CBS News is a shadow of its former self, and veteran journalist David Letterman can't keep quiet about it. During an appearance on "The Barbara Gaines Show," the late-night legend reminisced about the golden era of journalism, as epitomized by Edward R. Murrow, before launching a scathing attack on the network's current leadership.
"We've gone from driving integrity and reporting with moral courage to eviscerating it with these idiots who have taken over," Letterman lamented. "I'm at a point now where it really is hurting my feelings because I'm sick and tired of people saying, 'Oh, wait until those midterms.'" The remark was particularly poignant given the recent promotion of MAGA-friendly anchor Tony Dokoupil to lead the division's flagship evening news program.
The move has been met with widespread criticism, and even by the standards of pro-Trump coverage, Dokoupil's first week in the spotlight has been a disaster. Letterman's comments were not without precedent – he had previously weighed in on moves at CBS, calling the decision to cancel his hand-picked successor's late-night show "gutless." He also shared a compilation of all of his on-air insults of the network with YouTube.
As he expressed concern about the future of late-night talk shows, Letterman warned that television was "running out of places" for sharp political satire. The sentiment is difficult to disagree with, given the current state of CBS News. With its credibility under siege and the direction it's heading, it's no wonder Letterman is fed up.
The network's downward spiral has been a long time coming. Weiss' tenure at CBS News was marked by an increasingly pro-Trump agenda, which has alienated many viewers. The promotion of Dokoupil to lead the evening news program only serves as a further indication that the network is prioritizing partisan politics over journalistic integrity. It's a stark reminder of the decline of standards in mainstream media and the consequences for those who expect honest reporting.
As Letterman pointed out, we're "far downstream" from the midterms having any effect on this state of affairs. The crisis at CBS News will not be resolved by waiting for an election cycle to pass. Rather, it demands a reckoning with the network's leadership and a renewed commitment to reporting that serves the public interest.
In a world where journalistic integrity is under siege, Letterman's words serve as a powerful reminder of what's at stake. The fate of CBS News hangs in the balance, and if we value truth-telling, we must demand better from our media outlets.
"We've gone from driving integrity and reporting with moral courage to eviscerating it with these idiots who have taken over," Letterman lamented. "I'm at a point now where it really is hurting my feelings because I'm sick and tired of people saying, 'Oh, wait until those midterms.'" The remark was particularly poignant given the recent promotion of MAGA-friendly anchor Tony Dokoupil to lead the division's flagship evening news program.
The move has been met with widespread criticism, and even by the standards of pro-Trump coverage, Dokoupil's first week in the spotlight has been a disaster. Letterman's comments were not without precedent – he had previously weighed in on moves at CBS, calling the decision to cancel his hand-picked successor's late-night show "gutless." He also shared a compilation of all of his on-air insults of the network with YouTube.
As he expressed concern about the future of late-night talk shows, Letterman warned that television was "running out of places" for sharp political satire. The sentiment is difficult to disagree with, given the current state of CBS News. With its credibility under siege and the direction it's heading, it's no wonder Letterman is fed up.
The network's downward spiral has been a long time coming. Weiss' tenure at CBS News was marked by an increasingly pro-Trump agenda, which has alienated many viewers. The promotion of Dokoupil to lead the evening news program only serves as a further indication that the network is prioritizing partisan politics over journalistic integrity. It's a stark reminder of the decline of standards in mainstream media and the consequences for those who expect honest reporting.
As Letterman pointed out, we're "far downstream" from the midterms having any effect on this state of affairs. The crisis at CBS News will not be resolved by waiting for an election cycle to pass. Rather, it demands a reckoning with the network's leadership and a renewed commitment to reporting that serves the public interest.
In a world where journalistic integrity is under siege, Letterman's words serve as a powerful reminder of what's at stake. The fate of CBS News hangs in the balance, and if we value truth-telling, we must demand better from our media outlets.