CBS Mornings

CBS Mornings is an American weekday morning news and information television program broadcast by CBS, airing live from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time and hosted by Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil, and Nate Burleson.^[1][2] The show, which launched on September 7, 2021, from a studio in Times Square, New York City, features original reporting, breaking news, high-profile interviews, and in-depth storytelling segments intended to provide substantive coverage beyond traditional headlines.^[3][4] The program has received Emmy Awards recognizing its journalistic efforts, though it maintains third place in ratings among major network morning shows, averaging approximately 1.8 million total viewers in recent quarters, trailing ABC's Good Morning America and NBC's Today.^[5][6][7] Temporary viewership spikes, such as a 34% increase following Gayle King's 2025 Blue Origin spaceflight, have not altered its overall competitive standing.^[8] CBS Mornings has been marked by notable internal controversies, including a 2024 incident where co-host Tony Dokoupil faced rebuke from CBS News executives for his interviewing style during a segment with author Ta-Nehisi Coates, in which Dokoupil challenged Coates' views on Israel and antisemitism—prompting accusations of bias from some colleagues and highlighting tensions over aggressive versus deferential questioning in network news.^[9][10]

History

Predecessors and Early CBS Morning Programming

The CBS Morning Show debuted on March 15, 1954, as an early attempt at a network morning program, featuring news segments anchored by Walter Cronkite alongside entertainment hosted by Jack Paar.^[11] Aired weekdays from approximately 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, it combined hard news updates with variety elements but struggled for audience traction amid competition from NBC's established Today show, which had launched in 1952 with a similar mix of news and features.^[12] The format's inconsistencies, including reliance on live broadcasts from New York studios, contributed to modest viewership and its replacement after two years.^[13] In 1956, CBS rebranded and retooled the slot as Good Morning! hosted by Will Rogers Jr., son of the famed humorist, airing weekdays at 7:00 a.m. for about a year. This iteration emphasized lighter fare, including interviews and human-interest stories, but failed to build sustained popularity, reflecting CBS's ongoing challenges in replicating Today's blend of information and personality-driven appeal.^[14] By the late 1950s, morning programming shifted toward shorter news capsules rather than extended shows, as network executives grappled with affiliate resistance to preempting local content and the high production costs of live early-morning feeds. The early 1960s saw Calendar, a daytime news and lifestyle program targeting women, premiere on October 2, 1961, with actress Mary Fickett and reporter Harry Reasoner as co-hosts delivering news, consumer advice, and features from 10:00 a.m. onward.^[13] Reasoner handled morning news segments within the hour-long format, but the show's focus on domestic topics limited its competitive edge against broader morning news rivals.^[15] It ended in 1963 amid format experiments, paving the way for the CBS Morning News, a dedicated half-hour newscast that launched that year at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, initially avoiding direct overlap with Today.^[16] Through the 1960s and 1970s, CBS Morning News evolved into a harder-news format, expanding to 60 minutes by the mid-1960s and shifting to 7:00 a.m. to precede Captain Kangaroo, though ratings remained low compared to NBC's dominant program. Anchors like Hughes Rudd, who led from 1973 to 1977 with co-anchor Sally Quinn starting in August 1973, delivered straightforward reporting but faced criticism for lacking the engaging, multi-segment structure that defined successful morning TV.^[17][18] These efforts highlighted CBS's persistent struggles with viewer adoption, stemming from inconsistent scheduling, limited promotional support, and an inability to match Today's innovation in remote reporting and celebrity integration, resulting in repeated format tweaks without achieving market parity.^[19]

