Bari Weiss's Elite Network Fuels CBS News Leadership Transition

Key Quotes

"I felt like I wanted to focus on this compact period of time, the five years between when she left The Times and when this acquisition happened. You describe it as her sort of exile in LA. Yes, not all that time was in LA, but I think a significant part of it was. I felt like that had been undercovered."

Charlotte Klein explains her focus for the profile, choosing to examine a specific five-year period of Bari Weiss's career that she felt was less explored. Klein highlights that this period, including her time in Los Angeles, was crucial to Weiss's professional ascent. This approach aims to uncover a narrative that might have been overshadowed by more recent events.

"She's a culture warrior. She's very openly pro-Israel, she is anti-DEI, she is anti-cancel culture. She helped found the University of Austin, which is this free-thinking university, and she founded this website, The Free Press, which I think yesterday amassed 2 million subscribers, which is crazy."

Klein describes Bari Weiss's public persona and key affiliations, characterizing her as a "culture warrior" with distinct ideological stances. The interpretation points to Weiss's founding of The Free Press and its significant subscriber base as evidence of her influence and appeal to a specific audience. This quote encapsulates the core elements of Weiss's brand and public identity.

"She became this kind of party trick for wealthy West Side executives who wanted to have a certain kind of conversation they thought they couldn't have in public."

This quote, attributed to an unnamed source in Klein's reporting, illustrates how Bari Weiss was perceived within certain elite circles in Los Angeles. Klein interprets this as Weiss serving as a facilitator for discussions that were considered taboo or difficult to have openly in public or professional settings. The phrase "party trick" suggests a novelty and a way for these executives to signal their own contrarian or unconventional viewpoints.

"I think she was sort of one of the first people to say, 'You know what's going on is crazy.' She was the same, but at the same time, great credentials, Columbia educated. She's from a, she's one of four from a normal Pittsburgh family. She also had was credentialed by The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times."

Klein explains the appeal of Bari Weiss to the media mogul class by highlighting her perceived ability to articulate widespread frustrations. The interpretation emphasizes that Weiss's message resonated because she combined a critique of current events with impressive journalistic credentials from established institutions. This blend made her a credible voice for those who felt alienated or concerned by prevailing societal or cultural shifts.

"Sun Valley is this mogul conference, supposedly where some deals actually get done, but it's also just kind of a summer camp for billionaires. Famously, press is not allowed... But some press like Andrew Ross Sorkin from CNBC and The Times gets inside, and they get to moderate these conversations, and then Bari Weiss is led in as one of these moderators, which is a real sort of stamp of, 'You are now part of the establishment.'"

Klein details the significance of the Sun Valley conference in Bari Weiss's networking and career advancement. The interpretation explains that her role as a moderator at this exclusive event, hosted by Allen & Co., signaled her integration into the elite establishment. This provided her with access and validation among powerful figures, including David Ellison, who would later acquire The Free Press.

"I think the broad consensus is that he wants to, well, first of all, they want to curry relations with the Trump administration, not only to get the deal approved, but also just to have that working relationship, right? Donald Trump has been reelected at this point. So he is going to be involved in some sort of regulatory capacity, even though maybe he shouldn't be. It would be good to have a conservative running CBS News. That would, he would respond to that."

Klein speculates on David Ellison's motivations for appointing Bari Weiss to lead CBS News, suggesting a strategic alignment with the Trump administration. The interpretation posits that Ellison may have sought to secure a favorable working relationship and regulatory approval by placing a figure with a conservative or centrist leaning, like Weiss, in charge. This move is seen as potentially beneficial given Trump's re-election and influence.