CBS Evening News had a rocky relaunch week filled with technical problems, on-air mistakes, and sudden drama behind the scenes. Tony Dokoupil, the new anchor, drew millions of viewers for his debut, but the show quickly drew negative attention online when mistakes and awkward moments went viral. What was meant to be a bold new start for the long-respected program instead raised doubts about whether CBS could still live up to its reputation for serious, polished journalism.
Inside the newsroom, staff members described a tense environment as leadership scrambled to manage the fallout. Longtime employees said the launch was chaotic, with new producers trying to establish direction while dealing with technical troubles and an uncertain work culture.
The Sudden Firing That Shocked the Team
The biggest blow came on January 7, just days after the first episode of the new format. Javier Guzman, a senior producer who had worked at CBS for nearly eight years, was abruptly fired. Guzman held a key role as the second-in-command producer for the evening newscast and was widely respected among colleagues.
Executives Kim Harvey and Tom Cibrowski informed him of his dismissal right after a broadcast. His coworkers were stunned, especially since no public reason was given for his removal. Inside CBS, emotional meetings followed as employees demanded answers from leadership during an already stressful time. Many worried the decision signaled deeper problems with how the new team was managing the show’s changes.
A Legacy Under Pressure
CBS Evening News has a long and proud history. Anchors like Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather once made it the top-rated national newscast. But in recent years, the show has fallen to third place, trailing behind ABC and NBC. To cut costs, the network has reduced staff and reshuffled on-air talent several times. Tony Dokoupil, who previously co-hosted CBS Mornings, took over the anchor chair from John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois as part of the network’s effort to refresh the brand.
In October 2025, journalist Bari Weiss joined as editor-in-chief. Her hiring was meant to bring fresh energy and push the program in a new direction. Yet many inside CBS felt uneasy about her approach, especially as the company itself went through major ownership changes following Paramount’s merger with Skydance. The merger brought billionaire David Ellison into the picture, creating greater pressure to prove that CBS could adapt to new leadership while staying true to its journalistic roots.
Weiss encouraged what she called “balanced coverage,” but some employees feared the shift would give political bias a stronger influence. That worry grew when CBS canceled a planned 60 Minutes story about Venezuelan deportations, raising internal debates over whether the network was drifting from its tradition of hard, independent reporting.
Behind the Scenes and On the Road
The details surrounding Guzman’s exit remain confusing. Multiple sources said he clashed with executive producer Kim Harvey during the “Live From America” tour, a cross-country series designed to spotlight everyday people and issues across the U.S. Some insiders claimed Guzman resisted Harvey’s creative direction, while others said he simply wanted to protect CBS’s standards amid the constant changes. Weiss’s absence from several post-firing staff meetings only added to frustration and uncertainty.
Meanwhile, the on-air product faced its own share of struggles. Dokoupil became emotional during a broadcast from Miami, sharing childhood memories on air. While the moment was meant to show authenticity, critics said the program’s tone felt unfocused. The Dallas stop of the tour featured a helicopter ride with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, which viewers felt clashed with the show’s intended focus on ordinary Americans. In Minneapolis, the show pivoted awkwardly between covering activists and avoiding conflict-heavy scenes, while a planned Texas segment on a shooting was dropped entirely.
One of the most controversial moments came when CBS aired an AI-generated “Florida man” tribute linked to U.S. Secretary Marco Rubio. Many journalists, both inside and outside CBS, called it “journalism malpractice,” especially given the political sensitivity around Venezuelan issues.
Critics and competitors quickly seized on these missteps. ABC and NBC solidified their lead as CBS’s audience reacted with confusion. Even comedian David Letterman joined the criticism, publicly warning that CBS was losing the spirit of its legendary broadcaster Edward R. Murrow.
Inside the newsroom, morale plummeted. Some described the atmosphere as “toxic,” with sharp divides over editorial vision and the growing influence of corporate interests. Rumors of further mergers, including a possible tie-up between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, added to anxiety about the network’s independence.
Can CBS Rebuild Trust?
Despite a small bump in ratings from curiosity about the relaunch, CBS Evening News remains behind its rivals, anchored by David Muir at ABC and Lester Holt at NBC. For Dokoupil, the challenge now is to rebuild credibility while still pursuing his goal of bringing everyday American stories to the forefront.
As the U.S. heads toward another tense political season and the midterm elections, the team at CBS faces a major test. Can they balance the demands of their new leadership with the values that once defined their journalism? Many within the industry will be watching closely to see whether CBS Evening News can reclaim its place as a trusted voice, or whether this turbulent relaunch marks the beginning of a deeper decline.
Sources:
Los Angeles Times, ‘CBS Evening News’ producer fired amid turbulent relaunch, January 8, 2026
The Independent, More chaos at CBS Evening News as producer fired just days into …, January 8, 2026
The Independent, Inside Weiss’ chaotic ‘CBS Evening News’ Reboot, January 2, 2026
Los Angeles Times, The Tony Dokoupil era begins at ‘CBS Evening News’, January 4, 2026
The Hill/YouTube, Letterman trashes ‘those idiots at CBS’ over state of news, January 10, 2026