Norah O'Donnell, anchor of "CBS Evening News," is returning to "CBS Mornings" and has directly addressed critics of CBS News' editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, urging them to give the program a chance.
O'Donnell will rejoin Gayle King and Nate Burleson on the morning show after Labor Day, filling the vacancy left by Tony Dokoupil, who now anchors "CBS Evening News." This marks a return for O'Donnell, who previously co-hosted "CBS This Morning" from 2012 to 2019.
Some liberal viewers have expressed dissatisfaction with CBS News following the appointment of Weiss by Paramount CEO David Ellison. O'Donnell engaged with these critics on Instagram, responding to comments expressing reluctance to watch CBS programming under Weiss's leadership.
In response to one user who wrote, "This is so silly. Just watch our show!" O'Donnell encouraged them to "Give us a try."
Weiss, appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News a year ago, has been the subject of criticism from some who perceive her as MAGA-friendly, despite her self-described liberal politics. Weiss and Ellison have stated their goal is to appeal to a broader audience, focusing on the political center rather than extremes.
O'Donnell's return to "CBS Mornings" coincides with her new role as a correspondent for "60 Minutes." This comes as part of a significant restructuring of the long-running newsmagazine, which has also seen the departure of several other correspondents.
Ellison's company, Paramount, is in the process of acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery, a move that would place both CBS News and CNN under common ownership. This potential merger faces delays due to an antitrust lawsuit filed by the California Attorney General, with a trial scheduled for March 2027. The outcome of the legal battle and any potential settlement could affect whether Ellison is required to divest CNN.