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Bari Weiss may be getting more power, not less. The CBS News chief could reportedly see her influence expand across CNN if Paramount Skydance completes its planned purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery. That would put CBS News and CNN under the same corporate umbrella, with billionaire David Ellison controlling both operations.
According to Axios, the deal could leave Weiss overseeing editorial direction across both CBS News and CNN while separate media executives handle the business side.
That would be a major shift for cable and broadcast news. It would also come at a volatile time for Weiss, whose tenure at CBS has already been marked by fierce internal backlash and the stunning firing of longtime ‘60 Minutes’ correspondent Scott Pelley.
Paramount Reportedly Still Has Full Confidence In Weiss
Weiss was hired by Ellison in October 2025 after building The Free Press and after years as a former New York Times opinion editor.
Her mandate at CBS was clear: move the newsroom toward what executives viewed as a more centrist and less “woke” editorial approach.
Despite the turmoil that followed, Paramount leadership is reportedly standing firmly behind her. “The Paramount brass loves Bari Weiss,” an insider told Axios. “She has the full confidence of David Ellison, who believes Bari has done a fantastic job as editor-in-chief.” The source also said Weiss has been involved in identifying people she would work with on the business side if the larger news structure changes.
Executives reportedly under consideration for business roles include NBCUniversal News Group chairman Cesar Conde, CNN Worldwide CEO Mark Thompson, and former NBC News president Noah Oppenheim.
CNN Could Be Pulled Into The Same Editorial Shift
If the $110 billion merger wins approval from federal regulators, CNN and CBS News would both be owned by Paramount Skydance.
That could put Weiss in a powerful position over two of the most recognizable news brands in America.
For CNN, the possible change raises obvious questions. The network has long had a roster of anchors and commentators viewed by conservatives as left-leaning. Weiss’ rise at CBS has already been framed as part of a broader effort to change newsroom culture and push back against progressive media habits.
If that editorial approach moves into CNN, the fallout could be significant. It could also create an awkward reunion of sorts with Anderson Cooper.
Anderson Cooper’s Exit Looks Different Now
Cooper left ‘60 Minutes’ after Weiss came aboard, ending a two-decade run with the news magazine. At the time, he said the decision was about reducing his workload, focusing more on CNN, and spending more time with his two young sons.
But several industry insiders have pointed to the upheaval at ‘60 Minutes’ as a possible reason for the timing. Cooper announced his exit in February, and his final ‘60 Minutes’ segment aired on May 17. Less than two weeks later, the program underwent one of the most dramatic shakeups in its history.
On what became known internally as “Black Thursday,” executive producer Tanya Simon, executive editor Draggan Mihailovich, and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega were all removed. Weiss then announced Nick Bilton as the show’s new executive producer that same day.
Scott Pelley’s Firing Put The Turmoil In Public View
The biggest explosion came days later.
During Bilton’s June 1 meet-and-greet with the ‘60 Minutes’ staff, Pelley reportedly unloaded on both Bilton and Weiss.
“She has no qualifications for her job; you have slender qualifications for this job,” Pelley said, according to the report. “The changes that she’s made at the Evening News have been catastrophic, so why should we expect that any of this is going to be any better?” Pelley also accused Weiss of “murdering” ‘60 Minutes’ and told Bilton, “You will never be welcome here.”
The longtime correspondent was reportedly terminated with cause the following day.
That public meltdown made the CBS drama impossible to ignore. It also turned Weiss into one of the most scrutinized figures in American media.
Now, instead of being sidelined by the controversy, she may be positioned for a larger role. If the merger goes through, Weiss’ editorial vision could move from CBS News into CNN as well.
For her supporters, that may look like proof that Ellison believes she is doing exactly what she was hired to do. For critics, it raises a sharper question: if ‘60 Minutes’ became this explosive under her watch, what happens when her power expands?
