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Seeking to make a splash during her first few weeks as editor-in-chief of CBS News, Bari Weiss is eyeing some big names to potentially helm the network’s flagship evening program — including Fox News chief political anchor Brett Baier, two sources familiar with the matter said. Independent,
Weiss was interested in replacing Byer at Fox News to lead the CBS Evening News First reported by Status News,
Since officially arriving as Tiffany Network’s newsroom leader earlier this month, Weiss — founder of the anti-woke digital outlet The Free Press, which was also purchased by CBS parent company Paramount — Weiss has soon made its presence felt On broadcast news outlets.
In addition to motivating employees to do so literally roll your eyes On his Sorkinesque war cry and DOGE-style messaging is causing confusion Ordering staffers to narrate their workdays amid the pending layoffs, Weiss has inserted himself into the network’s booking process — such as setting up morning anchor Tony Dokoupil’s exclusive interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
As the network’s coverage begins to echo his sensibilities, including his sister and Free Press co-founder who is airing his articles, Weiss has also sought to recruit ideological allies to help carry out his vision. The “radically centrist” paradox,
For example, shortly after she was installed as the network’s top editor, she brought in her close friend and former new York Times Colleague Adam Rubenstein To serve as his deputy editor.moreover, As first reported by StatusWeiss recently chatted with conservative journalist Katherine Herridge, the longtime Fox News reporter who was let go by CBS News last year.
However, at the top of his list of objectives is to reshape the network Evening news broadcast at third consecutive position – Who Already given a facelift in the last yearAnd it appears he is set to get a prominent name to take over the position CBS Evening News Anchor seat.
According to Status, Weiss has expressed interest in several outside candidates to take over the nightly show, including one intriguing name – Brett Baer. In conversations with colleagues at the network, he has mentioned bringing the Fox News star into the CBS family, possibly for the marquee weeknight anchor spot.
Meanwhile, Baier is one of several names that Weiss has discussed with network executives and CBS News president Tom Sibrowski as potential candidates to lead the evening program.
Independent It turns out that longtime CNN anchor Anderson Cooper is another top talent that Weiss has discussed with as a potential candidate for the show. According to two sources at the network, she has said that Cooper would be one of her top targets. In addition to his primetime anchoring duties at CNN, Cooper is also a correspondent for CBS News’ Sunday newsmagazine 60 minutesOne of the top rated shows on broadcast television.
Independent Representatives of CBS News and CNN have been contacted for comment. Fox News declined to comment.
Still, landing either Cooper or Byrd could be a difficult task for Weis, even if they were to leave their current positions. For starters, during an era where payrolls are being cut across the news industry, both men are drawing huge salaries — Byer makes $14 million annually while Cooper’s Reported annual salary is $18 million,
On top of that, Baier recently signed a contract extension with Fox and is locked in until 2028 – meaning he’d need Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch to opt out of their deal to rival the network, which seems extremely unlikely.
Incidentally, Weiss’s grand idea of bringing in three former Secretaries of State The sit-down for a televised summit on the Israel ceasefire agreement failed in part because one of the planned participants, Mike Pompeo, is a salaried Fox News analyst. CBS News staff has expressed nervousness Weiss is leading the network due to her lack of broadcast journalism experience.
As far as Cooper is concerned, it has thundered He may be considering leaving CNN after that Agents changed earlier this year – Although the move may have been a response to CNN’s hopes of cutting costs and avoiding pay “cuts” to veteran anchors.
Still, even though Cooper is considering departing from CNN in the near future, a source with knowledge of the situation said Independent The 58-year-old veteran journalist has made it clear to others that he has “no interest” in taking over. CBS Evening News seat.
However, Weiss doesn’t just have her eye on another network’s star to take over the evening news anchor spot. he is Also considering bringing back Norah O’Donnell, who stepped down in January, was replaced by a two-member anchor team of John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois. Dokopil, published by The Free Press defended vigorously After The network reprimanded him He’s also in the mix for his combative interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates last year over Gaza.
As noted by Oliver Darcy of Status NewsBayer further speculates about the editorial direction Ellison wants to take the news network. In addition to hiring Weiss and buying The Free Press, the media mogul also appointed a former Trump appointee to serve as the ombudsman for CBS News. Network’s on-air editing guidelines revamped After complaints from the White House.
While Byer “occasionally examines Donald Trump with a glimpse of mild skepticism,” Darcy asserted that the Fox News anchor’s “program operates mostly within the gravitational pull of the MAGA movement” as it “regularly features dishonest right-wing pundits who mislead viewers and minimize Trump’s actions and behavior.”
“In other words, he is a journalist who can acquiesce to power while shielding Trump and his MAGA movement from serious scrutiny,” he said. “It doesn’t conform to traditional CBS news standards, but it will fit well within Weiss’s editorial sensibilities.”