A scathing new profile in Vanity Fair has laid bare the deep tensions and controversies surrounding CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil, with colleagues branding him a 'useful idiot' and accusing him of lacking self-awareness.
Colleagues Speak Out
Vanity Fair spoke with more than 20 current or former CBS employees and media insiders, many anonymously, who criticized Dokoupil's performance since he was elevated to primetime in December. One correspondent claimed Dokoupil reported on the Iran war 'through the lens of Israel,' parroting Israeli talking points.
Staffers also pointed to a January 6 anniversary segment where Dokoupil rewrote the script to include a light-hearted tribute to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling him 'the ultimate Florida Man.' A producer described the moment as 'outrageous,' adding that even MAGA Republicans would not want to see that in their news.
Micromanagement and Bias Allegations
The profile details how Bari Weiss, the newly appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News and a self-proclaimed 'Zionist fanatic,' has micromanaged Dokoupil's broadcasts, even rewriting his first script minutes before airtime. Critics accuse Dokoupil of blindly executing her directives and displaying on-air bias, particularly in covering the Trump administration and Israel.
Despite the backlash, Dokoupil has expressed no regrets, dismissing the outrage as overblown, according to a source close to him. Some staffers view the criticism of Weiss as hysterical, labeling it 'Bari derangement syndrome.'
Ratings Decline
Amid the internal strife, viewership for CBS Evening News has plummeted. Last month, ratings dropped below four million for the first time since Dokoupil took the anchor role. CBS News declined to make Dokoupil available for comment but defended him as 'an exceptional talent and experienced journalist,' dismissing the Vanity Fair report as filled with 'old and false rumors.'
