Bari Weiss Unveils Controversial CBS News Contributor List
CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss has unveiled a curious and eye-opening list of 19 individuals who will serve as paid contributors across the network's platforms. The announcement, made on Tuesday, signals a bold new direction for the troubled broadcaster as it seeks to regain lost viewers and employees under its new leadership.
A Diverse Cast of Voices
The eclectic group includes podcasters, influencers, restaurateurs, climate skeptics, and various opinionated writers who will offer their wisdom to help CBS become, in Weiss's words, "fit for purpose in the 21st century." While it remains unclear how frequently or in what context these contributors will appear, the selection has already generated significant discussion within media circles.
Observers have alternately described Weiss as a "millennial media maven" or a prolific "hawker of rightwing bile," and her latest move appears to confirm her reputation for assembling unconventional talent. The network's takeover by billionaire Donald Trump ally David Ellison, coupled with Weiss's appointment, had already raised concerns about potential political pandering.
Notable Appointments and Their Backgrounds
Elliot Ackerman, a former US Marine and Purple Heart recipient turned bestselling author, has called for reinstating the military draft and described Donald Trump as a "combat leader" who could unite the country. His military-themed novels draw from his combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Peter Attia, known to some as "the internet's favorite doctor," boasts a loyal podcast following of millions. Others view him as a wellness grifter whose longevity expertise comes from rudimentary medical training, offered to premium subscribers for $19 monthly. In a 2023 interview, he distinguished between longevity and health span, criticizing the former as "bastardized" and associated with "snake oil."
Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist and self-styled "wellness bro" with over 13 million followers across YouTube and podcast platforms, promotes dietary supplements through partner companies. Critics accuse him of peddling pseudoscience, while a 2024 New York magazine profile alleged multiple infidelities and narcissistic behavior behind his carefully crafted "masculine minimalism" persona.
Niall Ferguson, the Glasgow-born conservative historian and commentator, has railed against "wokeism" in higher education and advocated for US military deterrence. He resigned from a Stanford University free speech program in 2018 after leaked emails revealed he encouraged Republican students to conduct "opposition research" on a progressive student.
Additional Contributors and Their Perspectives
Clare de Boer, a British-born chef, restaurant owner, and furniture company founder, represents Weiss's foray into lifestyle content. Described as the "ultimate multitasker," she balances three restaurants, writing for the New York Times and Vogue, a recipe Substack, part-time modeling, and parenting four young sons.
Coleman Hughes, a 29-year-old Black conservative with nearly 250,000 YouTube followers, opposes diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and has spoken against slavery reparations. His essay questioning established facts about George Floyd's murder appeared on Weiss's Free Press platform in 2024.
Mark Hyman, a longtime friend of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has built a wellness empire around "functional medicine" and shares Kennedy's vaccine skepticism, including the debunked theory linking vaccines to autism. His businesses generated $28.8 million in revenue in 2023, with his supplement company serving 300,000 customers.
Janna Levin, a theoretical cosmologist and astrophysicist, explores cosmic mysteries through her avant-garde Higher Dimensions Substack. In a September post, she offered an alternative explanation for the climate crisis, describing it as caused by "an unstable interplay of hot bodies, each a vibrating quantum system radiating beautifully."
Reihan Salam, president of the conservative Manhattan Institute, wrote a January 2025 Economist analysis predicting a more "pragmatic" second Trump administration with selective immigration policies—an assertion challenged by recent events in Minneapolis. He has also contributed to Weiss's Free Press, penning a disparaging essay about New York's democratic socialist mayor.
A Network in Transition
This diverse group of contributors reflects Weiss's vision to revitalize CBS News through a focus on wellness, nutrition, longevity, cosmology, and conservative ideology. As the network navigates this controversial transition, the impact of these new voices on its programming and public perception remains to be seen.
