Multiple media outlets reported that Bari Weiss, the newly appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News, is considering Fox News anchor Bret Baier as a potential lead anchor for the CBS Evening News.
The story, first detailed by Status newsletter's Oliver Darcy, stems from internal discussions where Weiss has "quietly canvassed" the industry for a high-profile replacement amid the show's declining ratings. This move is seen as part of Weiss's broader push to revitalize CBS News under its new ownership by Skydance Media and Paramount, following a $150 million acquisition of her Free Press outlet.
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The report has sparked buzz in media circles, with some viewing it as a bold, eyebrow-raising strategy to infuse CBS with a more centrist or right-leaning voice, given Weiss's history as a critic of "legacy media" bias and Baier's reputation for straightforward political coverage. However, insiders note it's early-stage speculation, and no formal outreach has been confirmed.
Baier has been Fox News's chief political anchor since 2009, Baier has built a career on rigorous interviewing and election coverage, earning praise for his professionalism even from critics of the network. He joined Fox in 1998, rising from Pentagon correspondent to White House reporter.
Baier signed a lucrative extension in 2023, reportedly worth $14 million annually through 2028, making any poach a financial and contractual long shot.