Development and Launch of Modern Iterations

CBS launched The Early Show on November 1, 1999, positioning it as a direct challenger to the dominant morning programs Today on NBC and Good Morning America on ABC, which together commanded the majority of the audience with NBC averaging 6.1 million viewers and ABC second.^[20][21] Anchored by Bryant Gumbel and Jane Clayson, the program featured a street-level studio in New York and aimed to blend news, interviews, and lifestyle segments to attract viewers during a period when morning shows were gaining prominence over declining evening newscasts.^[22] Despite these investments, including a $30 million studio, The Early Show struggled with ratings, often drawing under 3 million viewers and securing only a fraction of the shares held by competitors, such as 22% for Today versus lower for CBS in early measurements.^[23][24] By 2011, persistent third-place finishes prompted CBS to overhaul its morning lineup, announcing the end of The Early Show after 12 years and its replacement by CBS This Morning to address competitive gaps against NBC and ABC's established formats.^[25] Debuting on January 9, 2012, under the leadership of newly appointed CBS News Chairman Jeff Fager—who had been promoted in February 2011 to unify news operations—the revamped show emphasized substantive news coverage and in-depth reporting to distinguish itself from the lighter, entertainment-heavy approaches of rivals.^[26][27] This strategic pivot reflected broader network efforts to leverage CBS's journalistic strengths amid a morning TV landscape where Today and Good Morning America prioritized consumer tips and celebrity features.^[28] Initial viewership for CBS This Morning marked modest gains, averaging 2.7 million total viewers in its first week, a slight uptick from The Early Show's comparable periods around 2.5-3 million.^[29][30] However, through early 2012, it averaged 2.535 million viewers from January to April, still trailing competitors by wide margins—Today and Good Morning America each exceeding 5 million—and cementing CBS's third-place status despite the format refresh.^[31] These outcomes underscored the challenges of displacing entrenched leaders, even as the new iteration proved more resilient than prior CBS attempts.^[32]

Rebranding to CBS Mornings in 2021

CBS announced the rebranding of CBS This Morning to CBS Mornings on August 31, 2021, with the changes taking effect on September 7, 2021.^[33][34] The rebrand included a relocation to a new studio in Times Square, refreshed graphics and theme music, and the introduction of Nate Burleson as a third co-anchor alongside incumbents Gayle King and Tony Dokoupil.^[35][36] The pivot emphasized personality-driven storytelling and longer-form features designed to deliver news "with optimism and humanity," aiming to uplift viewers amid post-COVID preferences for less somber content over traditional hard-news emphasis.^[37] This adjustment responded to years of audience erosion following the 2017 dismissal of co-host Charlie Rose amid sexual misconduct allegations, which had left the program struggling in third place behind NBC's Today and ABC's Good Morning America.^[34] By aligning under a unified "Mornings" branding with weekend counterparts, CBS sought greater consistency and appeal in its morning lineup.^[33] Initial reception included modest viewership gains, with CBS Mornings averaging 2.44 million total viewers and 355,000 adults 25-54 during the 2021-2022 season, narrowing the gap to NBC by 35% in the key demographic.^[38] However, these improvements proved temporary, as subsequent format emphases correlated with later declines relative to competitors prioritizing broader entertainment elements.^[39]

Program Format and Content

Daily Structure

CBS Mornings broadcasts for two hours on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, delivering a structured sequence of news updates and features designed to inform viewers at the start of their day.^[40] The program typically opens with concise headlines recapping major developments from the previous day and overnight, followed by national weather summaries, before shifting to extended reporting on current events.^[39] This initial block sets the foundation for the hour, incorporating live field reports and brief interviews to provide real-time context on breaking stories. Throughout the broadcast, the format weaves in live shots from correspondents at key locations, in-depth interviews with policymakers and experts, and practical consumer segments addressing everyday concerns like health and finance.^[3] Compared to CBS This Morning, the predecessor emphasized anchor opinion segments at the close of the show; CBS Mornings prioritizes factual reporting and solution-oriented narratives, minimizing personal commentary to focus on substantive storytelling.^[41] For holidays or major events, such as presidential elections, the structure flexes to include prolonged live coverage and analysis, potentially extending beyond the standard runtime or preempting regular segments for urgent developments.^[42]

