CBS News retracts line after false smear under Bari Weiss-era leadership

journalismJul 28, 2026832,099

CBS News New York removed a line that said “thousands of 9/11 victims’ families” were asking New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani to be barred from the 25th remembrance after Popular Information founder Judd Legum flagged the claim as a “brazen lie.” The story centered on a petition started by Giovanni Galante, whose husband died in the 9/11 attacks, that had more than 24,000 signatures as of Tuesday morning. The New York Post ran a headline saying “thousands” of 9/11 families demanded Mamdani be banned, but its own reporting cited an organizer estimate of “at least 300 victims’ families.” Legum interviewed Galante, who admitted there was no list showing how many signatories were 9/11 victims’ families and said the 300 figure was an informal estimate based on how organizers believed the petition spread. After Legum sought comment, CBS News New York amended its article to say the petition had “purportedly drawn thousands of signatures, including some victims' families” and a Facebook post showed the original caption using “thousands of 9/11 victims’ families” before it was edited the same night. The change replaced the explicit claim that thousands of victims’ families demanded Mamdani be banned with a more qualified formulation.

Jared Holt

@jaredlholt.bsky.social

You could legit build a profitable media empire just by doing the opposite of Bari Weiss is doing at CBS News. She has an uncanny ability for identifying content that nobody wants

25645d ago

Beverly Mann5

Yes. I think she's doing what she's paid to do. The Ellisons don't need CBS to be profitable in the traditional sense. They just need to buy up news organizations that do the opposite of what is doing at CBS. Like the former CBS.

Matthew Boedy4

When was the last time 60 Minutes had someone on staff called a “public intellectual?” (Not a dig at their staff, but a dig at the role we think PIs play even in digital age)

Ed2

Everything Bari touches is destroyed.

Theseus, His Sails Unfurled2

You have to wonder after a certain point how much money she personally makes on the side through some hidden channel for making CBS lose their shit

Quoting this

alexis simpson73

it's an age old logic puzzle. there are two paths. one leads to riches, the other to certain death. one is guarded by someone who always tells the truth. the other is guarded by bari weiss

Beverly Mann7

Beverly Mann5

Yes. She's doing what she's paid to do. The Ellisons don't need CBS to be profitable in the traditional sense. They just need to buy up news organizations that do the opposite of what she's doing at CBS. Like the former CBS.

Hunter Walker

@hunterw.bsky.social

The Douthat to 60 Minutes news is so darkly hilarious because Bari Weiss' whole origin story thing was that the Times was hopelessly woke and suppressing her. Meanwhile, when she got the chance to make an outlet in her own ideological image, she went straight to the Times opinion page.

24445d ago

Strong Jersey איתן2

I wonder whether Douthat the last somewhat well known "serious voice" in media who is willing to work for her.

Quoting this

🔫Scott Martin🛼11

These people are hollow. The only core belief they have is their own superiority.

Sharon 🪳🌹

@sharonk.bsky.social

seems bad that all my media friends face headwinds and everyone associated with bari weiss gets a sinecure

14445d ago

Open Measures

@openmeasures.io

Once again here to remind you that not even MAGA audiences like what Bari Weiss is doing to CBS News openmeasures.io/cbs-news-bar...

9345d ago

Barry Parr3

Was she hired to attract conservatives or to wreck the news division?

Lord McPee1

She was hired to destroy it imo. And she has succeeded.

JJDiablo1

You don't hire an elite Jewish lesbian whose original claim to fame was running smear campaigns against Ivy League professors if you're trying to appeal to MAGA. This is not about ratings. It's about controlling every information space, à la Putin's Russia or Orbán's Hungary.

Oliver Darcy

@oliverdarcy.bsky.social

New: Bari Weiss’ revamped “CBS Evening News” posted its worst ratings month since Tony Dokoupil took over as anchor, per Nielsen data for the month of July obtained by @status.news. “CBS Mornings” posted its worst ratings month on record. www.status.news/p/60-minutes...

8245d ago

Sausalito Hippe4

I blocked CBS on my Dish TV. I don’t even see it. It doesn’t come across unless I call in to have it unblocked - I’ll never even skim past it lol #FuckCBS

Alben Barkley1

That was always the goal for Ellisons. One less news organization to actually cover the chaos, cruelty and corruption.

Quoting this

David Brauer16

“Let’s all look at Ross Douthat” is their ratings plan?

Glenna Prowant 🚫👑 🌮

@brewitchin.bsky.social

Bari Weiss’ CBS News retracts ‘brazen lie’ after false smear of progressive Dem: report www.rawstory.com/zohran-mamda...

5445d ago

Quoting this

gwen pepperoni 🏳️‍⚧️🤘🏼🍕8

very normal math here. "I know ten people so they know 10 people and so yeah thats how we got to 300"

Dollyanna2

CBS PAID REPORTERS TO LIE. CBS ASKED ITS EMPLOYEES TO FAKE STORIES. CBS IS OWNED BY AN OLIGARCH. We must outlaw oligarchy! #FairnessDoctrinePlease #FairnessMatters

LAISSEZ LES BON QUESO ROULER

@thequeso.bsky.social

I’m trying to be mean, but Ross Douthat is ugly. He’s got an ugly soul too, but he’s not an aesthetically pleasing man. His face is meant for newsprint. Does Bari Weiss think that because she’s a blog 7 who can function on bad tv panels Ross can break the laws of television?

9245d ago

LAISSEZ LES BON QUESO ROULER10

Again, trying to be mean, but let’s be honest.

earthtonic & lockboxed1

dennis ross on abc 20/20 & josh mankiewicz on dateline nbc are chonky, but they aren't unpleasant.

Wiener Water Soup1

In the words of Rich Evans, "We prefer the term 'alternatively handsome.'"

Quoting this

ex-Lethality Jane86

Okay but while we're being mean can I be extremely petty for five seconds and say that some of you who are trying to podcast do not have voices that are suited to that medium.

Elizabeth6

I am going to be mean and Ross Douthat is a legit ugly man.

Ash, apparently

@arreffbee.bsky.social

So Bari Weiss is turning 60 Minutes into the media's sin eater. Just going to hoover up the worst people and put them into one dumpster we can all safely ignore?

8245d ago

Disaster Addict 🥦1

Wow that's so embarassing for the NYT that he still worked there

Megan E. Zombi * free Link

@zombiscribe.bsky.social

"Not even MAGA likes what Bari Weiss is doing at CBS" Yeah she's not doing it for *them* it's for Trump and like 10 other people (donors)

6945d ago

Megan E. Zombi * free Link3

And btw this might be the first time a whole station has become that but this is a dynamic in our media. If it's been a while see how many ads happen during the news cycle where you aren't quite sure what's being advertised. People in the right tax bracket know

Elijah Woodn't1

Fascist cheerleading isn't meant to ne functional news or entertainment, it just displaces it. Look there's stuff on tv we have a real society

Steve🖖 🇺🇸💚🇨🇦🇺🇦🇬🇧🇲🇽💙❌👑🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️1

It was never about *them*. It was about USING them. Useful idiots.

Jeff Whaley 1

As long as Bill Maher likes it, she will think she's right.

Atomic Bum1

Bingo. It's a VERY small audience and she's absolutely killing it with them.

Beckxit1

She’s a Zionist. Maybe she works for Bibi.

Brown Eyed Susan

@browneyedsusan.bsky.social

www.rawstory.com/zohran-mamda... Still watching Newsmax Lite? Turn the channel. Don't retweet. Don't quote tweet. Why would you ever follow them? Also, what a lovely picture of Ms. Weiss. 🤭 (I wasn't going to pass up that pot shot)

5145d ago

Dave Czaja1

Same old bullshit. Lie, smear, slander in the spotlight then retract in darkness. I remember when acting now, begging forgiveness later was a good thing in fighting the establishment. But these fucking assholes have ruined it like they've ruined everything else.

Scott Horton

@robertscotthorton.bsky.social

Ross Douthat and Bari Weiss: a match made in heaven. A perfect pairing. bsky.app/profile/oliv...

4445d ago

Jack Mirkinson

@jackmirkinson.bsky.social

bari weiss looked all over the place and found.....a conservative weirdo she used to work with. the funniest possible outcome, well done

5645d ago

John Brooks

@johnbrooks.bsky.social

Bari Weiss *chewing on cigar* "Kid, you got a face for TELEVISION!"

4545d ago

John Brooks6

Bari Weiss *hearing the sound of oatmeal dripping into a sink" "I'm listening to a STAR!"

John Brooks4

Like a discarded first draft of Orson Welles

Guy2

I have a friend who says, "I like to sing, and I like to drink. Most people like to hear me drink."

Eclipse 🏳️‍🌈 🐦‍⬛1

The Master gained a little weight.

hokusai 🌊🌊🌊

@thebluenami.bsky.social

BARI WEISS forced to retract a BRAZEN LIE from CBS NEWS after trying to smear MAYOR MAMDANI it's quite something when blatant racism is trying to keep MAMDANI away from this year's 9/11 celebrations - when he had NOTHING even remotely to do with it F*&K WEISS F*&K CBS #blues shorturl.at/ZORbq

2745d ago