Former CBS News anchor Dan Rather. (Craig Barritt/Getty)
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Former CBS News anchor Dan Rather blasted his former employer that’s now under the leadership of lightning rod editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, raising the eyebrows of a network insider who doesn’t think the criticism reflects “reality.”
Rather, who famously stepped down from his role as CBS’ evening news anchor in 2005 and eventually left the network the following year after reporting a discredited story about then-President George W. Bush, joined a variety of liberal media watchdogs who have spoken out against Weiss over the past year.
“What’s happened at CBS News is sad,” Rather told Variety.
“It is in many ways a disaster, not just for the people who work at CBS News — and there’s still a lot of really good people working there,” Rather continued. “But this is a further example of big billionaire corporate power in bed with powerful people and the presidency to get control of these operations for their benefit.”
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Amid scandal, Dan Rather stepped down from his role as “CBS Evening News” anchor in 2005. (Reuters )
Rather also suggested that President Donald Trump has forced change at CBS News, as Skydance Media CEO David Ellison took control of the network last year through a long-planned merger that was approved shortly after CBS agreed to settle an election interference lawsuit with the president.
“Donald Trump has expressed his extreme dislike for ’60 Minutes.’ So now, he’s gotten his way,” Rather said. “He cleared the way for a consolidation of corporate power, which in turn cleared the way for doing what’s been done to ’60 Minutes.’ The wreckage of CBS News is everywhere and continues to this moment. I don’t see how to stop it.”
While anonymous CBS News staffers have objected to changes made under Weiss, newsletters aimed at progressive audiences have regularly attacked her. Other former CBS News stars, such as Scott Pelley, have spoken out against Weiss, but not everyone inside the network agrees with Rather.
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Paramount owner David Ellison tapped Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News and acquired her outlet, The Free Press, for $150 million last year. (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images; James Leynse/Corbis via Getty Images; Noam Galai/Getty Images for The Free Press)
“I’d point out that his criticism doesn’t reflect reality,” a CBS News insider told Fox News Digital.
“Going further, ‘60 Minutes’ has done critical stories about the Trump Administration throughout this season,” the insider added.
Indeed, CBS’ “60 Minutes” has aired several stories that were critical of the Trump administration, including the story of people deported to countries they are not from, a look at the “pardon economy” and a report on the federal government inserting itself in elections.
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Dan Rather called CBS News a “disaster,” but said it still employs “a lot of really good people.” (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
CBS’ parent company, Paramount, named Weiss the editor-in-chief of CBS News in 2025 following the company’s acquisition of The Free Press for $150 million. The hiring infuriated liberal journalists and media figures, as Weiss’ outlet has made waves for supporting Israel and challenging DEI and gender ideology.
CBS News declined comment.
Rather also told Variety he wasn’t familiar with Weiss before she took control of CBS News even though he criticized the network for hiring her only days after she landed the gig last year.
“The American people will pay the price for this move, as will the journalists of CBS News who can no longer credibly serve as watchdogs because the ones they are meant to hold to account are signing their paychecks and hobnobbing with the president,” Rather wrote on his Substack page. “It is a dark day in the halls of CBS News.”
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Fox News Digital’s Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.
