Talk of a popular morning show host being cut free over her “no longer viable” salary was renewed as a new report painted a picture of “dysfunction” at CBS News under Bari Weiss.
Since the successful merger of Skydance Media and Paramount Global, CEO David Ellison’s decision to name Weiss as CBS News editor-in-chief has been heavily scrutinized by leftists who believe the media corporation has chosen to kowtow to President Donald Trump. Now, a new report from Variety, coupled with talk of showing Gayle King and her roughly $15 million salary the door with “a cascade of recent errors.”
Under the banner, “CBS News Veers Toward Dysfunction Under Bari Weiss Following Gaffes At 60 Minutes, Evening News,” the outlet detailed, “By some accounts, Weiss is only getting started. She may be getting ready to focus on ‘CBS Mornings,’ mindful that host Gayle King’s salary — valued at around $15 million a year, according to one person familiar with the network — is no longer viable in a weaker media economy.”
“King is said to be considering various options, including a special correspondent role that would have her making appearances on CBS News properties but not being a regular host, or another that might keep her on the air for another year but at a lower salary, giving her 12 full months to bid farewell to viewers,” continued Variety.
For her part, King had maintained a position of refusing to negotiate such matters in public, telling Sherri Shepherd on her program, “Sherri,” in December that she also doesn’t discuss hypotheticals. Instead, she explained that she would continue doing her job as usual and that she was “very happy” for now-former “CBS Mornings” co-host Tony Dokoupil being named anchor of “CBS Evening News.”
In addition to hosting a town hall with Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk three months after her husband, Charlie Kirk, had been assassinated, Weiss had triggered meltdowns over the decision to delay airing a “60 Minutes” segment about the Salvadoran prison, Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT).
More recently, a rundown of “five simple principles” that would be followed to “report on the world as it is,” with promises to “work for you,” “respect you,” “respect tradition” and “love America” had particularly riled radicals who considered the declaration an “embarrassing display of jingoism.”
Left having a conniption over CBS Evening News’ 5 Principles declaration https://t.co/3ccb55PgDE via @BIZPACReview
— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) January 3, 2026
Furthering the idea of discord at CBS News, Variety had detailed, “Ten people familiar with the workings of CBS News say the Paramount Skydance unit is veering toward dysfunction, with a management team led by Bari Weiss that doesn’t value the standards held by veteran journalists — and a staff that views its editor-in-chief and her hand-picked senior staff with great skepticism, owing to her lack of experience managing mainstream media assets.”
Reactions on social media offered a “translation” on what Variety was reporting, suggesting the report actually meant the employees were “mad they can’t lie anymore.”
Translation: They are mad they can’t lie anymore.
— Gina Milan (@ginamilan_) January 20, 2026
F off with this already.
— Gordon Plutsky (@GordonPlutsky) January 20, 2026
Veering toward journalism you mean.
— John Ondrasik (@johnondrasik) January 20, 2026
Shocked to learn that the decrepit old guard that Weiss was brought in to fix dislike her.
— Kane 謝凱堯 (@kane) January 21, 2026
“standards held by veteran journalists”
— Alan Cornett (@alancornett) January 21, 2026
10 people familiar with socialist activism said something bad about CBS not capitulating to the commie clowns.
— Guy (@GuyHirsch) January 21, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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