From Salon · Sophia Tesfaye · · 2m
Bari Weiss' CBS News pivot falls short
CBS News editor Bari Weiss' pro-MAGA shift faces credibility and ratings decline.
In brief
CBS News editor Bari Weiss' pro-MAGA shift faces credibility and ratings decline. CBS News' pro-MAGA pivot under Bari Weiss has led to declining ratings and internal conflicts over editorial control. Originally reported by Salon.
CBS News editor Bari Weiss
Bari Weiss, CBS News editor-in-chief, arrived at the network promising to rescue mainstream news from ideological conformity.
Internal editorial disputes
Weiss' tenure has been defined by disputes over editorial interference, veteran journalist departures, and perceptions of unequal scrutiny for political narratives.
Lesley Stahl's West Bank report
Stahl reported Palestinians attempting to reach land but being confronted by Israeli settlers, with one man headbutted and his nose fractured.
Weiss' interference in Stahl's report
Within a day, Weiss took a 'very, very hands-on' role and Stahl privately floated quitting after the report aired.
Shayndi Raice's leadership
Raice, foreign editor, delivered a 15-minute tirade to staff, stating the company hierarchy is non-negotiable and insubordination is legal grounds for firing.
Holly Williams' challenge
Williams challenged Raice's dismissal of Palestinian death tolls as a 'magic number' and 'posturing' rather than journalism.
Abdul El-Sayed investigation
Weiss pushed CBS journalists to investigate El-Sayed's alleged Muslim Brotherhood ties, using a 2012 tweet from his half-sister.
James Talarico hoax
Weiss' team pursued a fabricated story about Talarico checking into a mental health facility during his absence from the campaign trail.
Things That Matter town hall
Weiss' town hall series drew 1.87 million viewers, down 11% from CBS's usual audience for the hour.
JD Vance appearance
Vance appeared on a town hall in Michigan, two weeks before midterms, with no answers to questions about accountability for military deaths.
60 Minutes ratings drop
60 Minutes saw its smallest audience of the season and the smallest for a fourth episode in at least a quarter century.
CBS News credibility decline
CBS News faces declining ratings and credibility amid internal conflicts over editorial control and political bias.
The headline
CBS News' pro-MAGA pivot under Bari Weiss has led to declining ratings and internal conflicts over editorial control.
