dq. FOX NEWS’ DANA PERINO TARGETED BY BARI WEISS FOR ‘CBS EVENING NEWS’ ANCHOR POSITION

It began as just another day in the fast-paced world of cable news. Dana Perino, the polished, calm voice at the Fox News desk, was preparing for another broadcast of America’s Newsroom when her phone buzzed with an unexpected message. It wasn’t from a producer or political source — it was from Bari Weiss, the newly appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News. And what that message said would soon set off a storm of speculation across the media world.

According to multiple reports, Weiss — the founder of The Free Press and one of the most outspoken figures in modern journalism — has been working behind the scenes to reinvent CBS Evening News. Once the gold standard of television journalism under Walter Cronkite, the program has fallen to a distant third in the ratings race. Weiss’s mission is simple: bring it back to prominence, and in her words, “make CBS the most trusted seat in American news again.”

To do that, she’s been seeking a bold, outside hire — someone who can bridge credibility, charisma, and cultural relevance. And the name that stunned many in the industry? Dana Perino.

The veteran Fox News anchor and former White House press secretary has long been known for her steady professionalism, measured tone, and unfailing grace under pressure. For years, she’s co-anchored America’s Newsroom and appeared as a key voice on The Five, one of the most-watched cable programs in the U.S. But the idea of Perino leaving Fox — the network she’s called home since 2009 — for CBS, a traditional rival, seemed almost unthinkable.

Still, Bari Weiss saw something in her. Sources close to the network revealed that Weiss admires Perino’s poise and her ability to connect across divides, calling her “a model of class in an industry addicted to outrage.” And during a spring episode of Weiss’s podcast, Honestly, the admiration was mutual. Perino had praised Weiss’s The Free Press as “one of the best things keeping me more informed and smarter — and super entertained.” Weiss, in turn, described Perino as “a woman who embodies elegance and decency, both on and off the air.”

So when that message from Weiss arrived, Perino later admitted, she froze for a moment. The words were brief, but powerful enough to leave her speechless.

“She wrote, ‘If I ever get the chance to rebuild CBS Evening News, you’re the kind of anchor America deserves,’” Perino recalled, her voice catching slightly as she retold the story during a recent industry panel. For a moment, she looked down, trying to hide the emotion that flickered across her face. The crowd laughed softly, sensing both pride and disbelief in her tone. “I didn’t know what to say,” she continued. “I mean, you don’t expect something like that out of the blue. It was flattering — and a little surreal.”

The exchange quickly made its way into industry gossip. Within days, The Guardian reported that Weiss had indeed floated Dana Perino’s name internally as a top choice to lead the CBS Evening News reboot. Alongside Perino, Weiss was also reportedly considering Fox’s chief political anchor Bret Baier, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, and even former Fox stalwart Shepard Smith. But Perino’s name stood out — not only because of her star power, but because she represents something Weiss seems eager to restore at CBS: credibility without partisanship.

Still, there’s one major obstacle. Perino’s contract with Fox News runs deep into the 2030s, making any network jump nearly impossible without a buyout — something that would cost CBS tens of millions of dollars and the approval of Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch themselves. “It’s a fantasy hire,” one insider scoffed. “She’s under contract for years. CBS couldn’t touch her without a legal war.”

Even so, the rumor has sparked a firestorm of conversation. At CBS headquarters in New York, some insiders reportedly reacted with disbelief — one senior staffer even responded to The Independent’s inquiry with a single face-palm emoji. Others called the move “amateur hour,” criticizing Weiss’s lack of broadcast experience and calling her plans “deeply unrealistic.” But outside the walls of corporate newsrooms, the idea of Dana Perino anchoring CBS Evening News struck a chord with viewers who have long admired her professionalism.

Bari Weiss, meanwhile, remains undeterred. In her short tenure, she has already made bold moves, replacing senior producers, restructuring the Washington bureau, and teasing a complete visual and editorial overhaul of the nightly broadcast. With longtime anchor John Dickerson departing at year’s end and co-host Maurice DuBois expected to follow, Weiss reportedly wants to restore the program to a single-anchor format — one with a commanding presence and broad appeal.

Perino, though loyal to Fox, has not entirely dismissed the idea. Friends close to her say that while she’s “deeply content” where she is, she was genuinely moved by Weiss’s message. “Dana’s not someone who chases jobs,” one colleague said. “But she was touched — it reminded her that in a business that’s become increasingly loud and combative, there’s still room for respect and class.”

When asked whether she’d ever consider leaving Fox, Perino only smiled. “I love what I do,” she said carefully. “And I love where I am. But it’s always humbling when someone sees something in you that you didn’t even see in yourself.”

The crowd applauded quietly — a mix of admiration and curiosity hanging in the air. It was one of those moments that seemed to say more than any headline could.

Whether Dana Perino ever takes that iconic CBS chair remains uncertain. Her contract, her loyalty, and the realities of network politics make it a long shot. But for now, her name — whispered in boardrooms and broadcast circles alike — represents something rare in today’s media landscape: a symbol of integrity that transcends partisan lines.

And perhaps that’s why Bari Weiss reached out in the first place — not just to recruit an anchor, but to remind the industry what grace under pressure really looks like. When Dana read that message aloud, her eyes glistened for just a second. Then she laughed softly and said, “Some offers aren’t about money or fame. Some are just about being seen.”

And in that quiet moment, everyone in the room understood exactly what she meant.