Tucker Carlson Goes Scorched Earth on Bari Weiss, Calling Her “Stupid,” “Uninformed,” and Unfit to Lead CBS News

A heated media firestorm erupted after Tucker Carlson launched a blistering attack on Bari Weiss, the newly installed head of CBS News, accusing her of incompetence, hypocrisy, and benefiting from what he describes as a “rigged system.”

During a fiery discussion, Carlson mocked Weiss as “stupid,” “totally noncreative,” and “literally uninformed.” He even claimed she once “didn’t know who Assad was,” adding bluntly: “She’s an idiot. And we’re going to put her in charge of CBS News.”

Carlson didn’t stop there. “She’s never written a real news story in her life,” he argued. “My dogs are dumb—I don’t hold it against them. But how does someone this unimpressive end up running one of the biggest news divisions in the country? Only in a rigged system.”

According to Carlson, Weiss’s rise is proof that American media institutions reward ideology rather than merit. “There is no world—no fair system, no meritocracy—where Bari Weiss rises above secretary level,” he said. “I’ve been in this business since she was breastfeeding. Her ascent only makes sense in a corrupt, rigged structure.”

Theo Von’s “Holiday Chubby” Moment Sparks Laughter—But the Real Target Is Weiss

The explosive segment also included a comedic aside from Theo Von, who joked about Carlson being “holiday chubby,” a moment Carlson gamely played along with. But the humor quickly gave way to serious criticism when the conversation shifted back to Weiss.

Anna Kasparian Pushes Back: “Bari Weiss Isn’t Dumb, But She IS an Ideologue”

Progressive commentator Anna Kasparian reacted to Carlson’s rant with a more nuanced view. While she sharply disagrees with Weiss’s politics—especially what Weiss has called her own “Zionist” views—Kasparian rejected Carlson’s claim that Weiss is unintelligent.

“I don’t think Bari Weiss is stupid,” Kasparian said. “She’s strategic. She built the Free Press. That’s not easy. But she is absolutely driven by ideology, and that ideology is already shaping CBS News.”

Kasparian pointed to reports that CBS employees feared layoffs until Weiss reassured staff—while highlighting her love for Israel. “That’s a massive red flag,” Kasparian said.

Concerns Over CBS: A Pro-Israel Tilt and a Decline in Trust

CBS Evening News is reportedly undergoing a major shift with the appointment of a new anchor, selected in part for his pro-Israel stance. Kasparian criticized the consolidation of ideological control:

“Legacy media may be dying, but they still have the resources to do real investigative reporting. When those institutions get captured by ideologues, the public loses access to balanced information.”

Kasparian emphasized that the problem isn’t whether Weiss is talented but whether she can lead a news organization responsibly. “She doesn’t want fairness. She doesn’t want balance. And that will bleed into CBS coverage.”

The Bigger Picture: A Media Landscape in Crisis

Journalists across the spectrum warn that public trust in news is at historic lows—not only because of political polarization, but because audiences believe major outlets are increasingly controlled by wealthy owners with explicit ideological agendas.

Kasparian summed it up:
“More and more outlets are gone—taken over by people who want propaganda, not journalism. That’s the tragedy. Not that Bari Weiss is dumb. That she’s an ideologue running one of the last major institutions capable of real reporting.”