Key Segments and Features

CBS Mornings features recurring segments that blend news reporting with human interest stories, including in-depth field reports on American issues and health discussions led by chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook.^[1][43] Dr. LaPook regularly contributes segments such as "Morning Rounds," where he addresses medical topics like the risks of relying on social media influencers for health advice over physicians, often appearing on the program's extended streaming edition, CBS Mornings Plus.^[44][45] These health pieces emphasize evidence-based explanations of symptoms, treatments, and public health trends, drawing on his expertise as a professor at NYU School of Medicine.^[46] The program includes lifestyle and inspirational content through "The Uplift," a segment anchored by co-host Tony Dokoupil that spotlights heartwarming stories of personal resilience and community acts of kindness, such as profiles of individuals overcoming challenges or engaging in random good deeds.^[47][48] Following the 2021 rebranding, CBS Mornings expanded such feel-good features alongside traditional news, incorporating more stories on innovations, life-changing programs, and motivational narratives to balance hard news with uplifting elements.^[49][1] Field reporting segments highlight domestic issues through branded series like "Eye on America," which delivers on-location investigations into topics affecting everyday Americans, often tying into broader program coverage of social and economic challenges.^[50] Multi-platform integration extends these features, with CBS Mornings Plus providing exclusive streaming content from 9 to 10 a.m. ET weekdays on Paramount+, including extended interviews and additional health or lifestyle discussions not aired on broadcast.^[51][52] This format allows for deeper dives into segment topics, such as compassionate healthcare initiatives or arts-based community health programs.^[53]

On-Air Staff

Primary Anchors

The primary anchors of CBS Mornings as of 2025 are Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil, and Nate Burleson, who have formed the core weekday team since the program's 2021 rebranding.^[1][54] Gayle King, who joined the predecessor CBS This Morning in November 2012, serves as co-anchor with a background in broadcast journalism and magazine editing; her long tenure provides continuity, drawing on her prior roles at local stations and her professional association with Oprah Winfrey through O, The Oprah Magazine.^[54][55] Tony Dokoupil, who transitioned from CBS News correspondent to co-anchor in 2021, contributes investigative reporting expertise, informed by his degrees in business administration and American studies, as well as prior work at outlets like NBC and Yahoo News.^[56][57] Nate Burleson, also joining in September 2021, brings a sports and entertainment perspective as a former NFL wide receiver and analyst for CBS Sports and NFL Network, aimed at diversifying the show's appeal beyond traditional news viewers.^[58] Prior to the 2021 retooling, Norah O'Donnell co-anchored CBS This Morning from 2019 until her departure in mid-2021 to lead CBS Evening News, during which the program emphasized hard news coverage under her managing editor role.^[59] The shift to the current trio coincided with the rebranding strategy to incorporate varied backgrounds—journalistic depth from Dokoupil and populist energy from Burleson—intended to stabilize viewership amid competition from Good Morning America and Today, though total audience has averaged around 1.8 million viewers quarterly in recent seasons, with particular softness in the 25-54 advertising demographic.^[60] King's established presence has helped retain loyalty among older viewers, contributing to the show's consistent but third-place positioning in total audience metrics.^[61]

Reporters and Correspondents

Weijia Jiang, CBS News' senior White House correspondent based in Washington, D.C., regularly contributes reports on presidential briefings, policy announcements, and administration actions to CBS Mornings, with her segments integrated into the program's daily news blocks.^[62] Her on-air appearances include detailed analysis of White House press interactions, such as those during the 2024 election cycle, earning her an Emmy in 2023 for outstanding contributions to the broadcast's political coverage.^[63] Jericka Duncan, a national correspondent anchored in New York City, focuses on domestic stories including legal proceedings, public safety, and cultural investigations, delivering field reports and interviews featured on CBS Mornings.^[64] Notable examples include her 2025 exclusive with a former employee of Sean Combs amid federal probes, which aired as a lead segment highlighting investigative sourcing from primary witnesses.^[65] Imtiaz Tyab, the senior foreign correspondent stationed in London, specializes in Europe, [Middle East](/page/Middle East), and South Asia coverage, providing CBS Mornings with on-location dispatches from conflict zones and diplomatic hotspots.^[66] His 2025 reports encompassed rare access inside Tehran discussing regime stability and tours of Syrian drug production sites allegedly funding insurgencies, emphasizing firsthand verification over secondary accounts.^[67] The program rotates additional field reporters for live breaks and beat-specific updates, such as economics via market analysis from CBS News financial desks and science through collaborations with medical specialists like David Agus, M.D., who addresses health policy and research breakthroughs.^[68] Following the 2021 rebranding, CBS Mornings increased reliance on these correspondents for expanded original reporting, incorporating more remote feeds and exclusives to differentiate from anchor-led studio segments, with over 20 dedicated CBS News journalists contributing across platforms by mid-2025.^[69]

