Exposing Bari Weiss’s reckless editorial decisions at CBS News, her allegiance to Trump-era narratives, and the network’s 40% decline in viewership.
Blue Press Journal – Amid a deepening crisis of credibility and a historic collapse in viewership, CBS News, under the leadership of Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, is facing intense internal backlash for publishing a thinly-sourced report that appears to amplify Trump administration talking points. The controversial story, which claimed an ICE agent suffered severe “internal bleeding” after a fatal shooting, was approved by Weiss despite strenuous objections from senior staff who warned it was unverified and likely political propaganda.
The report, based solely on anonymous sources regarding the shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, immediately triggered red flags within the CBS newsroom. According to sources, two senior network officials sounded the alarm, pointing out the report’s lack of crucial details and questionable provenance. Their concerns were not just noted; they were actively overruled in a decision that has demoralized journalists committed to basic factual standards.
Internal emails reveal a desperate plea for journalistic integrity that was ultimately ignored by top leadership. A medical producer urgently cautioned that the vague claim of “internal bleeding” required clarification, asking what specific treatment the agent received and whether he had undergone surgery. CBS News Senior Vice President David Reiter echoed these concerns in a scathing email, protesting the rush to publication. “I’m no doctor, but internal bleeding is a very broad term,” Reiter wrote, adding, “We do know that the ICE agent walked away from the incident—we have that on camera.” His warning was a clear signal that the narrative being pushed was, at best, misleading and, at worst, a deliberate fabrication.
Despite these reservations from experienced news and medical personnel, Weiss reportedly expressed intense interest in pushing the story forward during an editorial call, steamrolling any and all opposition. As one beleaguered CBS staffer characterized the climate, “There was big internal dissension about the ‘internal bleeding’ report here last night. It was viewed as a thinly-veiled, anonymous leak by the Trump administration to someone who’d carry it online.” Under Weiss’s leadership, CBS News has seemingly become that carrier, eagerly publishing unverified claims that benefit a right-wing political agenda.
Viewership Plummets as Trust Evaporates
Weiss’s tenure has been marked by a steep decline in CBS News’ credibility and audience. Since her appointment in May 2022, CBS Evening News has seen its prime-time viewership drop by 40%—from an average of 2.8 million viewers in 2022 to just 1.68 million by late 2024. The network’s digital reach has also contracted, with social media engagement down 35%. Critics argue that Weiss’s push for Trump-sympathetic stories and her penchant for controversial, unverified claims have alienated both audiences and advertisers.
The decision to run the dubious ICE agent story serves as a stark illustration of a news division at war with itself. With agenda-driven leadership overriding the cautions of its own journalists, CBS News under Bari Weiss is facing a catastrophic loss of trust—from its staff and the public alike. As ratings continue to freefall, the network’s future appears inextricably linked to the controversial and damaging path charted by its editor-in-chief.
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