Tony Dokoupil's First Night: A Rocky Start for CBS Evening News

Tony Dokoupil stepped into the big shoes of CBS Evening News anchor with a bold promise. He vowed to be more open and honest than the legendary Walter Cronkite. In a video, he admitted that his past broadcasts often missed the mark by focusing too much on advocates and not enough on regular people. This idea aligned with the views of his new boss, Bari Weiss, who also likes to present her perspective as that of the average person.

First Night: A Mixed Debut

On his first night, Dokoupil interviewed U.S. defense secretary Pete Hegseth about the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The interview was long but didn't really challenge the official story, raising questions about whether it was an interview or just a press release. Weiss had a similar issue before when she held back a "60 Minutes" segment because it didn't include the administration's side enough.

Bold Claims Without Sources

In his official debut, Dokoupil made some bold claims without any sources. He said U.S. military action would destabilize a Russian-Chinese-Iranian base in Venezuela. He also talked about changes to the recommended vaccine schedule for children, framing it in a way that made it seem like parents would have more options. In reality, they would need a doctor's approval for some vaccines. His guest tried to clarify, but Dokoupil seemed more interested in pushing his own narrative.

Technical Issues and Awkward Moments

Dokoupil also had some technical issues. He struggled when the order of segments changed, leaving awkward silences. He even joked, "First day, big problems here." His final segment about a small town in Oregon selling a nude calendar of senior citizens didn't feel like news and lacked any real insight.

Bari Weiss' Changes at CBS News

Bari Weiss has been trying to make changes at CBS News. She even pursued other big names for the anchor role, but they turned her down. Dokoupil might not have the charisma or skill to turn things around. Viewers who want conservative news already have options like Fox News and Newsmax. Meanwhile, the credibility of "60 Minutes" is at risk under Weiss' management. Maybe keeping Dokoupil at the "Evening News" can limit the damage he might cause.