Contributors and Guests

CBS Mornings incorporates recurring contributors and external guests to deliver specialized insights on health, finance, technology, policy, and culture, typically in targeted segments rather than ongoing roles. These appearances emphasize empirical data and expert commentary, with contributors appearing multiple times annually based on broadcast patterns. For example, the program has featured financial experts like CBS News business analyst Jill Schlesinger for discussions on economic trends such as inflation and year-end financial planning.^[70] In health segments, Dr. David Agus serves as a key medical contributor, having joined CBS News in May 2013 to cover topics including cancer research, vaccination efficacy, and preventive medicine. Agus has appeared regularly to analyze issues like breakthrough COVID-19 infections—estimating 75-85% of fully vaccinated individuals exposed would remain asymptomatic—and annual medical forecasts, grounding advice in clinical evidence.^[71][72][73] Technology and policy discussions often draw from industry specialists, such as Wedbush Securities managing director Daniel Ives, who provides data-driven updates on sectors like semiconductors and AI, appearing on the broadcast to contextualize market shifts with quantitative metrics.^[74] Following the 2021 rebranding, the program has increased reliance on external voices for cultural and policy analysis, including occasional input from CBS political analysts like John Dickerson for election breakdowns, though such contributions remain episodic and tied to current events rather than routine. This approach prioritizes subject-matter authority over permanent affiliation, with guest frequency verifiable through episode archives showing 5-10 expert appearances per month on average.^[75][41][76]

Production and Broadcast Details

Studios and Technical Aspects

CBS Mornings is produced from Studio 57 at the CBS Broadcast Center, located at 524 West 57th Street in New York City's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood.^[77][78] The facility spans approximately 800,000 square feet and serves as the central production hub for CBS News, housing studios, newsrooms, and technical operations for multiple programs.^[79] After the 2021 rebranding prompted a temporary shift to a Times Square studio, the show returned to Studio 57 on September 29, 2025, with renovations including a central circular anchor desk, updated flooring, expanded LED video walls for immersive visuals, and wood-paneled elements evoking a warmer aesthetic.^[80][81] These updates build on prior enhancements from 2022, maintaining a layout optimized for dynamic transitions between news delivery and lifestyle segments.^[81] Technical production employs multi-camera setups to capture both anchored discussions and stand-up reports, integrated with real-time graphics systems capable of thematic overlays—such as color shifts and sun-inspired motifs introduced in February 2024—for segment-specific adaptability.^[82][83][77] The infrastructure supports hybrid formats, enabling seamless incorporation of remote feeds from field correspondents or bureau locations when covering events outside New York.^[77]

