Paramount Skydance is shaking up the future of CBS News — and the name behind the move is already raising eyebrows across the media landscape.
Sources close to the situation tell The Post that journalist Bari Weiss is expected to be named editor in chief of CBS News in the coming days, marking a dramatic shift at a network that has long faced criticism for leaning too far left. Weiss, a former New York Times opinion writer and founder of The Free Press, is widely known for tackling some of the most hot-button issues in America — from free speech and cancel culture to antisemitism and political polarization.
The decision to bring Weiss in comes alongside Paramount Skydance’s anticipated $150 million acquisition of The Free Press — a deal said to include a mix of cash, stock, and performance-based earn-outs. Though The Free Press will reportedly remain a standalone operation, Weiss’ role inside CBS News is expected to be anything but hands-off.
Is a bunch of snowflake NYTs interns getting Bari Weiss to resign the biggest backfire in press history? https://t.co/8XWZGgWCHd
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) October 2, 2025
Instead of reporting through the traditional CBS News chain of command, Weiss will answer directly to Skydance CEO David Ellison. That means she bypasses CBS News President Tom Cibrowski entirely, a move that has insiders buzzing and some long-time CBS veterans reportedly on edge.
One insider told The Post, “It’s like dropping a grenade into the newsroom.” Others said the culture clash between Weiss and long-standing CBS News staff — especially at programs like 60 Minutes — could be hard to contain.
And this isn’t coming out of nowhere.
Weiss has been in talks with Ellison for months, with the pair making headlines this summer after being spotted together at the exclusive Allen & Co. summit in Sun Valley. That same summit — often called the “summer camp for billionaires” — has a reputation for behind-the-scenes dealmaking.
The buzz around Weiss’ move has only intensified since then.
The left is going to go insane:
Me heading over to BlueSky to see the Bari Weiss news pic.twitter.com/9QwBy6hkaN
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) October 2, 2025
Bari Weiss, whose publication is being acquired by Paramount in a $150 million deal, is set to be named editor-in-chief of CBS News.
In an unusual arrangement, Weiss will report directly to Paramount CEO David Ellison, and not to CBS News’ President Tom Cibrowski or to head of… pic.twitter.com/LHZ4sAsrBk
— Yashar Ali
(@yashar) October 2, 2025
(@yashar) Bari Weiss just snagged CBS News’ top job, ready to un-woke the network & make her NYT haters cry into their Slackshttps://t.co/RlWFVmncRq pic.twitter.com/VXBwdQbm8k
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) October 3, 2025
Sources say Ellison originally approached Weiss about leading 60 Minutes directly. That idea reportedly evolved into something bigger — a broader role shaping CBS News’ editorial direction. Weiss’ history of challenging media narratives and her sharp focus on ideological imbalance may signal a new tone at a network that’s been wrestling with criticism for years.
That tension came to a head last year when CBS settled a $16 million lawsuit brought by former President Donald Trump, over what he described as biased editing during a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris. Trump later claimed Ellison helped seal the settlement by agreeing to an additional $20 million in pro-MAGA ad space — a detail that raised more than a few eyebrows inside media circles.
Even before the lawsuit, CBS was facing scrutiny over its Israel coverage, with major Jewish organizations accusing the network of one-sided reporting. One such controversy involved CBS Mornings host Tony Dokoupil, who publicly challenged author Ta-Nehisi Coates during a segment on Israel. Staff later complained to management, and Dokoupil was reportedly rebuked by then-president Adrienne Roark during a staff meeting.
It’s this backdrop that makes Weiss’ potential appointment even more significant.
Supporters say she brings journalistic grit and independence to a network that’s struggled with perception problems. Detractors fear she’ll push too far, too fast. Either way, Weiss’ influence is already sparking speculation — and likely some internal power shifts.
No one from CBS News or Paramount Skydance has commented publicly on the pending announcement.
But if the goal is to reset the tone and re-center CBS News in a politically divided country, this move may be just the beginning.
