EPISODE · Mar 20, 2026 · 38 MIN
'CBS Evening News' Hits New Lows, White House Attacks Google, MS NOW Shakes Up Lineup
from Power Lines with Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino · host Status
On this week’s Power Lines… CBS News is running into headwinds—and the spotlight is squarely on Bari Weiss. The network’s revamped “Evening News,” helmed by Tony Dokoupil under Weiss' editorial direction, is hitting dangerous ratings lows, slipping below four million viewers. Unfortunately for Weiss, the problems aren’t confined to what’s happening on air. Inside the building, tensions are mounting as staffers at CBS News’ streaming division walked off the job amid a contract dispute. Meanwhile, in Washington, the White House is escalating its fight with Big Tech, this time zeroing in on Google. Officials are amplifying claims that the platform is biased against conservative outlets, citing a deeply flawed report from a right-wing attack dog. Over at MS Now, a major programming shakeup is underway. The network is reshuffling its daytime lineup in an effort to hold onto viewers beyond the morning hours and present a more cohesive lineup of programming. Plus, in the Q&A section of Power Lines—now known as Open Lines—Jon and Oliver answer your questions, from the future of CBS News talent to the broader shift toward independent media. 0:00 Intro 1:12 CBS Evening News Ratings Slide 7:17 Streaming Staff Walkout at CBS 12:35 White House Targets Google Over Media Bias 22:30 MS Now Programming Shakeup 29:39 Open Lines: Responding to Your Questions Thank you to our sponsor, beehiiv, the platform that powers the Status newsletter! If you have a newsletter with over 100k subscribers, schedule your free growth consultation today. Or, use code STATUS30 for 30% off: https://www.beehiiv.com/status Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
On this week’s Power Lines… CBS News is running into headwinds—and the spotlight is squarely on Bari Weiss. The network’s revamped “Evening News,” helmed by Tony Dokoupil under Weiss' editorial direction, is hitting dangerous ratings lows, slipping below four million viewers. Unfortunately for Weiss, the problems aren’t confined to what’s happening on air. Inside the building, tensions are mounting as staffers at CBS News’ streaming division walked off the job amid a contract dispute. Meanwhile, in Washington, the White House is escalating its fight with Big Tech, this time zeroing in on Google. Officials are amplifying claims that the platform is biased against conservative outlets, citing a deeply flawed report from a right-wing attack dog. Over at MS Now, a major programming shakeup is underway. The network is reshuffling its daytime lineup in an effort to hold onto viewers beyond the morning hours and present a more cohesive lineup of programming. Plus, in the Q&A section of Power Lines—now known as Open Lines—Jon and Oliver answer your questions, from the future of CBS News talent to the broader shift toward independent media. 0:00 Intro 1:12 CBS Evening News Ratings Slide 7:17 Streaming Staff Walkout at CBS 12:35 White House Targets Google Over Media Bias 22:30 MS Now Programming Shakeup 29:39 Open Lines: Responding to Your Questions Thank you to our sponsor, beehiiv, the platform that powers the Status newsletter! If you have a newsletter with over 100k subscribers, schedule your free growth consultation today. Or, use code STATUS30 for 30% off: https://www.beehiiv.com/status Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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'CBS Evening News' Hits New Lows, White House Attacks Google, MS NOW Shakes Up Lineup
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