Could a seismic shift be brewing in the world of broadcast news, with Bari Weiss aiming to lure Fox News heavyweight Bret Baier to CBS?
Reports suggest that Weiss, the new editor-in-chief at CBS News, is plotting to bring Baier, the longtime anchor of Fox News’ Special Report, over to helm The CBS Evening News, as the Daily Caller reports.
Let’s rewind a bit to understand how we got here. Weiss, who founded The Free Press in 2021 after a high-profile exit from the New York Times, has quickly made waves in the media landscape. Her platform, initially a newsletter dubbed “Common Sense,” grew into a significant voice before CBS scooped it up for a cool $150 million earlier this month.
Now at the helm of CBS News, Weiss seems intent on shaking things up. Her reported target, Bret Baier, isn’t just any anchor -- he’s been a fixture at Fox News for over a decade, anchoring Special Report since January 2009. Before that, he spent more than 11 years with the network, including a stint as White House correspondent.
Baier’s current contract with Fox News runs through 2028, with a hefty $14 million annual salary to boot. That’s a long runway, and it might delay any potential move to CBS, assuming the rumors hold water. Still, the idea of him jumping ship is tantalizing for those who crave a fresh face in the evening news slot.
Over at CBS, The CBS Evening News has been in transition. Norah O’Donnell stepped down as anchor in January, leaving the chair to co-hosts John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois. Weiss’s apparent plan to install Baier signals a desire for a singular, commanding presence at the desk.
Why Baier, though? His steady hand at Special Report has made him a trusted name among conservative viewers, a demographic CBS might be keen to court amid a polarized media environment. Yet, pulling him away from Fox News won’t be a simple task, given his deep roots and lucrative deal.
Weiss herself is no stranger to controversy or bold moves. Her resignation from the New York Times in 2020 came after backlash over an op-ed by Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, with Weiss alleging “unlawful discrimination, hostile work environment, and constructive discharge.” That’s a gutsy stand against the progressive orthodoxy that often dominates legacy outlets.
Speaking of her Times exit, Weiss didn’t hold back in a January 2021 interview with SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly. “The New York Times is now a place where people are fired for running an op-ed by a conservative Republican,” she said. That’s a sharp critique of cancel culture run amok, and it’s hard not to nod along when you see how dissent is often silenced in certain newsrooms.
In the same interview, Weiss added, “Yet pieces that are out-and-out propaganda from the Chinese Communist Party are acceptable.” Ouch -- that’s a damning contrast, pointing to a double standard that many on the right have long decried. If her leadership at CBS reflects this no-nonsense approach, we might see a newsroom less beholden to woke sensibilities.
The potential recruitment of Baier, first reported by Oliver Darcy in his Status newsletter, remains speculative for now. CBS declined to comment when approached by the Daily Caller News Foundation, and neither Weiss nor Baier responded to requests for input. The silence leaves room for intrigue, but also caution -- rumors aren’t facts.
What’s clear is that Weiss is a disruptor. Her journey from the New York Times to founding The Free Press and now steering CBS News shows a willingness to challenge the status quo. If she’s serious about Baier, it’s a signal she wants to blend conservative credibility with CBS’s storied legacy.
For Baier, the decision -- if an offer even materializes -- would be monumental. Leaving Fox News, where he’s built a career spanning over two decades, for a network like CBS could redefine his public persona. Would he risk that for a shot at evening news stardom?
Meanwhile, conservative viewers might see this as a win if Baier brings a balanced, right-leaning perspective to a network often criticized for liberal bias. It’s no secret that many on the right feel mainstream outlets lean too far into progressive narratives -- could Baier’s presence at CBS be a corrective?
Until more details emerge, this story remains a fascinating “what if” in the media world. Weiss’s ambition and Baier’s pedigree make for a compelling pairing, but contracts, loyalties, and network politics could keep this dream team on hold. For now, we watch and wait, hoping for a news landscape that prioritizes substance over ideology.