The newest anchor at CBS News, Tony Dokoupil, has found himself in hot water after his recent broadcasts. Social media users have criticized him, with some sources claiming that he is simply a mouthpiece for Bari Weiss and her agenda.
Despite the backlash, not many people actually saw Dokoupil’s blunders on air – which is not necessarily a positive sign. Ratings for his debut were down significantly compared to previous years. According to Nielsen data obtained by Radar, viewership was down by 22 percent from the same day last year. Comparisons with other anchor debuts on CBS News paint an even bleaker picture, with Dokoupil’s premiere falling short by 17 percent, 20 percent, and a whopping 67 percent in comparison to his predecessors.
One insider criticized the newscasts and the mistakes, calling them “amateur hour” and pointing out that CBS couldn’t even get through a 30-minute show without major errors. The source also took a swipe at Dokoupil for throwing shade at legendary news anchor Walter Cronkite.
Dokoupil’s troubles began right from his first official broadcast. During a segment where he had to transition between stories, he became visibly confused and struggled to maintain coherence. His confusion led to an awkward silence before the crew finally settled on the correct story. Dokoupil even admitted on air, “First day, big problems here.”
The following day, while reporting from Miami, Dokoupil ended his broadcast with an unusual tribute to Florida Senator Marco Rubio. He showcased a series of AI memes featuring Rubio in various roles, concluding with a salute to the senator as “the ultimate Florida man.”
Overall, Dokoupil’s rocky start at CBS News has raised questions about his credibility as an anchor. It remains to be seen how he will address these challenges and whether he can regain the trust of viewers and critics alike.