Distribution Platforms and Accessibility

CBS Mornings airs live on CBS owned-and-operated stations and affiliate networks across the United States, reaching approximately 200 markets weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. ET.^[84] Full episodes are available for on-demand streaming on Paramount+, the subscription service owned by Paramount Global, which includes access to CBS network programming.^[52] Live and archived content can also be accessed through the CBS News mobile app, which integrates CBSN streaming features for 24/7 news delivery on iOS and Android devices.^[85] Select segments and clips from CBS Mornings are distributed digitally via the program's official YouTube channel, which posts daily highlights, interviews, and extended features to broaden audience engagement beyond traditional television.^[86] Unlike syndicated morning programs, CBS Mornings has no off-network distribution history, relying instead on CBS's proprietary platforms for extended reach. Internationally, CBS News content, including portions of CBS Mornings, is accessible through CBS News 24/7, a free ad-supported streaming service launched in 2024 and available live in 91 countries via web browsers and connected devices.^[87][88] Accessibility options for CBS Mornings include closed captioning for all live broadcasts and on-demand streams, compliant with FCC requirements and enabled by default on many platforms.^[89][90] Viewers can activate captions through the CBS app settings menu or Paramount+ video player controls, with support for device-level integrations on smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire devices.^[91] Audio descriptions are not standard for live morning news but may apply to select pre-recorded segments where available.^[92]

Reception and Performance

Viewership Ratings and Trends

CBS Mornings has ranked third in morning news viewership among total viewers and the adults 25-54 demographic since its 2021 launch, trailing NBC's Today and ABC's Good Morning America according to Nielsen measurements.^[93][60] The program debuted with stronger audiences, averaging 2.43 million total viewers and 526,000 adults 25-54 in the 2021-2022 season.^[94] These figures represented a peak period around mid-2022, buoyed by initial rebranding momentum from CBS This Morning.^[95] By the 2022-2023 season, averages dipped slightly to 2.353 million total viewers and 500,000 in the demo.^[95] Viewership trends shifted downward in subsequent years amid linear TV contraction. The 2024-2025 season saw averages of 1.940 million total viewers, down 10% year-over-year, and 346,000 adults 25-54.^[60] In Q3 2025, figures further declined to 1.789 million total viewers (down 7%) and 300,000 in the demo (down 5%).^[7] Year-to-date through August 12, 2025, daily totals averaged 1.813 million viewers.^[61] Weekly data from October 2025 showed continued softening, with 1.807 million total viewers and 261,000 adults 25-54 for the week of October 13.^[6][96] These reductions align with post-2024 presidential election timing, registering 20-30% demo losses in immediate aftermath periods per network tracking, alongside broader cord-cutting and streaming shifts reducing linear tune-ins.^[97][98] Internal reports noted the declines delivered a stark morale hit to staff.^[61]

Critical Evaluations

Media watchdogs have rated CBS News, which produces CBS Mornings, as exhibiting left-center bias due to story selection that moderately favors liberal perspectives, while maintaining high factual reporting standards.^[99] AllSides similarly assesses CBS News online content as leaning left, based on editorial choices and framing.^[100] These evaluations highlight a consistent pattern in mainstream broadcast outlets, where empirical analysis of coverage reveals systemic inclinations toward progressive narratives over balanced scrutiny.^[99] The program has garnered recognition for journalistic excellence, including multiple Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Morning Program, reflecting strengths in structured news delivery and feature segments.^[101] Analysts commend its capacity for in-depth reporting on complex issues, such as public health crises, where detailed on-air discussions have informed audiences amid evolving events.^[1] However, such accolades coexist with observations that format evolutions have diluted emphasis on hard news in favor of lifestyle and human-interest content, potentially broadening appeal but at the expense of substantive policy analysis. Critics from conservative-leaning outlets argue that infusions of progressive cultural emphases—often termed "woke" elements—have normalized unchallenged left-leaning viewpoints, leading to viewer disengagement among those seeking rigorous, ideologically neutral coverage.^[97] This shift, they contend, manifests in softened treatments of politically charged topics, prioritizing consensus-building over causal dissection of policy outcomes, which alienates center-right audiences and prompts calls for editorial reforms to restore balance.^[102] Independent media analysts echo that such content adjustments reflect broader industry pressures, where adherence to prevailing institutional biases can undermine long-term credibility and audience retention.^[103]

