Bari Weiss Appointed CBS News Editor-in-Chief: A Victory Over Wokeness?

Bari Weiss's New Role at CBS News

• 🎯 Bari Weiss is set to become the Editor-in-Chief of CBS News, following her departure from The New York Times.
• 🚀 Her media company, The Free Press, was acquired by CBS's parent company, Paramount, for $150 million.
• 💡 Weiss previously lamented that Twitter and elite social media users held undue sway over the range of views published at The New York Times.

The "Woke" Media Landscape

• 🧠 Weiss's departure from The New York Times was reportedly due to frustration with progressive sensibilities and a perceived lack of ideological diversity.
• ⚠️ A key incident cited was the staff revolt over Senator Tom Cotton's op-ed, where progressive staffers framed opposition as a matter of workplace safety.
• 📉 The speaker suggests Weiss's elevation to this prominent role indicates that "wokeness" is losing in the marketplace of ideas and the literal marketplace.

Reactions and Implications

• 💬 While some in the mainstream media label Weiss as "Trump-friendly," the speaker argues The Free Press is more neoconservative and features diverse viewpoints, including criticisms of Trump.
• ❓ CBS News veterans have expressed concerns, urging Weiss not to interfere with established programs like 60 Minutes and Sunday Morning.
• ✅ The speaker views Weiss's appointment as a significant accomplishment, particularly for a freethinker who questions authority, and a potential lesson in unintended consequences for those who "chased her out" of The New York Times.

Contrarian Perspectives

• 🧩 Weiss's branding for The Free Press explicitly targets those seeking something different from outlets like The New York Times or Fox News.
• 🤝 The speaker believes Weiss does not enforce a specific ideological line but curates interesting and sometimes contrarian opinions.
• 🗣️ It is argued that if Weiss replicates the behavior she criticized, another "Barry Weiss" will emerge, rather than seeing CBS News coverage devolve into something akin to Fox News.