Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino Bari Weiss’ CBS News Ratings Collapse, Tensions Mount Inside CNN, Hegseth Escalates War on Press
Mar 27, 2026
Exclusive ratings data show CBS News plunged to historic lows under recent leadership. Staff at CNN grilled executives over potential new ownership and threats to editorial independence. A court rebuke did not stop new Pentagon limits on war coverage, sparking a wider debate about press access. Hosts also field listener questions and trade playful banter.
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CBS Ratings Collapsed In First Quarter
- CBS News under Bari Weiss saw steep, network-wide audience declines across morning and evening shows in Q1.
- CBS Mornings fell 13% to 1.8M viewers and plunged 28% in the 25-54 demo; CBS Evening News dropped 7% and 18% in the demo to 4.3M and 541k respectively.
Viewers Seem To Reject CBS Programming Shift
- Audience appears to be actively rejecting programming changes and perceived political tilt at CBS under Bari Weiss.
- Hosts aired soft interviews and community-style segments (e.g., Marco Rubio salute, dress-code minutiae) that may have driven viewers to ABC and NBC.
Protect Audience Reach Or Risk Revenue Spiral
- Prioritize audience reach because advertiser dollars follow viewers; steep demo declines reduce ad revenue and force cuts.
- Losing a large share of the 25-54 demo can trigger layoffs, shutdowns, and weaker investment in digital strategy.