Norah O’Donnell’s Return to CBS Mornings

CBS News anchor Norah O’Donnell is returning to “CBS Mornings” as the network announced her involvement in the marquee morning program. O’Donnell, who previously co-hosted “CBS This Morning” from 2012 to 2019, will join Gayle King and Nate Burleson. She fills the position left by Tony Dokoupil, who has moved to “CBS Evening News.” Her official debut will occur after Labor Day.

Jon Tower, the show’s producer, described O’Donnell’s return as a homecoming. He noted the strong partnership she had with Gayle King during her previous tenure on the morning show. O’Donnell and King shared a friendship and chemistry beyond the studio, making their team memorable for morning news viewers.

Despite the announcement, some CBS viewers expressed dissatisfaction with the network due to the appointment of Bari Weiss as CBS News’ editor-in-chief. Paramount CEO David Ellison made this appointment, sparking debate among some of CBS’s liberal audience. Comments from users on Instagram showed the mixed reactions towards O’Donnell’s return.

“I feel Norah is too good to stay with CBS,” one user commented, to which O’Donnell replied, “This is so silly. Just watch our show!”

Some users were adamant about not watching CBS anymore, citing Weiss’s influence. O’Donnell encouraged viewers to give the morning show a try, despite their apprehensions.

In addition to her morning show responsibilities, O’Donnell will also become a correspondent for “60 Minutes.” This aligns with a significant overhaul at the long-running news magazine program, as new correspondents and contributors come aboard. This includes Ross Douthat, following the departure of Sharyn Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega, and others.

The changes at CBS are part of a larger plan by Paramount owner David Ellison. There are ongoing discussions about a merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, valued at $111 billion. Should this proceed, Ellison would oversee both CBS News and CNN.

Staff at CNN express concerns about how Weiss’s potential oversight could affect editorial independence. The merger is currently delayed due to an antitrust lawsuit, and a trial is scheduled for March 2027. It remains uncertain if a settlement will precede this.