Bari Weiss has never been one to shy away from controversy. But as she steps into her new role as editor-in-chief of CBS News, the celebrated—and at times polarizing—journalist finds herself at the center of a storm she may not have fully anticipated. In just five years, Weiss has rocketed from a mid-level, embattled editor at The New York Times to the top of one of America’s most storied newsrooms. Her journey, marked by battles over ideological groupthink, the founding of her own media company, and a $150 million acquisition, now enters its most challenging chapter yet: steering CBS News through turbulent cultural and political waters, all while grappling with the very newsroom dynamics she once critiqued from the outside.
Weiss’s appointment as editor-in-chief earlier in October 2025 was met with both anticipation and skepticism. According to Reason, her rise is nothing short of remarkable: from resigning in protest from the Times in July 2020, to building The Free Press—a digital outlet dedicated to what she called “ideological diversity”—and now taking the reins at CBS News. Paramount’s purchase of The Free Press for a staggering $150 million only underscored the magnitude of her ascent. As Reason put it, “over the course of just five years, Weiss has gone from an underappreciated mid-level editor at a hostile (to her) newspaper to the boss of a major television news company, making millions in the process.”
But if Weiss thought her outsider’s perspective and reformer’s zeal would be quickly embraced inside the venerable halls of CBS News, she’s learning otherwise—and fast. According to The New York Times, Weiss’s early days have been marked by friction, with leaks from internal editorial calls making their way to rival news organizations. The irony isn’t lost on her colleagues: just a year ago, The Free Press itself published leaked audio from CBS News meetings, including quotes from anonymous staffers, during the fallout over anchor Tony Dokoupil’s interview with author Ta-Nehisi Coates. Now, as The Independent reports, Weiss is “the one concerned about leaks,” even asking if the company can identify the culprits. One CBS News senior staffer described her hunt for leakers as “insanely ironic,” while another found it “hilarious.”
This tension is more than just a matter of personal embarrassment. For Weiss, the leaks are a signal that she has yet to earn the trust and respect of the newsroom—a lesson that, as Barrett Media points out, is as old as journalism itself. “Respect, like trust, is earned in drops and lost in buckets,” writes Garrett Searight. “You don’t walk into a newsroom filled with veteran employees and established journalists and instantly command loyalty by virtue of your title. You earn it, slowly, through decisions that build confidence, through communication that inspires belief, and through consistency that proves you’re not just another boss passing through.”
At The Free Press, Weiss had the luxury of shaping every aspect of the operation, surrounded by a handpicked team aligned with her vision. CBS News, by contrast, is a legacy institution with deep-rooted traditions and a staff fiercely protective of its culture. “CBS has been telling America what’s happening in the world for more than a century,” notes Barrett Media. “The network’s history looms large. It’s a place where journalistic traditions run deep and change is rarely smooth.”
Weiss’s approach so far has been anything but timid. In her first week, she met with leading anchors and executives, including the staff of 60 Minutes, the nation’s most-watched news program. According to National Right to Life News, she surprised the 60 Minutes team by bluntly asking, “Why does the country think you’re biased?” The question, posed during a private session in Midtown Manhattan, reportedly left the staff in stunned silence. For a program that has prided itself on its nonpartisan coverage for 56 years, the implication stung. Yet, as the Times and others have observed, Weiss’s outsider status—she’s never worked in television before—may be both her greatest asset and her biggest liability.
Weiss’s critics, both inside and outside CBS, see her as a disruptor, perhaps even an interloper. Some veteran staffers have told reporters they are “encouraging” Weiss not to interfere with flagship programs like 60 Minutes or CBS News Sunday Morning. Others point to her reputation as an “outspoken opinion journalist” who has challenged the progressive “wokeness” that she says has dominated media institutions. In her 2020 resignation letter from the Times, Weiss memorably wrote, “Twitter is not on the masthead of the New York Times. But Twitter has become its ultimate editor.” She lamented what she saw as the undue influence of social media activists and the stifling of dissenting views.
Her mission at CBS, by her own account, is not to impose a new orthodoxy but to restore “core journalistic values.” In a letter to employees, she outlined ten principles she believes should guide the company—principles that, as Reason notes, are “inoffensive and nonideological.” Yet, the mere perception that CBS is being taken over by a “Trump-friendly” journalist has fueled speculation about the network’s future direction, especially in a media landscape still reeling from the cultural battles of the past decade.
Some observers see Weiss’s rise as evidence of a broader backlash against “wokeness” in media. The argument goes that the excesses of ideological conformity—what Weiss and others have called groupthink—have finally provoked a course correction. Entertainment companies, once fearful of offending activists, are recalibrating their priorities. But as Reason cautions, this swing can itself go too far, especially amid political pressures from all sides. “One can certainly think the various components of wokeness…the cancelations of provocative speakers, haranguing of classmates and coworkers over imprecise use of language, and so on—were extremely annoying and reflective of an illiberal social trend without cosigning the Trump remedy,” the outlet notes.
For all the talk of ideological battles, the immediate challenge for Weiss is far more practical: earning the confidence of a newsroom that has seen leaders come and go, each promising change. Leaks, as Barrett Media observes, are often “a form of rebellion,” a way for staff to signal that they don’t feel heard or respected. “People— in instances like this—leak because they don’t feel heard, don’t feel respected, or don’t believe in the direction being set.”
Weiss’s journey from embattled editor to media mogul is a testament to her tenacity and vision. But as she faces the daily realities of leading CBS News, she’s finding that influence is earned, not assigned. In a newsroom with a century-long legacy, bold ideas must be paired with humility, and conviction must be tempered by a genuine appreciation for the culture she’s inherited.
Whether Weiss can bridge the gap between her reformist ambitions and the traditions of CBS News remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: in the world of American journalism, respect and trust aren’t granted—they’re earned, one drop at a time.
