchors Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson are both departing “CBS Evening News,” after less than a year as coanchors. DuBois’s exit, announced on Instagram with warmth and gratitude, was reportedly more contentious behind the scenes. According to HuffPost and AOL, sources claim DuBois was told by CBS brass that his time was up, prompting him to make his own announcement before CBS could finalize succession plans.
Weiss’s influence is clear in these transitions. Insiders told the New York Post that Weiss favors Tony Dokoupil, a familiar face from “CBS Mornings,” as the next anchor. The network has also reportedly seen Weiss attempt to poach big names from rival networks—including Scott Jennings, Bret Baier, and Anderson Cooper—underscoring her intent to shake up CBS’s talent pool.
Officially, CBS News President Tom Cibrowski has denied reports of behind-the-scenes drama, stating he worked with DuBois on his departure announcement for weeks and expressing hope for future collaboration. Yet, neither Dickerson nor DuBois has publicly explained their reasons for leaving, and the timing aligns with Weiss’s ascendance and her visible push for change.
Strategic Shifts: Rightward Lean and Network Identity
Weiss’s appointment itself was seen as a strategic pivot. Described as a conservative, she was reportedly brought aboard to steer CBS News toward a more right-leaning stance. This shift is reflected not only in talent choices and on-air personalities but also in programming decisions—like giving Erika Kirk a national platform at a moment when political polarization is at a fever pitch.
The special with Kirk is especially notable given its context. Her husband, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated last September while speaking at Utah Valley University, an event that shocked conservative circles. Erika Kirk has since taken the reins at Turning Point USA, a group her husband founded, and received national attention when President Trump awarded Charlie Kirk a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom—an honor Erika accepted at the White House Rose Garden.
By foregrounding this story and hosting Kirk herself, Weiss is not only elevating voices less commonly featured on CBS but also signaling a broader ideological openness—or, critics argue, a rightward tilt intended to appeal to Trump-era audiences. The move has already drawn fire from those who see CBS’s programming decisions as an effort to curry favor with conservative viewers and the current administration.
What’s Next for CBS News?
As CBS News prepares for this new chapter, uncertainty—and anticipation—hangs in the air. Will Weiss’s strategy revitalize the network, drawing in audiences who feel alienated by legacy media? Or will it deepen existing divides, both within CBS and among its viewers? The answer may depend on how successfully Weiss balances disruption with journalistic integrity and whether she can unite the network’s fractured talent pool.
For now, the facts are clear: Bari Weiss is rewriting the rules at CBS News, making herself the face of the network, shaking up prime-time programming, and reshaping the internal landscape. Her choices—controversial, high-profile, and unapologetic—reflect a broader reckoning in American media, where questions of bias, representation, and leadership are front and center.
Weiss’s tenure at CBS News is already marked by dramatic change, but whether her disruptive style will lead to lasting renewal or further polarization remains to be seen. What’s undeniable is that she’s forcing CBS—and its viewers—to confront what kind of news they want, and who gets to tell it.