CBS News Chief Bari Weiss Reportedly Fuming Over Viral Video Incident
CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss is said to be "fuming" over a viral video that appears to show a CBS Austin reporter being instructed to downplay coverage of a pro-Israel protest occurring behind him during a live broadcast. According to a well-placed source speaking to the Daily Mail, Weiss, 41, viewed the footage and is now demanding a network-wide crackdown as a direct result of the incident.
Video Shows Reporter Questioning Editorial Direction
The controversial clip originates from a Facebook livestream posted by CBS Austin on Saturday, featuring reporter Vinny Martorano covering a procession outside the Texas Capitol building. The procession was organized to celebrate recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran. During the broadcast, a crew member handed Martorano a phone with a message on its screen.
After several seconds of scrutinizing the device, Martorano asked, "What does that mean?" A crewmate responded, "It means they don't want us to focus on this." Martorano notably did not heed this apparent directive, continuing his coverage of the protest. The moment was quickly clipped and reshared across social media platforms, eventually capturing Weiss's attention.
Weiss Plans Hands-On Approach to Affiliate Oversight
The source revealed that Weiss intends to take "an even more hands-on approach" to ensure the CBS brand is not tarnished by affiliate stations. "This is a bad look, and it reinforces everything that she wants to avoid," the insider stated, adding that "there will be a lot more directives going out to affiliates." Importantly, the source emphasized that CBS affiliates will not be exempt from this renewed oversight effort.
Weiss, who rose to prominence as an opinion journalist for the New York Times and her own publication, The Free Press, is known as a fierce critic of legacy news organizations and an outspoken Zionist. She was personally appointed by Paramount CEO David Ellison in October with expectations of being a disruptive force within the network.
Network and Affiliate Responses to the Controversy
Conservative commentators rapidly shared Martorano's report to accuse CBS of media bias. However, CBS Austin is actually owned by the right-leaning Sinclair Broadcast Group, a separate entity from CBS News. A spokesperson for CBS Austin told the Daily Mail that Martorano had only been instructed to avoid the protest group in line with safety guidelines for covering such events.
"There was no directive to avoid or de-emphasize any particular perspective," the spokesperson clarified. "The guidance was focused on safety, logistics and ensuring comprehensive coverage in a rapidly evolving situation." The finished report did include perspectives from protesters who supported the US air strikes.
Broader Context of CBS News and Media Bias Allegations
CBS News has faced persistent allegations of liberal media bias for years, a reputation that executives have been working to address since the network was acquired by David Ellison's Skydance late last year. Ellison and his father, Larry Ellison, are known as close allies of former President Donald Trump.
The source indicated that Weiss plans to take action involving Sinclair and Hearst, two major companies that carry CBS's local stations. Posts resharing the controversial clip have already garnered millions of views online, amplifying the controversy.
The Facebook livestream lasted approximately 11 minutes and concluded after Martorano discussed how the US remains divided on the issue. The Daily Mail has approached both Martorano and CBS Austin for further comment on the matter.
In related news, Iranian state media confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday. Meanwhile, Sinclair made headlines last year for its decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its ABC affiliates over jokes the host made regarding the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
