‘CBS Evening News’ producer fired amid turbulent relaunch

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A long-time producer for “CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil” was let go this week after voicing concerns about the show’s editorial choices.

I was really surprised and saddened to learn that Javier Guzman, a senior producer at CBS News since 2017, was let go yesterday. While CBS isn’t commenting publicly, sources have confirmed his departure. It’s a shame to see someone with his experience leave, and I always appreciated his work.

Sources say Guzman disagreed with the new direction of the evening news program, which has been changed under the leadership of CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss. Guzman has not commented on the situation.

Dokoupil’s unexpected departure after just three days fueled the feeling that the program’s launch was troubled. Unhappy CBS News employees have been sharing their concerns anonymously with media newsletters and tabloid newspapers.

The latest version of the well-known news program is receiving criticism online for its content. On Tuesday, this included lighthearted memes praising Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Many found this inappropriate so soon after a U.S. military operation in Venezuela, where special forces captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

The show also received criticism for a short segment about the fifth anniversary of the January 6th attack on the Capitol. This segment, which involved supporters of then-President Trump attempting to invalidate the 2020 election results, framed the event as simply a disagreement between Trump and Democratic leaders in Congress.

As a critic, I’ve been watching the recent shifts at NewsNation with a growing sense of concern. It’s becoming increasingly clear that CEO Jennifer Weiss is strategically pivoting to appeal to a more conservative, even MAGA-leaning, audience. Many of us in the media believe this isn’t about journalistic integrity, but about currying favor with the White House as Paramount Global tries to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Weiss came to the network just last October after Paramount bought her online publication, The Free Press, a platform known for its criticisms of progressive viewpoints, and this feels like a deliberate move to reshape the network’s identity.

Hollywood Inc.

These new hosts are taking over from Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson, who were let go during company-wide layoffs last October.

The day after Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman from Minneapolis, was shot by an ICE officer while in her car, CBS Evening News continued with a previously scheduled trip to Dallas. The trip was part of a tour to introduce Dokoupil as the program’s new anchor.

Although Noah Dokoupil has stated his goal for “CBS Evening News” is to highlight the perspectives of everyday people rather than those of powerful figures in New York and Washington, a recent trip to Dallas seemed to contradict that aim. He took a helicopter ride with Jerry Jones, the billionaire owner of the Dallas Cowboys, and the broadcast included a segment about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

Dokoupil secured a significant interview with ICE Director Tom Homan, who, unlike President Trump and other officials, refrained from immediately labeling the shooting victim as a terrorist. The show then shifted its focus to Minneapolis, extensively covering the responses of local residents and anti-ICE demonstrators to the event.

Nielsen ratings show Dokoupil’s broadcast is performing a little better than average this season, but it still lags behind the viewership of “ABC World News Tonight with David Muir” and “NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas.”

Before becoming an anchor for “CBS Evening News,” Dokoupil was a co-host on “CBS Mornings.” He took over the evening news from John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, who previously shared the anchoring duties.

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2026-01-10 01:01