WORLD · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
Norah O'Donnell Returns to CBS Mornings Amid Bari Weiss Controversy and 60 Minutes Shakeup
WHY IT MATTERS
O'Donnell’s dual role signals CBS’s effort to stabilize its flagship morning show and 60 Minutes lineup while the Paramount‑Warner merger remains in limbo, potentially reshaping U.S. news ownership and editorial control.
What happened
Norah O'Donnell will rejoin CBS Mornings after Labor Day, co‑hosting with Gayle King and Nate Burleson and filling the chair left by Tony Dokoupil. The former CBS Evening News anchor also has been named a new 60 Minutes correspondent as part of a broader reshuffle that saw Sharyn Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega and Scott Pelley depart.
O'Donnell has publicly urged liberal critics of editor‑in‑chief Bari Weiss—appointed by Paramount CEO David Ellison—to give the program a chance, citing her long‑standing partnership with King.
The move comes as Paramount’s planned $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery is stalled by an antitrust lawsuit, leaving CNN’s editorial independence in question and prompting staff concerns about future oversight.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Norah O'Donnell urges liberal Bari Weiss critics to give 'CBS Mornings' a chance as she returns to program
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