The Political Scene | The New Yorker How Bari Weiss Is Changing CBS News
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Jan 26, 2026 Clare Malone, a New Yorker staff writer who covers media and politics, breaks down Bari Weiss's rise from NYT resignation to leading CBS News. Malone explores Weiss’s alliances with tech financiers, shifts in newsroom practices, on-air struggles like Tony Dokoupil’s broadcasts, and the cultural backlash around her leadership.
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Resignation Fueled Her Rise
- Bari Weiss resigned from the New York Times with a widely read angry letter about being bullied and chased out by a 'woke' culture.
- That resignation launched her Free Press platform and raised her national profile among donors and right-leaning audiences.
Big‑Tent Editorial Strategy
- The Free Press pitched itself as a broad-tent platform for the 'disaffected liberal' and many other audiences beyond traditional niches.
- Clare Malone says Weiss aimed to reach both Never Trump intellectuals and rural, conservative-leaning readers simultaneously.
Editorial Shift During Crises
- The Free Press shifted from contrarian anti‑woke critiques to coverage that became notably Trump-friendly during the 2024 campaign.
- Gaza coverage intensified the outlet's pro‑Israel stance and sharpened its conflicts with mainstream media narratives.