Awards and Nominations

CBS Mornings has received nominations from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in the News & Documentary Emmy Awards, including a 2025 nomination for Outstanding Live News Program as part of CBS News's total of 28 nominations that year.^[104] The program has not secured a win in this category, with CBS's victories in the 46th News & Documentary Emmys primarily attributed to other outlets like 60 Minutes and CBS Sunday Morning.^[105] In the Daytime Emmy Awards, CBS Mornings earned nominations for Outstanding Morning Program, such as in 2021, though it has not won in this category, unlike competitors including NBC's Today show, which has multiple victories.^[101] Segment-specific craft awards have been sparse, with historical wins limited to individual achievements in writing or production from predecessor formats rather than the current iteration.^[106] Individual honors for on-air talent include co-host Gayle King's receipt of the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism in February 2023, presented by Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication for her contributions to broadcast news.^[107] Overall, program-level accolades remain modest compared to rival morning broadcasts, with nominations outpacing wins and often overshadowed by broader CBS News recognitions. This pattern persists amid the show's viewership challenges, suggesting limited causal linkage between such honors and perceived journalistic excellence or audience appeal.

Controversies and Criticisms

Allegations of Political Bias

Critics have alleged that CBS Mornings exhibits a systemic left-leaning bias through story selection that disproportionately emphasizes narratives aligned with liberal priorities, such as expansive government interventions on social issues, while underrepresenting conservative perspectives on economic deregulation and individual liberties. Independent media bias evaluators, including AllSides, rate CBS News—encompassing Mornings—as Lean Left, citing consistent framing that moderately favors progressive viewpoints in coverage of topics like immigration and public health policy.^[100] Similarly, Media Bias/Fact Check assesses CBS News as Left-Center biased, attributing this to editorial choices that prioritize left-favoring angles, even as factual reporting remains high due to proper sourcing.^[99] These evaluations draw on empirical analysis of thousands of articles and segments, revealing patterns where conservative underrepresentation manifests in guest bookings and issue framing, such as limited scrutiny of left-leaning policy outcomes compared to right-leaning ones. Post-2024 presidential election, internal network responses implicitly acknowledged viewer perceptions of imbalance, with CBS's parent company, under new Skydance ownership, pledging an ombudsman to vet bias concerns and committing to "a diversity of viewpoints across the political and ideological spectrum."^[108] This followed heightened scrutiny from federal regulators and political figures over alleged liberal tilt in CBS programming, including Mornings, amid broader efforts to address criticisms of left-wing dominance in newsrooms.^[109] Prior to these changes, CBS's hiring practices post-2021 had emphasized demographic diversity initiatives, which analysts argue contributed to ideological homogeneity by prioritizing racial and gender quotas over balanced political representation, fostering environments where dissenting conservative voices were marginalized.^[110] In defense, CBS executives maintain a commitment to "facts first" journalism, rejecting systemic bias claims and pointing to the network's track record of sourcing verification as evidence of neutrality.^[111] However, the hiring of Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief in 2025, tasked with overhauling operations for greater ideological balance, underscores causal links between perceived left-lean and operational reforms, as Weiss's mandate explicitly targets entrenched biases in story selection and staffing.^[112] Counterarguments from defenders, including former anchors, assert that such allegations stem from partisan expectations rather than empirical imbalances, though bias trackers' consistent left-center classifications provide quantifiable support for critiques of underrepresentation.^[113]

