CBS News has struggled in the ratings with its nightly newscast. Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan, however, hasn’t struggled. It’s routinely the top program in the Sunday morning political affairs realm.
Brennan has been well established in the role. She’s hosted the program since 2018, taking over the reins from John Dickerson — who anchors CBS Evening News alongside Maurice DuBois.
That long tenure means viewers are familiar with Brennan, feeling a sense of comfort tuning in and seeing that usual face behind the desk.
But what else is it that makes Margaret Brennan the quasi-Queen of the Sunday morning political affairs arena? Let’s find out.
I watched the episode from this past Sunday — which featured interviews with Trade Ambassador Jamieson Greer, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, among other segments — in the hour-long version of the show.
The program began — after the usual montage of what you’re about to see — with the interview with Greer. Brennan was transparent in that the interview had been pre-recorded on Friday, which only helps build credibility. It would have been easy to set things up to ask the first question of Greer, cut to one-shot on his answer, and see if the audience notices that Brennan isn’t wearing the same outfit she was to begin the show.
It also helps credibility by noting that if anything major happened, that could alter either the questions or answers in the interview.
Brennan flat-out grilled Greer throughout the somewhat lengthy interview. Critics will call it biased. A cynic might even argue Brennan is part of the “deep state.” But it felt like, from my viewpoint, a bulldog anchor trying to get answers for the American public.
She nailed down Greer on a number of items and forced him to give answers that he frankly didn’t want to give. But due to the insistence and toughness of Brennan, she got those statements from Greer.
As I sat and watched the show, I was taken aback by just how self-aware the program seems to be. It doesn’t try to be anything it isn’t capable of, and it doesn’t put Brennan in situations where she doesn’t excel. It’s clear that Margaret Brennan is an excellent interviewer. She isn’t as comfortable as the stereotypical news anchor, however. Not to say she isn’t good at it, but she’s not as good at that aspect of the job as she is at interviewing.
So, Face the Nation puts her in the best position to succeed. Fill as many openings and segments in the show with interviews — no matter how profile the guest — and see what happens. Brennan clearly has a game plan going into each conversation, and it shows.
Here’s the biggest takeaway I left Face the Nation with: Margaret Brennan isn’t trying to be friends with the people she interviews, and that’s exactly what makes her a successful Sunday morning anchor.
In a political media environment where some journalists are increasingly concerned with maintaining access and massaging egos, Brennan has carved out a reputation for tough but fair questioning. She is not interested in being liked by her guests. She’s interested in accountability. That’s a rare trait in 2025, when there are dozens of podcasts, YouTube channels, and friendly cable news outlets for elected officials and government insiders to appear on without breaking a sweat.
But Brennan, every Sunday on Face the Nation, insists on asking the question that might make someone squirm.
When lawmakers appear on CBS News, they’re met with a journalist who is more interested in pinning them down than giving them a runway to spin talking points. Brennan’s interviews regularly go viral, not because she’s inflammatory, but because she often manages to get clarity in moments where others would let the guest off the hook. She listens closely, follows up quickly, and, more often than not, makes news.
In an era where “access journalism” is its own beat, Brennan’s approach stands out. She doesn’t sacrifice precision for politeness, and she doesn’t soften questions to keep relationships intact. And it works. That’s why so many high-ranking officials continue to appear on her show. She doesn’t play games, she doesn’t sandbag, and she doesn’t grandstand — she just asks what viewers are thinking but may never get the chance to ask themselves.
There are more ways than ever for politicians and policy experts to control the environment around their interviews. They can decline a network hit and still reach millions. That makes it all the more impressive that Face the Nation still delivers meaningful answers from the country’s most powerful voices. Brennan’s credibility has become the show’s biggest draw. And that credibility is rooted in the fact that she’s not afraid to ask something that might make a guest think twice about coming back.
But they do. Because they know they’ll be treated fairly — and challenged. That’s Margaret Brennan’s edge. And that’s why Face the Nation still matters.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
