Podcast Summary: Inside CBS News Under Bari Weiss

Podcast: All Of It
Host: Alison Stewart, WNYC
Guest: Claire Malone, staff writer, The New Yorker
Episode Title: Inside CBS News Under Bari Weiss
Date: January 29, 2026

Overview

This episode centers on the profound shifts at CBS News after Bari Weiss’s appointment as editor in chief, as chronicled in Claire Malone's New Yorker piece, "Inside Bari Weiss’s Hostile Takeover of CBS News." Host Alison Stewart and Malone discuss Weiss’s career trajectory, her controversial leadership style, and the cultural and political implications of her tenure at CBS. The conversation further delves into her influence on newsroom dynamics, her relationship with the Trump administration, and sweeping changes to the network’s vision and staffing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bari Weiss’s Unconventional Rise & Media Persona

• Weiss's Notoriety: Weiss has been a divisive figure in media for about a decade, widely recognized for courting controversy and cultivating virality online through her Substack, The Free Press.
  "She sort of had a talent for courting controversy and making things go viral on the Internet." (03:25 - Claire Malone)
• The Free Press: After leaving The New York Times, Weiss launched The Free Press, focusing on topics viewed as underexplored by mainstream outlets, often courting a wealthy, Silicon Valley fanbase.
• Massive Acquisition: Paramount Skydance, under David Ellison, bought The Free Press for $150 million, leading to Weiss’s hiring. The purchase and hiring serve both business and political objectives, including appeasing President Trump amid industry lawsuits and government-business negotiations.

2. Weiss’s Goals for CBS News

• Modernization: A self-professed focus on bringing CBS News into the digital age. Weiss has hired talent from digital-native platforms and introduced contributors with strong YouTube or social followings. "She wants to modernize the network… she hired the head of talent acquisition from Substack… she's announced a bunch of contributors… who have these niche audiences on YouTube or other platforms…" (08:38 - Claire Malone)
• Startup Mentality: Advocates for operating as a "startup," pushing risk-taking, niche talent, and experimental content over traditional broadcast formulas.

3. Culture Clashes and Rookie Mistakes

• Broadcast Inexperience: Despite her editorial achievements in print and digital, Weiss arrived at CBS with little knowledge of the technical and logistical demands of broadcast news. "A lot of the flare ups… have to do with her lack of knowledge about how broadcast pieces actually are cut and edited…" (10:49 - Claire Malone)
• Notable Blunders: A high-profile example includes her last-minute decision to pull a "60 Minutes" segment about a prison in El Salvador, driven by unfamiliarity with the medium’s operational requirements.
  "She didn't know when the promos went live on television, things like that. So a lot of mistakes… just bluntly are rookie mistakes." (12:36 - Claire Malone)
• Internal Fallout: These missteps have caused internal friction and led to leaks and negative press coverage, which reportedly irritates Weiss, especially given her own previous penchant for airing grievances online.

4. The Weiss Management Style

• Relentlessly Ambitious, Chaotic Management: Known for her drive, charisma, and networking prowess, but also for hands-on, sometimes erratic management—traits that have both fueled her ascent and alienated peers. "She is a pretty chaotic manager… she's a very ambitious, hands in every pot… That I think could grate at people even if they aligned with her ideologically." (16:10 - Claire Malone)
• Transitory Tenures: Weiss has rarely stayed long at any organization, consistently making bold marks before moving on.

5. Social Media as Brand and Weapon

• Public Performance: Weiss is a "real poster," using social media to shape both her brand and the narrative around her work—sometimes fueling additional controversy. "She is the editor in chief of this very traditional media outlet. But she's also very much promoting the… conservative leaning content of the Free Press." (18:26 - Claire Malone)
• Meta-Narrative: Her persistent, sometimes combative online persona is seen as both a brand-building necessity and a source of tension within more traditional institutions.

6. Weiss, CBS, and the Trump Administration

• Navigating Political Tensions: Her hiring is tied to CBS’s efforts to maintain access to and favor with Trump’s administration after public clashes. "Weiss feels the pressure to essentially win the Trump administration back into the booking graces. And that's obviously a tense… thing to do at a time when the Trump administration again, is really pushing constitutional boundaries." (22:38 - Claire Malone)
• On-Air Softness: The network has been criticized for softball interviews with Trump officials, and for shifting its tone to cater to Trump-era political realities.

7. Tony Dokoupil, Cronkite Comparisons, and Shifting News Philosophy

• Changing of the Guard: The new CBS Evening News anchor, Tony Dokoupil, has adopted a populist "we’re listening to the people, not experts" posture, drawing both skepticism and criticism for downplaying expert perspectives. "Their vision for CBS is basically like… we've listened to too many experts and elites. We're going to listen to you, the American people." (24:01 - Claire Malone)
• Notable Segments: The anniversary of January 6th received minimal attention on CBS, with Dokoupil’s newscast spending only seconds on it, compared to more extensive coverage on rival networks.

8. Buyouts and Looming Staff Changes

• Organizational Upheaval: Recent buyouts and anticipated layoffs are stoking uncertainty and fear among staff. These are Weiss’s first as CBS chief, with intent to cull those not "with the plan." "…they have offered buyouts… if you don’t believe in our vision, hit the road. There’s the door." (26:33 - Claire Malone)
• Ideological Diversity Questioned: Whether upcoming layoffs will target ideological dissenters or simply those out-of-step with Weiss’s vision remains uncertain.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "She’s a real networker… from her second grade teacher… through to college where she’s sending the chummy emails… taking advantage, I think in a, in a sort of very worldly way of the connections that New York and New York media had to offer." (14:00 - Claire Malone)
• "She is a person who really puts a lot of her feelings of put-upon-ness out on social media… She did make herself a star via social media." (18:26 - Claire Malone)
• "I want the ideological diversity, but I want people who are down with the plan. I want, you know, the younger, smarter thinkers… CBS… is a place that has a difficult, calcified, sclerotic culture, I think, as Weiss would say." (26:50 - Claire Malone)
• "It’s to their financial benefit to try to figure it out and make it work. And this is a huge platform… but I do think it’s a real moment of uncertainty." (27:45 - Claire Malone)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Introduction & Guest Setup: 00:29–03:21
• Why Weiss Became a Fascination in Media: 03:25–04:45
• Her Online Persona vs. Real Persona: 04:47–05:21
• The Free Press & Its Silicon Valley Links: 06:11–08:31
• Weiss’s Modernization Vision & Hiring Decisions: 08:38–10:34
• Rookie Errors & Broadcast Learning Curve: 10:49–12:50
• Impact on CBS Newsroom, Management Style: 15:55–16:10
• Weiss’s Use of Social Media: 18:18–20:43
• Relationship with Trump Administration: 20:53–22:38
• Tony Dokoupil’s Anchor Approach/Cronkite Comparison: 23:29–26:00
• Uncertainty, Staff Buyouts, and Network Morale: 26:33–28:30
• Wrap-up and Reading Recommendation: 28:30–28:40

Conclusion

The episode provides a vivid, multi-layered portrait of Bari Weiss’s entry into CBS News, exploring the intersection of brand-centric, digital media tactics with traditional broadcast news culture amidst intense political polarization. Claire Malone’s reporting and commentary offer both context and critique—charting how one polarizing media figure disrupts a legacy institution, for better or worse.