Notable Incidents and Internal Conflicts

In September 2024, CBS Mornings co-anchor Tony Dokoupil conducted a contentious interview with author Ta-Nehisi Coates to discuss his book The Message, focusing on Coates' essay likening the Palestinian situation to historical injustices against Black Americans and Jews. Dokoupil challenged Coates' framing of Israel's actions in Gaza, questioning whether the essay could align with extremist views and pressing for acknowledgment of Hamas's role in the October 7, 2023, attacks, which Coates did not concede.^[9][114] The exchange drew internal scrutiny at CBS News, with an executive producer's memo citing a "standards violation" due to Dokoupil's tone and preparation, leading to a meeting where he was reprimanded for not upholding objectivity.^[9][115] Dokoupil defended the approach as rigorous journalism necessary to confront potentially inflammatory rhetoric, arguing it reflected CBS's commitment to tough questioning amid criticisms of network leniency on Israel-Palestine coverage.^[116] Coates later described the interview as hijacked, claiming it sidelined co-hosts Gayle King and Nate Burleson and prioritized Dokoupil's personal views.^[117] The incident highlighted tensions over editorial standards in CBS's morning programming, with some staff viewing Dokoupil's style as overly adversarial and others, including external commentators, praising it as a corrective to perceived biases in coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.^[118][119] CBS leadership ultimately clarified that no formal violation occurred but emphasized adherence to neutral tone, amid broader debates on whether the network's internal processes favored progressive sensitivities over factual pushback.^[114] In May 2025, Wendy McMahon resigned as president and CEO of CBS News and Stations, citing disagreements with Paramount Global on the division's future direction amid escalating legal and political pressures, including a lawsuit from President Trump over 60 Minutes editing practices.^[120][121] Her departure, described by insiders as a forced exit, exacerbated internal unease at CBS News, including its morning shows, as staff grappled with fallout from high-profile controversies tied to perceived partisan alignments.^[122][123] By October 2025, Paramount's acquisition of Bari Weiss's The Free Press led to her appointment as CBS News editor-in-chief, prompting reports of heightened staff tension over initiatives to address institutional biases through stricter fact-checking and viewpoint diversity.^[124][125] Weiss's role, which includes overseeing CBS Mornings, has been framed by supporters as a push for editorial rigor against long-standing left-leaning tendencies in broadcast news, while critics within the organization expressed concerns about upending established norms.^[126][127] This transition coincided with the October 2025 exit of CBS News standards chief Claudia Milne, further signaling internal friction over accountability measures in the wake of prior incidents.^[128]

Impact on Ratings and Network Changes

Following allegations of political bias in its coverage, particularly during the Trump administration, CBS Mornings experienced an acceleration in viewership decline, with year-over-year drops in the key 25-54 advertising demographic reaching 19% by August 2025, resulting in 315,000 viewers compared to 543,000 for NBC's Today and 426,000 for ABC's Good Morning America.^[61][97] Critics from conservative outlets attributed this shift to audience rejection of perceived progressive content and "woke" bookings, arguing that such programming alienated traditional viewers amid broader distrust in mainstream media's left-leaning tilt.^[129] President Trump amplified these claims in August 2025, publicly decrying co-host Gayle King's "no talent" and linking the show's falling ratings to its ideological stance, which he said contributed to CBS's internal turmoil.^[130] In response to these pressures and post-merger scrutiny under new Paramount Global ownership by Skydance Media, CBS implemented structural changes aimed at restoring neutrality. In July 2025, Skydance pledged to establish an ombudsman role to vet public complaints of bias at CBS News, with the position formalized in September 2025 by appointing Kenneth Weinstein, former CEO of the conservative Hudson Institute and ex-Trump administration official, to oversee fairness and report directly to leadership for at least two years.^[108][131] This move drew praise from right-leaning commentators as an overdue correction to retain alienated audiences but faced left-wing criticism as a concession to Trump-era demands, potentially introducing a "rightward slant" via a perceived partisan appointee.^[109][132] Additionally, CBS reviewed and ultimately scrapped certain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in April 2025 following a lawsuit settlement with screenwriter Brian Beneker, who alleged discriminatory hiring quotas favoring non-white and female candidates over qualified whites and males, prompting calls from neutrality advocates to eliminate such initiatives to prioritize merit and broaden appeal.^[133] These reforms, including the exit of standards chief Claudia Milne in October 2025 amid broader bias monitoring efforts, were positioned by network executives as empirical responses to empirical viewer data, though detractors on the left viewed them as reactive pandering rather than genuine impartiality enhancements.^[128][134]