Trump Celebrates as Conservative Warrior Bari Weiss Takes CBS Helm

Paul Riverbank, 10/9/2025Former NYT journalist Bari Weiss takes CBS helm amid major media shift, earning Trump's praise.

Let me paint you a picture of what's really happening here. This isn't just about new leadership – it's part of a broader transformation as Paramount Global joins forces with Skydance Media. David Ellison, Skydance's CEO, is now steering the ship, and the ripples are already visible across the industry.

What makes this particularly fascinating is the timing. Former President Trump, never shy about his media critiques, actually praised the move during a White House roundtable. "CBS has a great new owner," he remarked – quite a departure from his usual media commentary.

I've followed Weiss's career trajectory closely, and it's worth noting how we got here. After her high-profile exit from the Times, she built The Free Press from scratch. Now CBS has acquired it, marking a remarkable full-circle moment in modern journalism.

The backstory matters here. When Weiss left the Times, she didn't go quietly. Her resignation letter sparked intense debate about ideological diversity in newsrooms – a conversation that's only grown louder since then. During her Times tenure, she often found herself in the crosshairs for taking moderate stances on hot-button issues.

Take her approach to the Kavanaugh hearings. While others chose sides, Weiss threaded the needle carefully: "I believe that she's completely sincere in what she believes happened," she said of Christine Blasey Ford's testimony, while acknowledging that "memory is capricious." This kind of nuanced analysis became her calling card.

The response to her CBS appointment tells us something about where we are as a country. Some journalists I've spoken with see it as a breath of fresh air, while others worry about potential editorial shifts. Both reactions reflect deeper anxieties about the future of mainstream media.

In the new structure, Weiss will work with CBS News President Tom Cibrowski, reporting to Ellison. Having covered organizational changes in media for years, I can tell you this setup suggests a careful balancing act between innovation and tradition.

Here's what fascinates me most: CBS is essentially running an experiment in real-time. Can a legacy network evolve while maintaining its core identity? The industry is watching closely, and I suspect other networks might follow suit if this gambit pays off.

This isn't just another executive shuffle – it's a litmus test for how traditional media can adapt to our fractured information landscape while keeping their journalistic souls intact. The outcome could reshape how we think about news delivery for years to come.

The American media landscape shifted dramatically this week as Bari Weiss, the outspoken journalist who famously departed The New York Times in 2020, stepped into the role of CBS News editor-in-chief. I've watched countless media transitions over my career, but this one feels different.Let me paint you a picture of what's really happening here. This isn't just about new leadership – it's part of a broader transformation as Paramount Global joins forces with Skydance Media. David Ellison, Skydance's CEO, is now steering the ship, and the ripples are already visible across the industry.What makes this particularly fascinating is the timing. Former President Trump, never shy about his media critiques, actually praised the move during a White House roundtable. "CBS has a great new owner," he remarked – quite a departure from his usual media commentary.I've followed Weiss's career trajectory closely, and it's worth noting how we got here. After her high-profile exit from the Times, she built The Free Press from scratch. Now CBS has acquired it, marking a remarkable full-circle moment in modern journalism.The backstory matters here. When Weiss left the Times, she didn't go quietly. Her resignation letter sparked intense debate about ideological diversity in newsrooms – a conversation that's only grown louder since then. During her Times tenure, she often found herself in the crosshairs for taking moderate stances on hot-button issues.Take her approach to the Kavanaugh hearings. While others chose sides, Weiss threaded the needle carefully: "I believe that she's completely sincere in what she believes happened," she said of Christine Blasey Ford's testimony, while acknowledging that "memory is capricious." This kind of nuanced analysis became her calling card.The response to her CBS appointment tells us something about where we are as a country. Some journalists I've spoken with see it as a breath of fresh air, while others worry about potential editorial shifts. Both reactions reflect deeper anxieties about the future of mainstream media.In the new structure, Weiss will work with CBS News President Tom Cibrowski, reporting to Ellison. Having covered organizational changes in media for years, I can tell you this setup suggests a careful balancing act between innovation and tradition.Here's what fascinates me most: CBS is essentially running an experiment in real-time. Can a legacy network evolve while maintaining its core identity? The industry is watching closely, and I suspect other networks might follow suit if this gambit pays off.This isn't just another executive shuffle – it's a litmus test for how traditional media can adapt to our fractured information landscape while keeping their journalistic souls intact. The outcome could reshape how we think about news delivery for years to come.