CBS News is grappling with significant internal dissent and a dramatic change in editorial direction following a major leadership overhaul, with staffers reportedly branding the new approach a "total disaster". The upheaval comes in the wake of the network's parent company, Paramount, being purchased last year by billionaire David Ellison, a known ally of former President Donald Trump.
A Network in Transition: New Faces and Alleged Bias
The changes have been sweeping. Bari Weiss was appointed as the news division's editor-in-chief, signalling a stark new chapter. This week, the network's flagship programme, CBS Evening News, unveiled a new anchor: Tony Dokupil, who replaced previous anchors John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois.
Dokupil's tenure began with a clear editorial slant, featuring segments on high-ranking officials from the Trump administration. His first broadcast included profiles of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. A subsequent feature on Rubio, which Dokupil introduced by calling the Secretary "the ultimate Florida man" and stating "Marco Rubio, we salute you," was criticised by independent journalist Oliver Darcy as "a glowing tribute" and an "extraordinary editorial decision".
Internal Backlash and 'Deeply Inauthentic' Tours
Multiple insiders have expressed deep skepticism about the network's new path. One source told Darcy that CBS is now "led by unserious people who are hellbent on taking it into far friendlier waters for the Trump administration." This marks a profound shift for a network that historically leaned left; a 2014 Pew Research survey found over half of its viewers identified as "consistently liberal".
Further fuelling the controversy is Dokupil's "Live from America" tour, a 10-city initiative purportedly designed to connect with viewers outside New York and Washington D.C. The network leased a private jet for the tour, though it was delayed due to the invasion of Venezuela. Insiders derided the effort as "deeply inauthentic," particularly in light of Dokupil's introductory statement which railed against mainstream media for catering to "academics or elites".
Dokupil has placed patriotism at the forefront, unveiling five guiding principles for his broadcast, the first of which is "We love America." The others are "We work for you," "We report on the world as it is," "We respect you," and "We respect tradition."
On-Air Stumbles and Leadership Criticism
The new regime's start has been rocky on a technical level as well. During Dokupil's inaugural broadcast, a teleprompter malfunction caused confusion, with producers displaying an image of Senator Mark Kelly while Dokupil read a script about Governor Tim Walz. The clip went viral on social media, with some speculating about sabotage by disgruntled staff.
Criticism has also been directed at editor-in-chief Bari Weiss. Insiders previously told the Daily Mail that Weiss "made a fool of herself" chasing big-name broadcasters before promoting Dokupil, with one source quipping, "Big league ambitions, little league talent." Former NBC Universal executive Mike Sington called the error-ridden broadcast "embarrassing," writing on X that "the inexperience of new CBS News chief Bari Weiss is on full display."
The Daily Mail has contacted both CBS News and Paramount for comment. The network, once a pillar of establishment media, now finds itself at the centre of a fierce internal and external debate over its identity and future under its new, controversially partisan ownership.
