Tony Dokoupil made an early debut as anchor of “CBS Evening News” on Saturday, conducting a lengthy interview with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth about the U.S. military raids in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro — two days ahead of his scheduled Monday launch.
WATCH: The CBS Evening News with @TonyDokoupil starts now on CBS. pic.twitter.com/Gf8thwbmyE
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) January 3, 2026
The special edition broadcast from a CBS-owned station in San Francisco, as the network rushed to cover President Trump's announcement of the strikes.
It marked Hegseth's first appearance on CBS and his first interview since the operation, personally arranged by CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, according to a source familiar with the booking.
During the interview, Dokoupil — whose on-screen graphic labeled Hegseth “Secretary of Defense” rather than the Trump administration's preferred “Secretary of War” — questioned the operation's rationale.
“I want to go back to the rationale tonight: Is it about freedom, or is it about oil?” Dokoupil asked, noting Trump's press conference remarks suggesting both factors played a role. Hegseth cited multiple reasons, including Venezuela's actions against U.S. oil companies, hemispheric security, drugs, and cartels poisoning Americans — all justifying what he called Trump's “bold and courageous action.” He noted the operation proceeded without prior congressional knowledge.
Dokoupil's official “CBS Evening News” launch remains set for Monday from New York. His planned “Live From America Tour,” starting in Miami and visiting U.S. cities, has been delayed until later in the week.
The early debut comes amid scrutiny of CBS's editorial direction under Weiss, including recent statements emphasizing focus on average Americans over elites and new principles like “We love America.” Dokoupil himself posted online last week criticizing legacy media for over-relying on advocates, academics, and elites.