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Paramount has announced the appointment of Bari Weiss, a former New York Times opinion writer, as the new head of CBS News. This move is part of a broader strategy by Paramount’s new owners to revitalize one of America’s most prominent news organizations. In addition to this leadership change, Paramount is acquiring The Free Press, a digital media outlet founded by Weiss after her contentious exit from the New York Times. The acquisition is reportedly valued at $150 million (£112 million). Weiss, known for her critiques of partisan broadcast media, expressed enthusiasm about shaping CBS News under the leadership of David Ellison, who took over the network earlier this year as part of a merger with Paramount. Ellison, the son of tech billionaire and Trump ally Larry Ellison, has faced scrutiny from the left for his political connections. Weiss, who began her career in Jewish news outlets, is recognized for her support of Israel and her opposition to ‘cancel culture.’ Since its inception in 2021, The Free Press has amassed 1.5 million subscribers, including over 170,000 paid users, and has gained attention for its critical reporting on mainstream media. Ellison emphasized that Weiss’s appointment aligns with his vision to modernize Paramount’s content and establish CBS as the ‘most-trusted name in news.’ He aims to produce balanced, fact-based coverage that appeals to a broad audience. The deal’s financial terms remain undisclosed, though reports suggest Paramount paid $150 million in stock and cash. Ellison, a renowned Hollywood producer, has pledged to reduce political bias in CBS’s programming, including unedited interviews on ‘Face the Nation.’ CBS News maintains a partnership with the BBC, ensuring editorial independence while sharing content. In her announcement, Weiss praised Ellison’s commitment to journalism and his vision for a unified media landscape.

The United States finds itself in the throes of yet another government shutdown, a recurring feature of its political landscape. However, the 2025 shutdown stands out as particularly intractable, fueled by deep-seated animosity between Republicans and Democrats and a lack of willingness to compromise. With approximately 750,000 federal employees facing unpaid leave and essential services temporarily suspended, the impasse highlights the escalating political tensions in Washington. Unlike previous shutdowns, where late-night negotiations often paved the way for resolution, this episode is marked by a stark absence of collaboration and a surge in partisan rancor. The Democratic leadership, under pressure from its base, is leveraging the shutdown to challenge the Trump administration’s aggressive agenda, particularly its healthcare cuts and executive overreach. Meanwhile, President Trump and his allies view the shutdown as an opportunity to advance their long-standing goal of reducing the federal workforce. The White House has warned of mass layoffs to maintain critical services, a move described as ‘fiscal sanity’ by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The economic ramifications are significant, with analysts predicting a 0.2 percentage point reduction in GDP growth for each week the shutdown persists. While the stock market remains largely unaffected, the broader impact on government operations, business activities, and public trust in political institutions could have lasting consequences. As both parties dig in, the path to resolution remains uncertain, leaving the nation in a state of prolonged uncertainty.

In a controversial move, President Donald Trump has redirected federalized troops from California to Portland, Oregon, following a court ruling that blocked his initial attempt to deploy the National Guard in the city. This deployment circumvents the judicial order by utilizing National Guard members who were already stationed in Los Angeles after summer protests. California Governor Gavin Newsom has condemned the action, labeling it a ‘breathtaking abuse of the law and power’ and vowing to file a lawsuit. Portland, a Democrat-led city, has become the latest target in Trump’s broader crime crackdown initiative, with the president arguing that troops are essential to restore peace amidst ongoing protests over immigration enforcement. The Pentagon confirmed that 200 members of the California National Guard were reassigned to Portland to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal personnel. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defended the deployment, stating that President Trump exercised his lawful authority to protect federal assets and personnel following violent riots and attacks on law enforcement. She criticized Governor Newsom, urging him to ‘stand on the side of law-abiding citizens instead of violent criminals destroying Portland and cities across the country.’ The Trump administration’s decision to redeploy troops from Los Angeles to Portland has sparked significant backlash. Governor Newsom accused the president of using the military as a political weapon against American citizens and ignoring judicial orders. ‘This isn’t about public safety, it’s about power,’ Newsom said. ‘We will take this fight to court, but the public cannot stay silent in the face of such reckless and authoritarian conduct by the President of the United States.’ Protests in Portland and other cities have been fueled by the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement efforts. Portland, in particular, has drawn Trump’s ire due to its alleged concentration of individuals associated with Antifa, a loosely organized far-left activist movement recently designated as a domestic terrorist organization by the president. The Portland deployment follows Trump’s authorization of 300 National Guard troops to Chicago, another city experiencing protests over immigration enforcement. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticized the move, accusing the administration of attempting to ‘manufacture a crisis’ and create a ‘war zone’ to justify the deployment. ‘They want mayhem on the ground. They want to create the war zone so that they can send in even more troops,’ Pritzker told CNN. ‘They’re using every lever at their disposal to keep us from maintaining order.’

As the partial shutdown of the U.S. government enters its fifth day, Democratic and Republican leaders remain deeply divided, with healthcare emerging as the central issue. In separate interviews on NBC’s *Meet the Press*, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Republican Leader Mike Johnson each blamed the opposing party for the impasse. Democrats are pushing to preserve health insurance subsidies for low-income individuals and reverse Medicaid cuts, while Republicans argue that such measures are unnecessary and fiscally irresponsible. A funding bill has passed the House but repeatedly stalled in the Senate, where Republicans hold a narrow 53-seat majority but require 60 votes to pass any measure. Jeffries accused Republicans of misrepresenting Democratic intentions to gain political leverage, while Johnson claimed Democrats are negotiating in bad faith. The Senate is set to reconvene Monday to consider continuing resolutions, but the House, now in recess, will not be in session to address any potential Senate-approved changes. Polling data from CBS, in partnership with the BBC, reveals widespread public dissatisfaction with both parties’ handling of the shutdown, with 80% of respondents expressing concern over its economic impact. Meanwhile, the shutdown’s consequences are becoming increasingly tangible, with the National Gallery of Art closing due to funding shortages. President Donald Trump has threatened mass layoffs and cuts to federal agencies, framing the shutdown as an opportunity to eliminate waste. Johnson described the situation as regrettable but urged Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to act decisively to reopen the government.