Norah O’Donnell is set to leave her position as anchor of CBS Evening News, with the date of her final show adjusted to January 23, 2024. Originally scheduled for January 24, the shift aligns with CBS Sports’ coverage of the PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open, which will preempt the nightly news.
O’Donnell, who has served as the anchor since July 2019, is departing to focus on special projects and high-profile interviews for CBS News. Her departure concludes over four years of her leadership during which she navigated significant national events, including the turbulent political climate surrounding the 2024 election.
The announcement of O'Donnell's departure has sparked reflections on her time at CBS, marked by moments of intense political discourse. She famously challenged Republican figures on air, questioning the impact of President Donald Trump’s rhetoric following violent incidents. One notable exchange occurred on July 14, 2024, when she asked Congressman Kevin McCarthy whether Trump should modify his speech to prevent incitement: "It’s almost like the rhetoric’s gotten hotter since then [Jan. 6]....Does Donald Trump bear some responsibility for [the attack]?"
O’Donnell’s unique reporting style often sparked controversy, particularly among conservative viewers. Her comments during various coverage of the 2020 election and the aftermath of political events were frequently critiqued. For example, she described Trump misleading voters on election night with claims about the results. During this coverage, she stated, "The President of the United States castrated the facts of the election results..." demonstrating her firm stance on election integrity matters.
On August 27, 2020, she expressed disappointment during the Republican Convention coverage, noting, "This is an extraordinary thing to see this in Washington as the fireworks spell out ‘Trump’ on government land," highlighting her disapproval of Trump's approach amid the pandemic's impact.
After years of anchoring from Washington D.C., the CBS Evening News will transition its base to New York. The reshuffling includes new leadership; Margaret Brennan, John Dickerson, and Maurice DuBois will take the helm moving forward. The network is also introducing CBS Evening News Plus, which will provide streaming content at 7 PM ET on the network’s streaming platform, CBS News 24/7.
This strategic move not only reflects O'Donnell’s departure but also CBS's shift to adapt to changing viewer habits and media consumption behaviors, capitalizing on the increasing demand for diverse programming formats.
Leaving the anchor chair marks the end of O'Donnell’s chapter at CBS, yet it simultaneously opens new avenues for coverage under different leadership. Looking back, O’Donnell’s contributions to CBS have left indelible prints on political journalism, shaping discussions around pivotal issues and public discourse.