CBS News ratings slump and on‑air gaffe amid Bari Weiss overhaul

Media analysts say CBS News is experiencing a sharp decline in viewership and operational turmoil after conservative editor‑in‑chief Bari Weiss took the helm. Former CNN reporter Oliver Darcy described the network as “collapsing on every front,” noting that the CBS Evening News has fallen to historic low ratings, struggling to attract four million viewers, while the morning show with Gayle King is on pace for its worst June ever. Anchor Tony Dokoupil added to the instability when a July 3 broadcast mistakenly showed rapper Kanye West instead of Sean “Diddy” Combs in a story about a potential Trump pardon, a mistake that was quietly corrected but highlighted staffing issues. The network also faced logistical challenges covering July 4 events amid severe thunderstorms, pulling over 100 staffers and temporarily halting live reporting from the National Mall. Together, these incidents illustrate the broader challenges facing CBS News under its new leadership.