CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss has been in discussions with former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo about him potentially joining the network, according to sources cited by Status Monday. These conversations have included texts and at least one in-person meeting, with a person familiar with the situation confirming such talks have occurred.
Cuomo, however, is currently under contract with NewsNation, having signed a multiyear deal in 2024. He is also involved in a wrongful termination lawsuit against CNN, stemming from his 2021 dismissal. The potential for Cuomo to move to CBS News is complicated by the fact that NewsNation is set to become part of CBS News' parent company, Paramount, next year, making it unlikely he would join while the lawsuit remains active.
Cuomo, 56, was removed from CNN in December 2021, following his public support for his brother, then-Governor Andrew Cuomo, amid sexual harassment allegations that ultimately led to the governor's resignation. His former 9 p.m. time slot at CNN is now occupied by Kaitlan Collins.
Sources describe Weiss, 42, as viewing Cuomo as a talented and skilled broadcaster. Her interest comes as CBS News continues to grapple with historically low ratings. For example, "CBS Mornings" experienced its lowest-rated week on record for the week of July 13. The morning program has been identified as a possible landing spot for Cuomo should any discussions progress.
Weiss assumed leadership at CBS News in October and has since initiated several changes. She moved Tony Dokoupil from "CBS Mornings" to the "CBS Evening News" and hired former ABC Chief National Correspondent Matt Gutman as CBS News' chief reporter. More recently, New York Times columnist Ross Douthat was brought on as a "60 Minutes" correspondent. Norah O’Donnell, formerly the lead anchor for "CBS Evening News," was also named a correspondent as part of this broader restructuring. These moves are intended to modernize CBS News and appeal to a more centrist audience.
Weiss, founder of the center-right publication The Free Press, is reportedly impressed by Cuomo's post-CNN work, which has included discussions with conservative figures such as Tucker Carlson and Bill O'Reilly. This approach aligns with Weiss's apparent strategy to broaden the appeal of CBS News programming.
Cuomo currently hosts "Cuomo" on NewsNation, a show that launched in 2022. Meanwhile, Dokoupil's tenure on the "CBS Evening News" has seen ratings challenges, with his January to July ratings period marked by figures lower than any since he took the role. Insiders have suggested to Status that Weiss's recent decisions may have negatively impacted the CBS News brand.
Cuomo's lawsuit against CNN seeks $125 million, alleging that the network terminated him improperly and harmed his reputation by claiming he misled them about his assistance to his brother. Cuomo's attorney has stated that CNN executives were aware of and involved in Chris Cuomo's efforts to help his brother, and that network standards were altered to increase ratings, with Chris Cuomo being made a scapegoat.