Norah O’Donnell’s Set for Major New Role 19 Months After Signing Off at CBS Evening News — 'Fortunes Have Reversed Under Bari Weiss’

Norah O'Donnell is experiencing a significant career resurgence at CBS News following a major corporate and editorial shakeup orchestrated by the network's new leadership.

According to an investigative report by Oliver Darcy at Status, her standing has radically reversed under Bari Weiss, the Editor-in-Chief of CBS News appointed by Skydance Media's David Ellison.

In early 2025, pre-Skydance management removed O'Donnell from her flagship role anchoring the CBS Evening News, effectively sidelining her career at the network.

Since Weiss took editorial control, O'Donnell has actively ingratiated herself with the new leadership, resulting in a swift return to prominence.

“Since David Ellison installed Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief, O’Donnell’s fortunes have radically reversed,” Darcy wrote. “O’Donnell, who I’m told has worked to ingratiate herself with Weiss, was given a more prominent role on 60 Minutes, as Status first reported.”

Executive Producer Nick Bilton officially promoted her to a full-fledged correspondent for 60 Minutes. She was also tapped to host a brand-new health-focused podcast titled “Healthful.”

Beyond her current assignments, media insiders report that network leadership is actively eyeing her for an even larger, unannounced major role within the reconstructed network.

“I’m told that O’Donnell is being strongly considered for a return to the CBS News morning show. O’Donnell has recently been filling in on CBS Mornings and was featured in a recent promo for the show, which garnered attention internally,” Darcy wrote.

And while there are others in consideration for the prime role — GMA3 host Eva Pilgrim, former Fox & Friends and The View host Elisabeth Hasselbeck, and CBS News anchor and correspondent Kelly O’Grady — Darcy says O’Donnell looks to be emerging the victor.

“O’Donnell is likely the most logical choice of the bunch. She is a reliable hand with strong range and significant anchoring experience. And, importantly, Weiss is said to very much like O’Donnell. Indeed, just the fact that she is under consideration for the slot is a nod to her resurgence at the network under Weiss,” he wrote.

The decision is expected soon, as the role has been vacant since Tony Dokoupil left in December to become the new anchor of the CBS Evening News.

“But with the show’s ratings collapsing to all-time lows since Dokoupil’s departure, CBS News executives will likely want to make a decision sooner rather than later,” Darcy said.

This management shift has brought intense scrutiny to CBS News.

While O'Donnell's career has benefited, the aggressive restructuring has faced heavy internal pushback, notably leading to high-profile friction and departures among legacy staffers, including veteran correspondents like Scott Pelley and longtime producers.

“Weiss has badly damaged CBS News’ reputation with the public,” Darcy said. “Of course, naming a new permanent third host probably won’t be enough to solve the program’s core problems. But after more than eight months without a permanent person in the slot, it also can’t hurt.”