Another CBS Star Walks Away as Bari Weiss Overhaul Sends Shockwaves Through Network

Another high-profile journalist is heading for the exit at CBS News — and the timing is raising eyebrows across the media world.

Justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane announced Monday that he is leaving the network after four years covering Washington and some of the country’s most politically charged moments. His departure comes as CBS undergoes a dramatic transformation under newly installed editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, whose leadership has sparked a wave of speculation, departures, and internal tension.

MacFarlane made it clear the decision was his own, but his farewell message hinted that the changing environment inside the storied network may have played a role.

“To my incredible colleagues at CBS, I want you to know my work will soon no longer appear on CBS News,” MacFarlane wrote in a statement shared online. “This is my decision, and I appreciate the bosses at CBS for understanding it.”

He praised the journalists he worked alongside during his tenure.

“I will always value the opportunity to work with the talented and committed professionals here,” he continued. “I’m proud to have had the words ‘CBS correspondent’ next to my name.”

But the veteran reporter also signaled that he is eager to move on — and possibly operate outside the traditional network structure.

“For the next phase of my career, I look forward to some independence and finding new spaces to share my work in line with my personal goals,” he added. “The work will not stop.”

MacFarlane joined CBS News in 2021 after nearly a decade at NBC Washington, where he built a reputation as a relentless investigative reporter. At CBS, he quickly became one of the network’s most visible journalists covering federal courts and national security.

His reporting frequently placed him at the center of major national stories. MacFarlane spent months covering the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riot, attending hearings and reporting on prosecutions tied to the attack. He was also on the ground during the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, during the heated 2024 election cycle.

His exit is the latest sign of upheaval inside CBS News as leadership attempts to reshape the network’s identity.

Last fall, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison tapped journalist and Free Press founder Bari Weiss to take over as editor-in-chief in a move widely seen as an effort to reset the network’s editorial direction and rebuild audience trust.

Since then, multiple newsroom veterans have departed as the organization undergoes what insiders describe as a sweeping cultural shift. Some employees say the pace of change has left staff uncertain about the future.

“Any time you have this many leadership changes, it creates anxiety,” longtime correspondent Norah O’Donnell said during a recent podcast interview. “It’s been challenging, not just for me but for a lot of colleagues. People naturally start wondering what the next chapter will look like.”

Despite the turbulence, some familiar faces are choosing to stay. CBS Mornings anchor Gayle King recently signed a new contract that will keep her at the network for the foreseeable future.

Addressing rumors about her status, King joked in a statement: “Reports of my demise were inaccurate and greatly exaggerated.”

“CBS News has been my home for a long time,” she added. “I’m excited to continue the work we’re doing at CBS Mornings and see where the next chapter takes us.”

Meanwhile, Weiss appears to be thinking big about the network’s future. According to media insiders, she has expressed interest in recruiting influential voices from outside traditional television — including podcast powerhouse Joe Rogan.

“Bari respects disruptors,” one media insider said. “Joe built a global platform without legacy media. That matters to her.”

Whether Rogan would ever consider joining a major network is another question entirely. The comedian and commentator has built a media empire around his independent podcast studio in Austin, Texas, where his show routinely attracts millions of listeners.

“He makes more from podcasting than CBS could realistically offer,” one insider said. “If something like that ever happened, it wouldn’t be about money — it would be about influence.”

For now, CBS remains in the middle of one of the most dramatic transitions in its modern history.

And with another respected journalist walking away, the question inside the newsroom is becoming louder: who might be next?