Former New York Times writer Bari Weiss is set to be the new editor-in-chief of CBS News after a major shakeup in the network. CBS’ parent company Paramount also spent $150 million to buy Weiss’ blog The Free Press.
“My goal in the coming days and weeks is to get to know you. I want to hear from you about what’s working, what isn’t, and your thoughts on how we can make CBS News the most trusted news organization in America and the world. I’ll approach it the way any reporter would—with an open mind, a fresh notebook, and an urgent deadline,” Weiss stated in a memo.
Weiss’ appointment as editor-in-chief of The Free Press is being hailed as a victory for freedom of speech, but Weiss’ past comments on Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and Tulsi Gabbard suggests that she is just another hired gun for the neocon political establishment.
Weiss is an outspoken proponent of interventionist foreign policy, which made her call Gabbard a “toady” for former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2019.
Weiss more recently accused Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson of spreading antisemitic and anti-American sentiment on the Right.
Weiss may nominally promote more free speech than their more obviously leftist predecessors in her role at CBS News, but she will still be a gatekeeper for the political establishment, working to mute authentic voices on the Right that she deems to be outside of the bounds of acceptable opinion.
