Bari Weiss’s Chosen One Falls Flat

The recent two-week vacation of Tony Dokoupil, CBS News’ Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss’s handpicked star anchor, has provided a curious twist in an otherwise tumultuous tenure. During his absence, the show saw its best ratings in months – 4.1 million viewers tuned in to Matt Gutman’s hosting duties.

CBS Evening News has struggled to consistently hit 4 million viewers since Weiss took the reins, with Dokoupil himself only managing that number once before. Despite this, he was hailed as a beacon of hope for the struggling network. However, his hosting tenure has been marred by criticism and controversy, with several former and current CBS staffers questioning his suitability for the position.

The real concern here is not just Dokoupil’s performance but also its implications for the network’s overall direction under Weiss’s leadership. A TV executive noted that during summer months, second- and third-place networks often gain ground against top-rated anchors who are on vacation. Given CBS’s current standing in the ratings game, Dokoupil’s decision to take two weeks off was puzzling.

CBS maintains that Dokoupil has their full support and that reporting around his performance has been misleading. They point to a recent feature in Variety focusing on the anchor’s innovative storytelling as evidence of his success. However, this narrative is complicated by the network’s own struggles and Dokoupil’s history of drawing criticism for his on-air persona.

Under Weiss’s leadership, CBS News has taken a decidedly right-leaning approach to journalism, with Dokoupil’s show being no exception. His programming has been criticized for its friendly treatment of Donald Trump and his administration, raising questions about the network’s commitment to impartial reporting. Dokoupil’s embedded interview with former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and his multiple interviews with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have only served to fuel these concerns.

Weiss herself has a history of controversy, having founded The Free Press as an “anti-woke” media outlet and being appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News despite having no previous broadcast experience. Her tenure at the network has been marked by significant changes in its editorial direction, with some critics accusing her of pushing a right-wing agenda.

Dokoupil’s return to the CBS Evening News desk on Monday will be closely watched by industry insiders and viewers alike. Will he regain his footing, or will Gutman’s success signal further changes at the network? Weiss’s leadership of CBS News remains a topic of great debate, with Dokoupil’s performance serving as just one symptom of a larger issue.

As CBS continues to navigate this terrain, its future direction is uncertain. Will it continue down the path of right-leaning reportage, or will there be a shift towards more balanced and impartial journalism? Only time – and ratings – will tell.