The new owner of CBS News has hired conservative policy veteran Kenneth R. Weinstein, former president and CEO of Hudson Institute, to be the news outlet's ombudsman.
New owner Paramount made the announcement Monday.
The move comes amid the network's challenge to compete with the country's two other premier, long-time TV news outlets, ABC News and NBC News, and heavy pressure from President Trump about what he and others consider CBS News' political bias.
In July, Paramount Global agreed to pay $16 million to settle a legal dispute with Trump regarding an interview last fall the network broadcast with his presidential race rival -- Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump alleges the network deceptively edited the interview, which aired on its "60 Minutes" news program, to "tip the scales in favor of the Democratic Party." Paramount did not include a statement of apology or regret.
Last week, CBS changed its interview policy after Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem made similar complaints about her recent "Face the Nation" interview.
From now on, CBS will now only broadcast live or live-to-tape interviews so that the television audience can see the full, unedited interview.
Pretty sure that's wrong -- I think CBS only said that Face the Nation will do this. 60 Minutes will continue editing politicians' words like they're reality show contestants, with Democrats getting the Hero Edit and Republicans getting the Asshole Edit.
In the ombudsman role, Weinstein will review editorial questions and concerns from outside entities and employees.
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"We look forward to welcoming Ken as our new Ombudsman," Paramount President Jeff Shell said in a statement. "At a time when trust in media is more important than ever, this new role reinforces our commitment to truth, trust, and accountability.
The left rushed to congratulate Weinstein on his new job. After all, "news" rooms are completely ecumenical as far as politics, so of course one single conservative-leaning voice is welcome! They're not running a Closed Political Shop, after all!
Brendan Carr
@BrendanCarrFCC
The New York Times is very upset that CBS selected a former advisor to President Trump & Trump nominee as an ombudsman as part of its new commitment to fair, fact-based reporting.
But diversity of viewpoints is a good thing ! And the NYT could learn a thing or two about that.
A leftwing Karen movie critic sent her congratulations:
Nell Minow (she/her)
@nminow
CBS was once called "The Tiffany Network" for its unimpeachable and fearless commitment to the news. It is a disgrace to see the network that once gave us Edward R. Murrow and the glory days of 60 Minutes cower to the corrupt and incompetent.
Question: If conservatives can't be trusted in media roles -- then why the fuck are communists and left-wingers and even liberals to be trusted?
They lefties always tell us: Our personal politics are not relevant. We put them aside to only report "the facts."
It tells me that you're liars when you immediately assert that no one with conservative politics can similarly compartmentalize them. You're telling on yourselves -- you fill the "news" with your personal (Marxist) beliefs so you assume that everyone else is a propagandist, too.
Not only aren't conservatives welcome -- neither are Jews who do not call for the eradication of Israel.
Max Blumenthal
@MaxBlumenthal
With a deal in the works to install Bari Weiss as editor of CBS News, Paramount has installed neocon Hudson Institute leader and former Trump appointee Kenneth Weinstein as CBS ombudsman.
During a 2021 Hudson event with Mike Pence, Weinstein touted his Israel lobbyist creds, describing how he'd been groomed by the Tikvah Fund, the Likudnik training network which will award Bari Weiss its Herzl Award this November. Weinstein also described the right-wing Israel lobby financier Roger Hertog as his "mentor."
During Q&A, after Pence called for the US to wage an unprovoked war on Iran on Israel's behalf, Weinstein chimed in to endorse the proposal.
As support for Israel plummets among American youth and Democratic voters amid a gruesome live-streamed genocide, the stage is set for CBS News' takeover by unabashed Likudnik propagandists desperate to turn back the tide of dissent.
He's got a lot of work to do: