CBS News staffers pretty salty over Gayle Kings defense of Bari Weiss at all-hands meeting

CBS News staffers are said to be “pretty salty” that Gayle King offered up a full-throated defense of her new boss Bari Weiss at Tuesday’s all-hands meeting — with some speculating that the network’s popular morning show co-anchor is trying to “stay relevant” and save her job.One CBS News employee told The Independent that King’s comments were an “utter disappointment,” particularly her focus on leakers and press coverage of the goings-on at the network.Staffers had hoped King would address concerns about employee morale, looming layoffs and the change in the news division’s editorial direction under Weiss, according to the report.“She’s not going to say anything against the person who will determine her job status,” one insider told The Independent, adding that defending Weiss was “her only play.”Last week, The Post reported that CBS News management was looking to possibly reassign King to a new, special correspondent gig that would see her $13 million annual salary slashed in half.Employees also bristled at King echoing Weiss’s “love it or leave it” message, noting that most staff do not have the financial security to simply walk away.“Have a little consideration for CBS staffers, Gayle,” one staffer told The Independent.“You’ve earned at least 200 million dollars since joining CBS News and earn millions more from what Oprah pays you to run Oprah Daily.

Zero percent of us can just walk away and go back to our Manhattan penthouse to do something else.”“It just seemed like what started as a rousing speech then became all about her and the press and telling people to leave if they don’t like things like Weiss muzzling stories like CECOT and her pro-MAGA agenda at Evening News,” the staffer added.“I know Gayle knows being on ‘CBS Mornings’ is what keeps her relevant, but we’re talking about the integrity of our news here.”Other staffers who spoke with The Independent viewed King’s remarks differently,...