Legendary television host David Letterman has delivered a blistering critique of his former network, branding CBS News a complete "wreck" under its recently installed management. The 78-year-old's comments come during a period of profound upheaval for the broadcaster following a major corporate merger.
A Scathing Indictment from a Broadcasting Icon
In a clip from The Barbara Gaines Show podcast posted on Friday, Letterman did not hold back. "By the way, what about those idiots at CBS?" he asked. "CBS News is a wreck – it's just gone." He contrasted the network's current state with its storied history, referencing legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow's iconic second world war broadcasts from London.
"It was that mentality that drove the integrity of CBS News, that has been trampled on, pissed on, and eviscerated by these idiots that have taken it over," Letterman stated emphatically. He expressed personal dismay at the situation, adding, "I'm at a point now where it really is hurting my feelings."
Tumultuous Times at CBS News
Letterman's outburst coincides with sweeping changes initiated after the finalised merger of CBS's parent company, Paramount, with Skydance Media, founded by billionaire David Ellison. The transformation of the news division has been rapid and controversial.
In a highly contentious move, Paramount named Bari Weiss as the new editor-in-chief of CBS News in October 2024. Weiss, a journalist with no prior television experience, joined as the company acquired her startup, The Free Press, known for its criticism of 'woke' culture. Internal reports describe her first months as chaotic.
Key events under the new regime include:
- An overhaul of the evening news broadcast and the abrupt termination of a top producer.
- A poorly rated town hall hosted with the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
- Significant backlash after indefinitely shelving a 60 Minutes investigation into an El Salvador prison, a decision that prompted a group of former CBS journalists to write to David Ellison.
This followed other major disruptions earlier in the year, including Paramount's $16m settlement with Donald Trump over a 2024 election interview and the subsequent cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Letterman's Broader Defence of Late-Night
During the podcast, Letterman also defended fellow comedians facing network pressure. He praised Jimmy Kimmel, whose show was briefly suspended in September following pressure from ABC affiliates and the FCC, for bringing Disney "to their knees" and calling attention to "the plight."
He commended Seth Meyers as "very good" and lamented the loss of critical voices, specifically noting Stephen Colbert's departure. Letterman argued that the comedy was not politically one-sided, but a response to behaviour. "If we had a president … who was a Democrat and behaved the way this Republican president is behaving, Jimmy would be attacking the Democrat just as much," he said.
CBS has not publicly responded to Letterman's criticisms. His remarks underscore the deep cultural and professional fissures opening within a major American news institution as it navigates a new corporate era.
