CBS Evening News Anchor Tony Dokoupil's chaotic first week on the job is raising eyebrows at CBS News headquarters. The network had high hopes for its new anchor, who was chosen by CEO David Ellison, a longtime Trump ally, and editorial director Bari Weiss, following a carefully stage-managed rollout that included a 10-day private jet tour.
However, reality quickly set in, with the U.S. government abducting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, forcing Dokoupil to pivot from his grandiose debut. Instead of delivering a news program focused on nuanced analysis and fact-based reporting, Dokoupil positioned himself as the main character of the news, claiming the press had "taken into account the perspective of advocates" and neglecting those of ordinary Americans.
This approach has been starkly at odds with the legendary "CBS Evening News" anchor Walter Cronkite, who was famous for delivering grounded, fact-based reporting. Dokoupil's disconnection between his populist rhetoric and actual reporting has left many wondering if he is more interested in promoting a particular agenda than holding those in power accountable.
Dokoupil's accelerated debut featured an interview with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that allowed him to define the U.S. military operation in Venezuela as a "law enforcement" action, arguing Congress need not be notified and openly discussing American oil interests without confronting the administration's crackdown on the press. This approach ignores the administration's attacks on journalists and effectively punishes those who refuse to sign a new policy barring them from seeking or publishing unclassified information.
Furthermore, Dokoupil's attempts at humor have been tone-deaf, including his comparison of Secretary of State Marco Rubio's impressive résumé to a "salute." This kind of language is not only unbecoming for a journalist but also undermines the credibility of CBS News.
The ratings bear out public skepticism, with Dokoupil's official Monday night debut pulling in lower numbers than expected. The five-year anniversary of January 6 received just 15 seconds of coverage, buried deep within the show, while a helicopter ride with billionaire Trump donor Jerry Jones seemed like an odd choice for a man who railed against media elitism.
Ultimately, Dokoupil's first week on the job has revealed a fundamental disconnect between his vision for journalism and the reality of holding those in power accountable. This concern should worry Bari Weiss, as it suggests that her leadership is more interested in maintaining access to power than in promoting actual journalism.
However, reality quickly set in, with the U.S. government abducting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, forcing Dokoupil to pivot from his grandiose debut. Instead of delivering a news program focused on nuanced analysis and fact-based reporting, Dokoupil positioned himself as the main character of the news, claiming the press had "taken into account the perspective of advocates" and neglecting those of ordinary Americans.
This approach has been starkly at odds with the legendary "CBS Evening News" anchor Walter Cronkite, who was famous for delivering grounded, fact-based reporting. Dokoupil's disconnection between his populist rhetoric and actual reporting has left many wondering if he is more interested in promoting a particular agenda than holding those in power accountable.
Dokoupil's accelerated debut featured an interview with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that allowed him to define the U.S. military operation in Venezuela as a "law enforcement" action, arguing Congress need not be notified and openly discussing American oil interests without confronting the administration's crackdown on the press. This approach ignores the administration's attacks on journalists and effectively punishes those who refuse to sign a new policy barring them from seeking or publishing unclassified information.
Furthermore, Dokoupil's attempts at humor have been tone-deaf, including his comparison of Secretary of State Marco Rubio's impressive résumé to a "salute." This kind of language is not only unbecoming for a journalist but also undermines the credibility of CBS News.
The ratings bear out public skepticism, with Dokoupil's official Monday night debut pulling in lower numbers than expected. The five-year anniversary of January 6 received just 15 seconds of coverage, buried deep within the show, while a helicopter ride with billionaire Trump donor Jerry Jones seemed like an odd choice for a man who railed against media elitism.
Ultimately, Dokoupil's first week on the job has revealed a fundamental disconnect between his vision for journalism and the reality of holding those in power accountable. This concern should worry Bari Weiss, as it suggests that her leadership is more interested in maintaining access to power than in promoting actual journalism.
Dokoupil's debut is a joke 
He thinks being a "main character" is going to save his job? 
News anchors aren't there to promote their own agenda, they're supposed to report the facts. And what's with the weird helicopter ride with Jerry Jones? Is he trying to buy ratings or something? 
CBS had high hopes for him but i guess david ellison and bari weiss were way off mark 
he's all about being the main character instead of delivering real journalism news 
that's so not walter cronkite vibes at all 
and can someone pls explain to me why tony was making jokes about marco rubio's resume lol salute is just not funny 
and the helicopter ride with jerry jones was like something trump would do 
time for bari weiss to step up her game 
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. Like with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, where he's glossing over the administration's attacks on journalists and basically saying that they need to be punished for not following certain guidelines 
. And I don't get why he had that helicopter ride with Jerry Jones - it feels like a total PR stunt 
. If Bari Weiss and David Ellison are serious about promoting actual journalism, they need to get some clarity on where their priorities lie 
, this Tony Dokoupil guy is a total disaster 
. I mean, what's next? He's gonna start reading from a teleprompter like a robot 
and forgets his own name mid-sentence 
. The fact that he's more concerned with being popular than actual reporting is super concerning 
. And have you seen those ratings? 
Lowest numbers ever! Maybe CBS should just stick with a straight news program and forget about this fancy-schmancy anchor thing 
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. CBS News needs to get back on track with some real journalism.
#JournalisticIntegrityMatters. The way he handled the situation in Venezuela was so extra, and let's be real, his attempts at humor were cringeworthy 
#LeadershipFail
. It's weird that he was trying to position himself as more of a star than just delivering the facts, kinda like Walter Cronkite was known for being grounded and fact-based 
CBS News needs to get back on track and focus on delivering fact-based reporting, not scripted narratives that prioritize ratings over accuracy. The network's reputation is at stake! 
instead of delivering solid, fact-based reporting 
It's like he's more interested in promoting his own agenda than holding those in power accountable 
And don't even get me started on his jokes... 
"Salute" to Secretary of State Rubio? What is that even supposed to mean? 
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. I'm all for ratings, but at least make it feel authentic, you know? This guy's all about being a 'main character' – news anchors should be journalists, not celebrities 
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and stick to facts 
. Dokoupil's approach is all about showbiz 
lower numbers than expected 
!
. and dont even get me started on that joke about Rubio's résumé 
, its like Dokoupil is more interested in being a tv personality than actual journalism 
like Dokoupil's interview with Hegseth was straight outta propaganda land