Bari Weiss is reportedly working to ease tensions at CBS News amid speculation about significant staff changes involving Gayle King and Norah O’Donnell, with growing concerns about possible layoffs.
The 41-year-old journalist, who became editor-in-chief on Monday, circulated a memo on Friday asking employees to reflect on “how you spend your working hours and what you’ve created (or are creating) that you are most proud of.”
This memo has been likened to Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” which earlier this year solicited weekly updates from its employees on five accomplishments before slashing 300,000 jobs.
However, Weiss emphasized that she wants to hear from staff about their “opinions on what’s working, what’s not, and how we can improve,” according to reports.
One insider mentioned that Weiss has managed to prevent panic among the team at the struggling network.
“She has a calming presence, even with the imminent cuts,” the source shared. “She’s been clear in her meetings that she’s not a maniac.”
This latest move comes as some members of the network are surprised by the appointment of the pro-Israel, anti-woke journalist. Weiss’s transition to CBS involved selling the centrist news site Free Press to CBS’s parent company for $150 million.
With layoffs on the horizon, O’Donnell’s name has resurfaced as a potential anchor candidate amid ongoing controversies surrounding changes at CBS Evening News and CBS Morning. Reports indicated O’Donnell had lunch with Weiss recently and appears to be a preferred option for the new editor.
CBS has not commented on these developments.
On Thursday, Weiss took a hands-on approach, collaborating on interviews with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, key figures in President Trump’s peace plan for Israel and Hamas.
Weiss also proposed a roundtable featuring Hillary Clinton, Mike Pompeo, and former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, leveraging her connections to facilitate it.
Sources suggest O’Donnell, who resigned as CBS Evening News anchor earlier this year, could host this roundtable, potentially paving the way for her return to a more prominent role.
O’Donnell is reportedly keen to come back after her earlier tenure saw the show’s ratings dwindle to an average of 4.1 million viewers.
Yet, some within the network express skepticism about O’Donnell’s return, pointing to the significant drop—in the vicinity of 25%—in total viewership during her time as anchor.
A CBS source remarked, “It’s hard to imagine Bari would be misled by Norah O’Donnell. She has a track record of underperformance, and Bari is looking to turn things around.”
Meanwhile, earlier reports noted that CBS executives have expressed dissatisfaction with the show’s performance and are even considering O’Donnell for her former position.
Conversely, King’s future at the network is cloudy, especially given her substantial contract, which is up for renewal next year.
Another CBS source noted that while O’Donnell is a capable broadcaster, she might be better suited for a role on CBS Mornings, where she co-hosted alongside Gayle King and Charlie Rose.
If such a shift were to happen, insiders speculate that King’s departure could lead to O’Donnell moving into the morning slot and CBS Morning co-host Tony Dokoupil taking over evening news.
Dokoupil has been mentioned as a candidate for CBS Evening News, reflecting his “fit” within the current lineup. Officials have previously stated that he needs more experience for major news event coverage.
However, Dokoupil’s pro-Israel credentials may appeal to Weiss, making him a viable feature for the network’s future.
Dokoupil, who is Jewish, stirred some controversy last year during an interview with author Ta-Nehisi Coates, which attracted criticism from network executives. Yet, the then-ownership supported Dokoupil in this situation while placing some blame on management for how things unfolded.
CBS representatives have suggested that 60 Minutes correspondent Cecilia Vega, with proven skills in reporting and anchoring, would be an ideal candidate for CBS Evening News anchorship.
“Cecilia is top-notch among CBS staff,” a source indicated. “Tony can’t handle election night alone just yet. Both Nora and Cecilia can manage it; he will improve over time.”
