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Exorcising CBS Bias

In October 2025, following the merger of Paramount Global with Skydance Media, David Ellison—the new controlling owner—appointed Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News. Weiss, a former New York Times opinion editor and founder of The Free Press, was brought in to overhaul the network, which had faced criticism from conservatives, including President Donald Trump, for perceived liberal bias.

This move came after CBS settled a $16 million lawsuit from Trump over the editing of a 2024 “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris, clearing regulatory hurdles. Critics from liberal-leaning outlets, such as NPR and The New Yorker, have argued that Weiss’s hiring was a strategic gesture to curry favor with the Trump administration, especially as Paramount pursues acquisitions like Warner Bros. Discovery, which may require federal approvals. Conservative voices, like those on X (formerly Twitter), have praised it as a correction to “elite bias.”

Weiss has described her mission as a “de-Baathification” of CBS, aiming to root out ideological slant and revamp standards, including adding a masthead and ombudsman for bias complaints.

The de-Baathification of CBS News
It was explicitly modeled on denazification after World War II, where the Allies removed Nazi Party members and ideology from German institutions. Critics often describe de-Baathification (of Iraq) as overly broad, indiscriminate, and counterproductive—it alienated large groups (especially Sunnis, who dominated the party), contributed to instability, fueled insurgency, and gutted expertise needed to run the country.

In the context of Bari Weiss and CBS News, the phrase is used metaphorically. According to reporting (notably a January 2026 New Yorker profile on Weiss’s tenure as CBS News editor-in-chief), Weiss privately described her overhaul of the network as a “de-Baathification of CBS.

“Here, it means a radical purge or cleansing of what she and her supporters see as entrenched ideological bias—specifically, a perceived left-leaning or “elite” liberal slant in CBS’s journalism, staff, and culture. Just as de-Baathification aimed to uproot Ba’athist influence root and branch, Weiss’s approach involves:

Restructuring editorial processes.
Adding conservative or right-leaning voices/commentators.
Making changes to coverage tone and language.
Potentially sidelining or removing staff seen as aligned with the old “biased” ways.

Critics (from outlets like The New Yorker, Yahoo News, and others) portray this as a hostile takeover or politicized restructuring, while supporters frame it as necessary reform to restore balance and credibility. The analogy is provocative because real de-Baathification was highly controversial and often blamed for chaos—so using the term implies Weiss views CBS’s prior state as a deeply flawed, ideologically captured “regime” that needs to be dismantled aggressively.

Several actions under Weiss have been interpreted as efforts to align CBS more favorably with Trump, potentially to secure goodwill for Paramount’s business interests:

In December 2025, Weiss spiked a “60 Minutes” report on alleged abuses at El Salvador’s CECOT megaprison, where the Trump administration had deported hundreds of Venezuelan migrants. The story, reported by Sharyn Alfonsi, was pulled hours before airtime because Trump officials declined to comment, despite prior outreach. Alfonsi called the decision “political,” warning it gave the administration a “kill switch” over inconvenient reporting. Weiss defended it as not meeting standards, but outlets like PBS, The New York Times, and Responsible Statecraft criticized it as self-censorship to avoid offending Trump. A similar delay occurred with an Anderson Cooper segment on Trump deportation policies, subjected to “intense scrutiny” by Weiss.

Weiss reportedly insisted on using terms like “illegal immigrants” (preferred by Trump) instead of “migrants” in scripts. She also made last-minute edits to Tony Dokoupil’s debut script on “CBS Evening News” in January 2026, amid a broader reimagining of the program to address viewership declines and bias claims.

Weiss announced plans for layoffs and added right-leaning commentators, including former Trump national security advisor H.R. McMaster, Manhattan Institute president Reihan Salam, and historian Niall Ferguson. This has been seen as tilting the network rightward, with The New Yorker reporting it as part of Ellison’s strategy to “appease” Trump. Staff morale has suffered, with reports of fear and a “bloodbath” at “60 Minutes,” including potential firings of critics like Alfonsi and Scott Pelley.

Weiss greeted Trump with a kiss on the cheek after his November 2025 “60 Minutes” interview, which stunned staff and fueled accusations of overly cozy relations, per The Daily Beast.

These moves have drawn backlash from left-leaning media, who argue they compromise journalistic independence, while some conservatives view them as necessary reforms.

Despite the above, not all changes have aligned with Trump’s preferences, leading to tensions:

YESTERDAY, March 12, 2026, CBS announced Jeremy Adler’s addition to its communications team. Adler previously worked for Rep. Liz Cheney, a prominent Trump critic involved in the Jan. 6 committee. A White House official told Axios this hire “blows up” the network’s efforts to build goodwill, calling it “insanity” for employing someone who “worked to jail President Trump” and hindered Trump supporters’ hiring. This has been portrayed as a misstep in CBS’s “Trump charm offensive,” per The Daily Beast and Yahoo News, potentially jeopardizing Paramount’s regulatory favors.

Overall, Weiss’s tenure has been marked by controversy, with CBS News becoming a cultural flashpoint— even joked about at the 2026 Golden Globes on CBS as “America’s newest place to see BS news.” Supporters argue she’s fostering balance, while detractors fear erosion of objectivity. THIS WEEK: The Adler hire represents the latest friction, contrasting with earlier accommodations.

Jason Remington

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Jason Remington says:

March 13, 2026 at QZVX at

What is the best spray or pre-soak needed to remove sweat stains from Pete Hegseth's dress shirts this week?

The media reaction to Pete Hegseth's (as U.S. Secretary of War) outburst during a recent Pentagon press briefing—where he criticized coverage of the ongoing U.S. war with Iran—has been largely critical, portraying it as an unhinged, defensive, or "meltdown"-style rant against the press.

Hegseth dismissed certain reporting as "fake news" and "fundamentally unserious." He suggested that Paramount CEO David Ellison (poised to take over CNN) should overhaul the network, stating "the sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better." He also complained about headlines like "Mideast War Intensifies," proposing alternatives like "Iran increasingly desperate" instead, and accused media of intentionally negative framing to undermine the administration, while pushing for more "patriotic" coverage.

Many described it as Hegseth "lashing out," "whining," "snapping," or having a "meltdown"/"tantrum" over unfavorable reporting on casualties, strategic missteps, and the war's progress.

The Guardian framed his combative style as unapologetic but questioned the war's rationale, noting his long antipathy toward Iran.
PBS and others highlighted him berating journalists for not acting as cheerleaders.
Fair & Balanced: Fox News covered it more favorably, framing Hegseth as pushing back against "fake news" and highlighting his taunts toward CNN.

Overall, the predominant media tone (especially outside conservative sources) views Hegseth's comments as an inappropriate attack on press freedom and an attempt to demand positive spin on a controversial, escalating conflict.