CBS News continues to receive backlash amid a series of leadership changes that have occurred over the last several months. Many of those headlines have specifically swirled around editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, whose alleged management style and editorial approach have been criticized. While Weiss has seemingly received the brunt of the blame for any reported discord within the company, she’s allegedly not the only one in the hot seat. Apparently, another company exec is “dead meat” at this point.
It’s CBS News President Tom Cibrowski who’s allegedly in trouble amid ratings struggles for the company. As of late, CBS Mornings has seen programming challenges, and it just notched its lowest-rated week ever. One source spoke to The New York Post and claimed this particular low point would fall squarely on Cibrowski’s shoulders. Cibrowski was put in charge of the aforementioned morning show this year and, per that insider, the powers that be are not pleased with how ratings are panning out:
Tom is dead meat. I know Bari might not care about the show, but it is embarrassing when you hit all-time lows.
During the week of July 13, CBS Mornings – as anchored by Gayle King and Nate Burleson – only posted an average of 1.59 million viewers. That marked a 13% decrease in viewership in relation to the previous week. Per Nielsen ratings, this ultimately marks the first time the news show has ever gone below a 1.6 million viewer average. This report from the Post, however, suggests that ratings aren’t the only reason why Cibrowski supposedly isn’t garnering favor at the Eye Network.
Execs are supposedly displeased that Cibrowski hasn’t filled the vacant anchor slot on Mornings following former host Tony Dokoupil’s move to CBS Evening News in January. Fill-in hosts have subsequently been used since Dokoupil’s departure, which is alleged to be hurting the show’s ratings. That aside, another source is claiming Cibrowski doesn’t currently have the resources to hire a permanent host. Still, another insider alleges that the news branch president’s editorial choices have not been ideal:
Tom keeps saying people want weight-loss stories and weather stories. Holiday travel stories. He says it’s ‘news you can use’ — problem is, no one wants it. People need news. Tom is a good man and a capable administrator, but he has a dim view of what American audiences want at a time of so much upheaval.
All the while, Bari Weiss continues to receive critiques, and she’s more recently drawn backlash for decisions made at 60 Minutes. Weiss let go of several correspondents and producers, with Cecilia Vega, Sharyn Alfonsi, executive editor Draggan Mihailovich and ex-EP Tanya Simon amongst those let go. Longtime correspondent Scott Pelley was also fired after reportedly accusing Weiss of “murdering” the news magazine show.
Insiders have also dropped rumors about Weiss, who was tapped to be CBS News’ editor-in-chief in October 2025. She drew backlash for pulling a 60 story on an El Salvador prison at the last minute, and some have claimed her morning meetings have been tense at times. Earlier this month, though, it was alleged that Weiss was changing her ways and becoming more accessible to her colleagues.
All of those reports also coincide with speculation regarding whether Weiss will run CNN if the Paramount Skydance/Warner Bros. Discover merger goes through. Time will tell what kind of further moves Bari Weiss might make within CBS News as time goes on. If there’s any truth to the report about the company’s feelings on Tom Cibrowski’s performance, it’s hard not to wonder if any action will be taken.
