The New Yorker Radio Hour How Bari Weiss Is Changing CBS News
11 snips
Jan 27, 2026 
Claire Malone, New Yorker staff writer who covers media and politics, explains Bari Weiss's meteoric rise from Times resignation to leading CBS News. Short scenes cover Weiss’s Free Press venture, Silicon Valley backers, early stumbles at CBS, internal newsroom reactions, and plans to modernize and recruit new talent. The conversation focuses on culture wars, editorial choices, and the risks of courting Trump-friendly coverage.
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Resignation Fueled National Profile
- Bari Weiss rose from an opinion writer to a national media figure after leaving The New York Times in 2020.
- Her resignation letter framed her as a crusader against "woke groupthink," propelling her to broader influence.
College Activism Sparked Her Career
- Weiss grew politically active at Columbia after attending a screening of Columbia Unbecoming and immediately offered help.
- She quickly became an energetic op-ed writer and networker, leveraging media attention into a career.
Free Press Broadened Then Tilted Right
- The Free Press targeted a broad audience beyond traditional niches, courting both disaffected liberals and Trump-friendly readers.
- Coverage shifted notably pro-Trump during the 2024 campaign and after Gaza, reducing its heterodoxy claim.
