Media Monday: A Politico Sea Change & Advanced Bari-ology - pucks-the-powers-that-be Recap

Podcast: pucks-the-powers-that-be

Published: 2026-01-19

Duration: 19 minutes

Guests: Jon Kelly

Summary

This episode covers the leadership change at Politico, with John Harris moving to a chairman role, and the challenges faced by CBS News under Bari Weiss and Tony DeKoupol's leadership.

What Happened

Politico's leadership sees a significant shift as John Harris, the global editor-in-chief, transitions to a chairman role while Axel Springer searches for a new editor. This change accompanies staff layoffs and buyouts, hinting at a broader transformation within Politico driven by market uncertainties and internal decisions that Axel Springer could not overlook.

John Harris, a foundational figure at Politico, remains a respected figure despite controversial decisions such as hiring Jack Blanchard to head Playbook, which led to a decline in the product's success. His empowerment of Alex Burns, a young executive who faced criticism for his leadership style, also contributed to the need for change.

Bari Weiss's tenure at CBS News has been marked by rapid changes, including the installment of Tony DeKoupol as anchor. However, the show has struggled with ratings and brand perception, partly due to the hurried implementation of new strategies without sufficient consideration of traditional TV news processes.

A notable incident involved a leaked photo of a segment featuring Jack Daniels-sponsored content, which drew criticism for undermining the integrity of CBS News. The larger issue, however, is the show's perceived shift towards appeasing the Trump administration, highlighted by an awkward interview with Donald Trump.

Weiss's approach has been criticized for its lack of experience in managing a large news organization and for pushing changes too quickly, affecting both internal dynamics and the quality of the broadcast. The attempt to create viral moments has sometimes backfired, with segments like the Trump interview drawing attention for the wrong reasons.

Despite the challenges, Weiss's mandate appears to be to shake up CBS swiftly, though this may be at the expense of long-term strategic planning and newsroom morale. The effectiveness of this strategy remains to be seen, particularly in terms of revenue and audience engagement.

Key Insights