Dan Rather criticizes CBS News for appointing Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief.

Dan Rather Criticizes CBS News for Hiring Bari Weiss

Former CBS News anchor Dan Rather has publicly criticized CBS for appointing journalist Bari Weiss as its new editor-in-chief and acquiring her independent news outlet, The Free Press.

In a post on his Substack, the 93-year-old Rather expressed concerns that CBS News, under the influence of billionaire David Ellison—who has ties to former President Donald Trump—appears to be aligning itself with Trump’s policies. He noted, “This decision will impact not just the American public but also reporters at CBS News. They can’t be effective watchdogs when the very people they’re meant to critique are signing their paychecks and cozying up to the president.” He described the situation as a “dark day” for the network.

On Monday, CBS’s parent company, Paramount, appointed Weiss—previously known for her roles at The Wall Street Journal and New York Times—as editor-in-chief. This came after the substantial $150 million acquisition of The Free Press, which has been controversial for its stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, challenges to gender ideology, and support for Israel. Weiss’s appointment sparked outrage among liberal media figures.

Rather expressed skepticism about Weiss’s qualifications, questioning her lack of traditional reporting experience. He remarked, “She has never worked in television news or led a staff of over a dozen people.” He noted that her role will have her reporting directly to Ellison, instead of the expected reporting line to the CBS News president.

Moreover, Rather criticized Weiss’s claims of wanting to combat illiberalism on both the right and left, arguing that it is problematic to equate the two sides when one, namely Trump, frequently engages in misleading rhetoric. “There can be no equivalence between two political extremes… especially when one is led by someone who rarely lies,” he asserted.

Weiss is set to take on her new role in the coming months. The reshuffling also coincides with Ellison’s appointment as CEO of the new joint venture following the Paramount merger with Skydance. Ellison’s family background includes ties to pro-Israel activities and significant wealth, which adds a further layer of scrutiny to the situation.

Rather concluded that Weiss’s hiring indicates CBS is losing its independence and will now be more susceptible to conservative influence, stating, “Anything that contradicts Trump’s policies is likely to be flagged.” He lamented the current state of CBS News and reflected on its historic trailblazers, asking, “Who and what should we believe today?”