CBS News now reportedly appears to be courting conservative voices as part of a major editorial shift under its recently appointed editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss — a move signaling the Tiffany Network’s desire to broaden its appeal amid a polarized media landscape.
Weiss, who officially took the reins earlier this month after Paramount acquired her outlet, The Free Press, for roughly $150 million, is “reportedly aiming to take conservative commentator Scott Jennings away from CNN and bring him to the Tiffany Network as part of her push to revamp its news operation.” The report, first published by Semafor’s Max Tani, suggests Weiss is aggressively pursuing prominent right-leaning contributors.
Jennings, a veteran Republican strategist and media personality, “routinely goes viral for offering the Republican view on the topic of the hour — as well as for verbally sparring with left-leaning pundits.” He served President George W. Bush as a special assistant and deputy director of political affairs before transitioning into television — where he has become CNN’s “go-to right-winger.”
Tani reported that Jennings met with Weiss last week at CBS headquarters in New York City, adding fuel to speculation that the network is ready to challenge CNN and MSNBC for right-of-center viewers who may feel underrepresented in mainstream media.
The Semafor story followed reporting by Status newsletter founder Oliver Darcy that Weiss was also targeting Fox News anchor Bret Baier to become the next host of CBS Evening News. Baier quickly shut down that idea, telling Meghan McCain that he’s “very happy at Fox,” and remains under contract there through 2028.
A CNN spokesperson declined to comment when reached by Mediaite.
Jennings himself has hinted that he may not be easily lured away. In a September interview, he stated that he “re-signed at the beginning of the year” and anticipates being at CNN “for the next few years.” Even so, Weiss’s attempt signals a clear shift: CBS is not merely tinkering at the margins — it is positioning itself to challenge liberal narratives and welcome a broader ideological coalition.
That shift has not gone unnoticed inside the building. “Some of her new colleagues have been rattled by her approach so far,” according to the New York Times. The paper reported that several 60 Minutes staffers were “stunned” when Weiss asked them: “Why does the country think you’re biased?” For a network long accustomed to casting itself as the standard-bearer of traditional broadcast journalism, the question may have landed like a provocation.
Jennings has drawn wide attention for his willingness to defend Republicans — including President Donald Trump. Recent examples include his comment that Trump’s controversial AI “poop bomb” video was “kind of funny,” while also asserting he “would not support Trump running again in 2028,” despite the urging of GOP figures like Steve Bannon. His independent streak may make him even more attractive to CBS as it seeks credibility with conservatives without tying itself to any one figure or movement.
Weiss is betting that viewers frustrated by political homogeneity in broadcast news are ready for a new model — one in which ideological diversity is treated not as a threat, but a strength. Whether CBS can navigate an internal culture resistant to change — while persuading top conservative talent to make the leap — remains uncertain. But the efforts alone mark a notable departure from the network’s recent past.
And for Republicans long skeptical of legacy media, the door at CBS may finally be cracking open.
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