Mamdani Is Over Bari Weiss' (C)BS, Calls Off Interview
One nasty tweet from Bari Weiss was enough to kill a CBS interview with Zohran Mamdani, and it’s textbook media censorship playing out in real time.
Bari Weiss is hammering so many nails in the coffin at CBS News, she’s building a mausoleum at this point. This time it’s with a tweet criticizing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for… condemning the (war/excursion/incursion, you pick) in Iran.
Mamdani had already been taking hits from her other publication, The Free Press, and Weiss’ tweet was apparently the last straw. Weiss retweeted a video of Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad going off on Mamdani, adding the customary sign of journalistic ethics: “fire emoji.”
In the statement deemed “controversial” by CBS news, Mamdani came out against things like “killing civilians” and “bombing cities,” and committed the cardinal sin of pointing out that nobody wants this, least of all Americans struggling through an affordability crisis.
Because of Weiss’ public display of aggression, CBS Sunday Morning lost out on what would have been a huge get with Mamdani. If there was any question before what Bari Weiss’ agenda was, it’s crystal clear now— and it has nothing to do with journalistic integrity.
The End of The Beginning
This, to me, is the next phase of the complete collapse of CBS News, which started last year when Trump cronies bought Paramount, then installed Weiss, and culminated with the Ellisons moving to take over CNN in their purchase of Warner Brothers. Weiss is just the mouthpiece, but she’s happy to say and do whatever her bosses - cough Trump cough - tell her to.
Journalists, like Robert Costa who was set to do the Mamdani interview, are supposed to ask the questions and let the answers speak for themselves. To let the audience decide how to feel without trying to influence them. But when Bari Weiss puts her finger on the scale, she’s making the decision for you: this guy is bad. Doesn’t matter what he has to say.
It turns legacy media into a Kangaroo Court of public opinion, especially in this case where CBS has become a willing mouthpiece for whatever message it is Trump wants to convey.
The Wheels are Coming Off
This debacle is certain to exacerbate what was already a mass exodus of journalists from the network who were fed up with Weiss. Whether it was for outright censorship of a story that made the Administration look bad (like when she pulled a story about the horrendous conditions at an El Salvadoran prison where DHS was illegally sending immigrants) or for putting out straight up propaganda (which she did following the shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis by dutifully publishing the Administration’s lies about what happened), veteran journalists are abandoning ship. Anderson Cooper recently walked away. Mary Walsh resigned after 46 years, calling out the network for explicitly pushing journalists to ‘aim our reporting at a particular part of the political spectrum.’ Your standard 1984 “thought police” playbook. Scott MacFarlane - who covered the January 6 riot - walked away last week, apparently disgusted by CBS barely even acknowledging the fifth anniversary of the insurrection.
When you have this much institutional knowledge leaving the building, when all of your professional journalists are running for the exits, there’s nothing left of the institution. And it leaves behind a vacuum that Bari Weiss herself gets to fill. And if she’s taking orders from the Ellisons - which means Trump - you can bet she’s not filling it with consummate professionals who are going to deliver the unbiased truth.
She’s going to do exactly as Trump does, and fill the place with mindless sycophants who are ready to do and say whatever benefits the Godking.
It’s Only Getting Worse
First it was Jimmy Kimmel, then it was Stephen Colbert, now it’s anyone aiming to tell the truth at CBS News. Media censorship isn’t the exception anymore; it’s the rule. Legacy media is caving under pressure from this Administration.
It’s extremely telling that in his statement, Scott MacFarlane said he looks forward to “some independence and finding new spaces to share my work in line with my personal goals.” I’ve been beating the drum for years now that independent media is becoming the only reliable source of real information as we watch these institutions get infiltrated and compromised by bad actors like Bari Weiss.
That’s why I continue to do this work. This space remains completely independent from influence or control. I only answer to you, the readers, and I will continue to do so.
Is CBS looking to become a shit channel like FOX? When the MADMAN IN THE WH falls….and he will , I promise you that….they will all be nothing-burgers!
New York’s Mamdani is brave, wise and ethical. Tis Californian supports him enthusiastically.