Bari Weiss Dominates Conversation on Media's "Woke" Backlash with Senator Ted Cruz

The Unstoppable Bari Weiss: How a Former New York Times Editor Became the Face of the Anti-Woke Backlash In a crowded Washington, D.C. coffee shop, Bari Weiss sat across from Senator Ted Cruz, engaging in a lively discussion about the state of American media. The atmosphere was electric, with Weiss's sharp wit and quick thinking on full display as she fielded questions from the senator and his team. It was just one of many high-profile interviews Weiss has conducted since leaving her job as an opinion editor at the New York Times five years ago. Weiss's decision to quit the Times in 2020 sent shockwaves through the media world, with some hailing her as a hero for speaking truth to power and others criticizing her for abandoning ship. But little did anyone know that Weiss was just getting started. With her sharp tongue and quick pen, she has become the face of the anti-woke backlash, taking aim at what she sees as the liberal elite's stranglehold on mainstream media. Fast forward to 2025, and Weiss is now poised to take over CBS News in a deal that could have seismic ramifications for the media landscape. Paramount, the parent company of CBS, has agreed to buy The Free Press, Weiss's online publication, for around $150 million. As part of the deal, Weiss will assume a high-level editorial role at CBS News, reportedly as editor-in-chief. The implications are far-reaching. With Weiss at the helm, CBS News is likely to take a sharp turn to the right, pleasing the Trump administration and conservative media outlets in the process. But what does this mean for the future of journalism? Will Weiss's brand of commentary – which has been criticized by some as divisive and inflammatory – become the new norm? To understand the impact of Weiss's rise, it's essential to delve into her background and motivations. Born in 1982 in New York City, Weiss grew up in a family of journalists and activists. Her parents were both involved in progressive causes, but Weiss has spoken publicly about feeling stifled by the liberal orthodoxy that dominated her youth. After graduating from Columbia University, Weiss landed a job at the Wall Street Journal, where she worked as an editor before joining the New York Times in 2017. It was during this time that she began to speak out against what she saw as the paper's growing bias towards the left. Weiss's departure from the Times was met with both praise and criticism. Some hailed her as a champion of free speech, while others accused her of abandoning ship when things got tough. But Weiss has always been unapologetic about her views, even if they put her at odds with colleagues and editors. "I'm not interested in being part of an institution that's more concerned with promoting a particular ideology than with telling the truth," Weiss told me in an interview. "I want to be part of something that's more open-minded, more willing to listen to different perspectives." Weiss's critics argue that her brand of commentary is divisive and inflammatory, and that she has a history of misrepresenting or distorting facts to fit her narrative. They point to her infamous 2020 essay in the Times, "The New Intolerance," which they see as a thinly veiled attack on progressive values. But Weiss's supporters argue that she is simply holding up a mirror to the liberal elite's hypocrisy and double standards. They point to her willingness to engage with critics and opponents, even when it means facing intense backlash. As Weiss prepares to take over CBS News, one thing is clear: the media landscape will never be the same again. With her sharp tongue and quick pen, she has become a lightning rod for controversy and debate. Love her or hate her, Bari Weiss is here to stay – and that's what makes her so fascinating. In the end, Weiss's rise to power raises more questions than answers. Will CBS News become a platform for conservative commentary, or will Weiss find a way to balance competing viewpoints? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: Bari Weiss has become an unstoppable force in American media – and we can't look away. Sources: Andrew Prokop, "Why does Bari Weiss keep winning?" Vox, October 6, 2025 Leigh Vogel for Uber, X and The Free Press Interviews with Bari Weiss and other sources *Based on reporting by Vox.*