David Ellison has quietly courted Bari Weiss for a possible role at CBS News—a move that hints at how he may steer the network if his merger goes through.

by Oliver Darcy - June 24th, 2025 [Source]

David Ellison and Bari Weiss. Bari Weiss (Status Illustration/Leigh Vogel/Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Late last year, during a trip to New York City, David Ellison quietly made time for a meeting that said as much about his worldview as it did about his interest in media. According to people familiar with the matter, the Hollywood scion set time aside on his busy calendar to meet with Bari Weiss, the founder of The Free Press. Ellison, like a number of C-suite executive types, has long been an admirer of Weiss’ style of journalism, I’m told, viewing her as one of the more compelling voices in the shifting landscape of independent journalism.

During the meeting, Ellison, who is set to control CBS News once the Paramount Global–Skydance Media deal closes, expressed strong interest in recruiting Weiss to work in some capacity with the network, according to people familiar with the matter. I’m told that Ellison appeared to leave a wide range of options on the table, signaling that he sees Weiss as a valuable addition while he considers how to put his stamp on the news division. While a management role is not said to be on the table, it would not be out of the range of possibilities that she could be named as an on-air contributor or even perhaps given a coveted correspondent position on “60 Minutes.”

That said, it’s unclear whether the discussions between Ellison and Weiss ever advanced beyond the meeting late last year and a representative for Skydance declined to comment. Weiss did not respond to a request for comment. Regardless, the fact that the conversation occurred at all offers an early glimpse of Ellison’s thinking and how he plans to reshape the storied news organization, once home to the likes of Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow.

In recent years, Weiss has become a major star in right-wing media, known for assailing mainstream institutions as out of touch and under the trance of the “woke” left. Weiss has also gained significant notoriety for chastising and portraying mainstream news outlets, including CBS News, as biased instruments of the progressive elite. While Weiss might be popular in certain circles, many journalists view her unfavorably, criticizing both her tactics and views.

That Ellison would entertain bringing her into the fold signals not only his appetite for shaking up the network, but also the kind of voices he might turn to. Not only does Ellison appear to be interested in looking beyond traditional broadcasting talent, but he appears to be on board with introducing voices that have made their names by relentlessly criticizing—or outright bashing—the legacy press.

Indeed, the Weiss outreach offers one of the first tangible clues as to how Ellison might seek to chart a new course for CBS News, given that he has remained largely silent in public about his vision for the network. While Ellison hasn’t spelled out his plans, he’s recently been spotted ringside at UFC fights alongside Donald Trump as he seemingly tries to win over the president for government approval of his protracted merger. Taken together, the actions suggest Ellison may be comfortable moving the network in a direction that aims to appeal more to right-leaning audiences—whether because of his personal preference, the current political moment, or both.

Of course, inside CBS News, the journalists are on edge about what their new parent company will do with the organization, particularly after network boss Wendy McMahon and “60 Minutes” chief Bill Owens both resigned earlier this year in protest over corporate interference. Morale inside “60 Minutes,” I’m told, is at a nadir, with staffers uncertain what the future holds for the crown jewel of American broadcast journalism. Moreover, broadly throughout the organization, staffers are anticipating the new owners will seek to implement budget cuts when they get the keys to the palace—and they’re not wrong to harbor such worries.

For now, however, Ellison’s exact plans for CBS News remain unclear and the Skydance team is holding those cards close to the vest. But his meeting with Weiss—and the broader questions it raises about the kind of talent he might seek to bring in—is sure to add to the unease already coursing through the newsroom. What is certain is that CBS News is making its way through a period of profound uncertainty, as employees wait to see what is in store for them, just around the corner.

My Words

It’s a really bad time to be putting critical reporting like this behind a paywall. I’ll take it down if asked, but I believe everyone needs to be able to read this, not just those in the know or who can afford to. The oligarchy has been working hard for a very long time to grapple back their stranglehold over the American economy. The ultra wealthy are snapping up anything of value, monetary, production, competitive, and messaging platforms alike, in order to have greater control over what we see, hear, buy, have access to, and otherwise consume, and not for the betterment of society. Read this. Share this. We clearly can’t stop it, as much as the courts can stop the Trump Administration from breaking the law and the Constitution, but if we know, we can stop watching CBS altogether. #capitalism #journalism #uspol #editorial