CBS News chief Bari Weiss faces staff backlash amid Paramount‑Warner merger lawsuit

Bari Weiss, the editor‑in‑chief of CBS News, has adopted a friendlier, “open‑door” approach with staff after a series of high‑profile firings, including veteran correspondents from ’60 Minutes. Sources say she now begins editorial meetings by celebrating wins and personally praising journalists, a shift from her previously distant style.

At the same time, Paramount Skydance’s plan to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery – which would bring CNN under the same corporate umbrella – has drawn political opposition. Twelve Democratic attorneys general, led by California’s Rob Bonta, filed a lawsuit to block the merger, arguing it could cement a partisan bias within the news division. The lawsuit underscores concerns that the combined entity could influence CNN’s editorial direction, especially as Weiss’s leadership style and political leanings are under scrutiny.