Overview
- MacFarlane announced Monday that his work will no longer appear on CBS News, calling the departure his decision and saying he looks forward to “some independence.”
- The Washington-based justice correspondent joined in 2021 and became a leading voice on the Jan. 6 prosecutions, also reporting from Butler, Pa., during the 2024 assassination attempt on President Trump.
- His move follows David Ellison’s appointment of Bari Weiss as editor in chief, with other departures reported in recent months, including Anderson Cooper, John Dickerson and producer Alicia Hastey.
- Paramount’s Feb. 27 win to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery has raised the prospect, if regulators approve, that CBS News could be combined with CNN, adding to uncertainty inside the newsroom.
- Newsroom chatter points to possible further cuts, with some sources speculating about a 15% staff reduction following earlier layoffs and buyouts.