Reports previously surfaced that CBS News and new Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss have eyed adding Fox News anchor Bret Baier to their stable of anchors. Now, Weiss and the network also have another high-profile cable news figure in mind to add to its roster.
According to a report from the New York Post, Weiss is also interested in plucking CNN analyst Scott Jennings from the cable network and bringing her to CBS News. Another report from Semafor suggests that Weiss and Jennings met at the CBS News headquarters last week.
Scott Jennings has seen his profile grow exponentially in recent months. In his role at CNN, he’s often seen sparring with liberal analysts and contributors — especially on the primetime NewsNight with Abby Phillip program — with clips of him arguing, disagreeing, and discrediting those on the other side of the political aisle.
Furthermore, the overtures from CBS News come as the network is in flux. Parent company Paramount Skydance is set to enact a round of widespread layoffs on Wednesday, with a reported 1,000 employees losing their jobs. Additionally, the CBS Evening News is in the midst of a ratings downturn, falling below 4 million viewers per night on average. That figure is well behind competitors ABC News and NBC News.
Bari Weiss joined CBS News earlier this month after selling her digital enterprise, The Free Press, to the parent company for $150 million. Her objective from the David Ellison-owned company was to turn the outlet more “balanced” and “fact-based.”
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First Brett Baier now Scott Jennings. What’s next, a sitcom with greg gutbomb? Looks like Bari Weiss is trying to turn CBS into Fox News Junior.