In the latest episode of Last Week Tonight, John Oliver took a thorough look at Bari Weiss, the opinion journalist and co-founder of the Free Press, who now holds the position of editor-in-chief at CBS News.
Recently, Paramount, CBS’s parent company that merged with David Ellison’s Skydance, announced it will acquire Weiss’s Free Press and appointed her to lead the network’s newsroom. This unexpected choice raised concerns, as Weiss is famous for her oppositional views, and, as Oliver pointed out, lacks substantial experience in traditional news.
“She’s been handed editorial authority over a major news organization despite having never managed a TV network, having no experience overseeing television coverage, and as noted by a producer from ’60 Minutes,’ is not even a journalist,” remarked Oliver. “This is indeed correct. Her background is primarily in opinion columns, which greatly differ from the news reporting side.”
Oliver also scrutinized the Free Press, which he claimed promotes a strong narrative suggesting “the left has overreached.”
“No matter what issue you resonate with—be it Israel, campus politics, DEI, or police reform—you’ll find articles there confirming that perspective,” he stated. “And while I’m not arguing that the left is free from criticism or that it never goes too far, it often feels like the conclusions at the Free Press can lead its evidence, which raises concerns about the accuracy and integrity of some of its articles.”
Although Oliver acknowledged the existence of various opinion-focused outlets—his own show included—he emphasized, “Last Week Tonight is not news.”
“I wouldn’t endorse the idea of someone managing CBS News if they come from a purely opinion-based background, regardless of whether I agree with them,” he said. “It’s particularly troubling to have an individual in this position who has a track record of producing content that, in my view, ranges from irresponsible to extremely misleading.”
Oliver then criticized Paramount Skydance CEO Ellison, who showed interest in acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery, but it was reported that his bid was deemed insufficient.
“This situation isn’t solely about Bari Weiss holding a position at CBS; it’s about the influence of someone who believes her and her editorial perspective are suitable for this crucial role,” he remarked. “And interestingly, he’s reportedly preparing a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns CNN and—uh-oh—HBO. This raises eyebrows, but if what he values about Bari is that she prompts him to engage in challenging discussions, perhaps he’ll be receptive to this.”
“But the overarching issue is not just Ellison,” Oliver continued. “He’s just the latest in a series of billionaires who have taken over our journalistic institutions, from the Washington Post to the L.A. Times, initiating concerning changes. While I might have had various grievances with their coverage before, this certainly wasn’t my proposed solution. When these acquisitions are announced, it’s easy to think, ‘Well, thankfully there are still other outlets not influenced by billionaires.’ And that’s true, until suddenly that’s not the case anymore.”
Oliver confessed he isn’t sure what the future holds, admitting that Weiss could “dramatically alter CBS News.”
“However, it’s essential to remain vigilant for subtle shifts within the organization. While I believe many of CBS’s talented journalists will continue their excellent work, if you begin to notice personnel resignations, firings, or stories that seem off—especially those regarding issues important to Bari Weiss—it’s important to consider why that might be,” Oliver concluded. “Unfortunately, the broader implication may be that a billionaire has opted to introduce contrarian, right-leaning opinion journalism into a longstanding American institution.”
You can watch Oliver’s entire segment below.
