Anderson Cooper expressed to coworkers that he doesn’t wish to work with Bari Weiss, according to reports.

Anderson Cooper’s Concerns Over CBS News Leadership

Anderson Cooper, a prominent figure at CNN, has reportedly expressed doubts about working under Bari Weiss if she becomes the head of both CBS News and CNN, following the proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Cooper’s comments were shared internally as Paramount CEO David Ellison deliberates on Weiss’s potential dual leadership role after the $111 billion merger concludes, according to a report by The New York Times.

This sentiment seems to be part of a broader unease within CNN, with several top network figures also voicing their reluctance regarding Weiss’s possible leadership.

CNN CEO Mark Thompson has informed Paramount that he intends to maintain direct oversight of CNN without sharing responsibilities with other executives. Meanwhile, Jake Tapper, a long-time anchor, recently met with Ellison in Los Angeles, although the specifics of their conversation remain unclear.

Despite the challenges faced by CBS News, Ellison has continued to support Weiss, managing significant changes in the news department since he took on the role of editor-in-chief last year. One possibility being discussed is for Weiss to maintain editorial control while collaborating with an experienced TV executive to address the operational and financial challenges of a merged news organization.

Cooper’s reported apprehensions are influenced by his previous experiences with Weiss at CBS News. Earlier this year, she had approached him about stepping in for Norah O’Donnell as the anchor of CBS Evening News, an opportunity he declined. The role eventually went to Tony Dokoupil. Following this, Cooper decided not to renew his contract with “60 Minutes,” marking the end of his nearly two-decade tenure with the program, while keeping his role at CNN. He’s mentioned a desire to focus more on family and his work at CNN.

Reports have indicated that Weiss has also faced criticism regarding her management of CBS News, especially after the exit of seasoned professionals, including longtime 60 Minutes executive producer Bill Owens. Her leadership period has been characterized as one filled with unrest.

During a comprehensive restructuring of 60 Minutes, Weiss let go several key personnel, citing increasing corporate interference in editorial decisions, which further fueled the discontent within the news organization. This shakeup reached a peak when veteran correspondent Scott Pelley was dismissed after openly challenging Weiss’s leadership style and expressing his dissatisfaction with how 60 Minutes was being managed.

As Ellison inches closer to finalizing the merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, uncertainty continues to loom over CNN’s future. Veteran CNN executive Amy Entelis has become a confidante for anxious anchors and staff, while technology journalist Kara Swisher has stated she will cease her collaboration with CNN if Thompson is replaced by Ellison, highlighting the ongoing turmoil within CBS News.