CBS News, a media giant, is reportedly eyeing talent from rival network Fox News, with Bret Baier, a prominent figure at Fox, being a potential recruit.
The newly appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News, Bari Weiss, is said to be behind this strategic move. Weiss is known for her reformative approach and is reportedly seeking to rejuvenate CBS News by bringing in Baier to anchor "CBS Evening News."
According to Western Journal, the news of this potential shift first emerged in a newsletter by former CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy, Status. Darcy noted that Weiss has been considering other media figures, including former CBS reporter Catherine Herridge.
However, the prospect of luring Baier, who currently earns around $14 million annually at Fox and has extended his contract with the network until 2028, might be a challenging task.
Baier is a well-established figure at Fox News, hosting the fifth most-watched cable news program, "Special Report with Bret Baier," as reported by TV Insider. The four programs ahead of "Special Report" are also Fox News offerings. In contrast, "CBS Evening News" ranks last among the Big Three legacy network news programs.
Baier joined Fox in 1998 and has since built a reputation for bringing a newsman's sensibility to his coverage, a stark contrast to CBS News's liberal-leaning legacy. During last year's presidential campaign, Baier's interview with Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris made headlines due to his pressing questions and a misplaced video feed.
CBS News, on the other hand, is perhaps best remembered for its decision to present two different versions of a Harris response to a question about the Middle East, seemingly in an effort to make Harris appear more favorable.
The potential recruitment of Baier, with his contrasting approach, could signify a significant shakeup for CBS News. The network has a history of controversy, with then-anchor Dan Rather attempting to derail then-President George W. Bush's re-election campaign in 2004 with forged National Guard records.
Weiss's approach to her role at CBS has already sparked outrage among liberals in the media and media observers. Dan Rather, for instance, labeled Weiss's appointment as a "dark day" in the history of CBS News, as reported by Fox News. MSNBC host Chris Hayes also criticized Weiss, comparing her to Vice President J.D. Vance, a comparison considered derogatory in liberal circles.
Weiss, a former writer and editor in The New York Times opinion section, left the newspaper in 2020, citing a "hostile work environment" for employees who did not embrace extreme leftist views. Following her departure, Weiss founded the opinion/news website The Free Press, which was later acquired by Paramount, the parent corporation of CBS. As part of the acquisition, Weiss was appointed as the editor-in-chief of CBS News.
While the potential recruitment of Baier remains uncertain, it is clear that Weiss's reformative approach to CBS News is already causing waves in the media industry. Whether this will lead to a shift in the network's liberal-leaning legacy remains to be seen.
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