- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
CBS News Chief Bari Weiss Calls for Reinvention: 'We're Toast' Without Change
Weiss pushes for a streaming-first, digital-focused future to save the network from irrelevance
Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:39pm by Ben Kaplan
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
CBS News' bold reinvention under Bari Weiss aims to future-proof the network in a rapidly evolving media landscape.San Francisco TodayIn a bold address to her team, new CBS News chief Bari Weiss delivered a stark warning: the network must reinvent itself or risk becoming irrelevant. Just three months into her tenure, Weiss is demanding a revolution in how CBS operates, prioritizing streaming, experimental formats, and deeper, more provocative storytelling over the network's shrinking broadcast audience.
Why it matters
Weiss's vision for CBS represents a high-stakes gamble to future-proof the network in an era of declining traditional TV viewership. Her moves to shake up the status quo, including hiring a diverse group of new contributors, have already sparked debate over whether CBS is broadening its perspective or tilting the scales politically.
The details
Weiss, a polarizing figure known for her work at the Free Press website, has already made waves by delaying a '60 Minutes' segment on President Trump's deportation policy. Critics are watching closely to see if she's steering the network toward a more Trump-friendly stance, which could alienate its core audience. However, Weiss argues that clinging to the shrinking broadcast model is a recipe for disaster, and she wants CBS to embrace a streaming-first mentality, experimenting with podcasts, newsletters, and other digital formats.
- Weiss became CBS News chief just three months ago.
- She delivered her bold address to her team recently.
The players
Bari Weiss
The new chief of CBS News, known for her work at the Free Press website and her polarizing views.
Walter Cronkite
The legendary CBS News anchor once dubbed 'the most trusted man in America', whose legacy Weiss invoked to highlight how far the network has strayed.
Donald Trump
The former president, whose deportation policy Weiss delayed a '60 Minutes' segment on, raising concerns about a potential shift in the network's political stance.
Andrew Ross Sorkin
The CNBC journalist whom Weiss cited as an example of a journalist who has become a household name by diversifying his platform.
Niall Ferguson
One of the 18 new contributors Weiss announced, a Trump supporter.
What they’re saying
“If we stick to that, we're toast.”
— Bari Weiss, CBS News Chief
“This is where we can soar.”
— Bari Weiss, CBS News Chief
“If this isn't your bag, that's OK.”
— Bari Weiss, CBS News Chief
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
Weiss's vision for CBS represents a high-stakes gamble to future-proof the network in an era of declining traditional TV viewership, but her moves to shake up the status quo have already sparked debate over whether the network is broadening its perspective or tilting the scales politically.
