Headline Roundup • June 9th, 2026
Paramount-Warner Bros Merger Could Put Bari Weiss In Charge of CNN
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Paramount has "held preliminary conversations with several candidates for a business-side counterpart" to CBS News (Lean Left bias) editor Bari Weiss (Center), according to a Tuesday report from Axios (Lean Left).
The Details: Axios says the search "implies" that if Paramount's deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery – the parent company of CNN (Lean Left) – becomes final, it means Weiss would oversee all editorial operations across both CBS and CNN. Axios cited "two sources familiar with the network's inner workings" for its reporting. Those being considered reportedly include NBCUniversal News Group chairman Cesar Conde, the current CNN CEO Mark Thompson, NBC News president Noah Oppenheim, and others.
Headline Bias: While Axios wrote its headline about the job search, The New York Post (Lean Right) notably extracted the detail that Weiss could end up in charge of CNN and wrote in its headline that she is "poised to oversee CNN editorial operations." The Post's headline then spread widely on X, receiving 2.2 million views in the first five hours after it was shared. Similarly, Raw Story (Left) wrote the headline, "Bari Weiss on verge of major promotion for 'fantastic job' bosses think she's doing at CBS."
Previously: On Monday, Brian Stelter of CNN published an analysis that opened by asking, "Does bad news for CBS News translate to bad news for Paramount's takeover of CNN and the rest of Warner Bros. Discovery?" He immediately answered his query, "Not directly, no. But the self-inflicted wounds at CBS News may raise a different question for Paramount CEO David Ellison: Has Bari Weiss become too much of a distraction?"
Ongoing CBS Scandal: In an interview published Sunday by The New York Times (Lean Left), former 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley, who was fired last week, alleged that Weiss and CBS's corporate ownership showed strong bias in favor of President Trump and interfered with the editorial process.
For Context: Weiss was appointed to lead CBS in October 2025 when Paramount announced it had acquired her website, The Free Press (Lean Right). She has sometimes been described by various commentators, social media users, and media outlets as showing a pro-Israel bias.
RELATED: Has CBS News' Bias Moved Right Under Bari Weiss' Leadership? AllSides Analysis
Commentator Perspectives: Shortly after the report broke, several major media commentators weighed in on X. Glenn Greenwald (Center) wrote, The planet's most fanatical Israel loyalists now own and control (or are about to) Paramount, CBS, TikTok, Warner Brothers, CNN… That said, they don't have much work to do at CNN to overhaul it. Many of that network's key on-air personalities are already the hardest-core Israel loyalists and have been for life: [Jake Taooer, Dana Bash, Wolf Blitzer, Van Jones], etc." Cenk Uygur (Left) wrote, "People are so funny. They're having serious debates about whether Bari Weiss should stay at CBS and whether it's crazy to put her as head of CNN editorial. She's guaranteed propaganda for Israel and that's why the Ellisons bought these properties." Heidi N. Moore wrote, "Did Bari Weiss plant this story, because it is 100% not gonna happen."
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Featured Coverage of this Story
Paramount has held preliminary conversations with several candidates for a business-side counterpart to CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, according to two sources familiar with the network's inner workings.
Why it matters: The search implies that if Paramount Skydance's deal with Warner Bros. Discovery goes through, Weiss would oversee all news editorial across both CBS News and CNN. Her potential counterpart would manage business operations across both companies.
Zoom in: Paramount leadership is eyeing several top news executives for the role and has started reaching out to candidates, Axios has confirmed.
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REUTERS/Mike Blake
Paramount Skydance (PSKY.O), opens new tab is scouting candidates to oversee the business side of operations, who would work alongside CBS News' editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, Axios reported on Tuesday, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
If Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O), opens new tab goes through, Weiss would manage editorial across CBS News and CNN, and her potential counterpart would manage business operations at both, the report said.
CBS News boss Bari Weiss is likely to gain editorial oversight of CNN if and when Paramount Skydance's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is approved, according to a report.
Paramount executives are said to have held preliminary discussions with several candidates who would come in and run the business-side operations next to Weiss while she continues to oversee editorial.
