Overview
- The third co-host chair has been open since Tony Dokoupil moved to the CBS Evening News earlier this year, and recent reporting names Norah O'Donnell as a leading candidate for the permanent role.
- Insiders say Bari Weiss has elevated O'Donnell at CBS with a 60 Minutes correspondent post and a new podcast, and that Weiss favors O'Donnell for the morning desk.
- Several reports quote a source saying Gayle King is unhappy about O'Donnell's possible return and that King’s approval is treated as central to any final choice.
- Network leaders, including CBS News president Tom Cibrowski and interim EP Jon Tower, have discussed retooling the program toward a more conversational, 'Morning Joe'-style format to try to stop audience losses.
- No hire or format change has been announced and CBS News has declined to confirm plans, while other names floated for the role include Eva Pilgrim, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, and Kelly O'Grady.