Norah O’Donnell Returns to CBS Mornings Amid Network Changes

CBS News announced that Norah O’Donnell will return to ‘CBS Mornings,’ joining co-hosts Gayle King and Nate Burleson. O’Donnell previously co-hosted ‘CBS This Morning’ from 2012 to 2019. She will fill the vacancy left by Tony Dokoupil, who now anchors ‘CBS Evening News.’ Her return is scheduled after Labor Day.

The show’s producer, Jon Tower, expressed enthusiasm about O’Donnell’s return in a memo, highlighting her previous successful partnership with Gayle King. Tower stated, ‘As we all know, for seven years, Norah helped lead CBS This Morning alongside Gayle, creating one of the most memorable partnerships in the history of morning news.’

Despite excitement about O’Donnell’s return, some liberal viewers have criticized CBS for appointing Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News. Critics have expressed concerns about her leadership due to her perceived political stance. O’Donnell responded to these criticisms on social media, encouraging viewers to watch the show before forming opinions.

Additionally, O’Donnell will join ’60 Minutes’ as a correspondent, part of a significant shuffle at the program. The shakeup included new roles for several correspondents and the departure of previous ones.

Bari Weiss, appointed by Paramount CEO David Ellison, aims to focus on appealing to a broad audience rather than political extremes. This approach has sparked debate, with some accusing her of being overly friendly to certain political views. Both Weiss and Ellison emphasize attracting the middle ground politically.

The article also notes ongoing corporate developments, including Ellison’s plans to oversee both CBS News and CNN through a merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. Concerns arise regarding potential impacts on the editorial independence of CNN. The merger has been delayed due to an antitrust lawsuit, with a trial set for March 2027.