‘CBS Mornings’ Boss Reportedly Eyeing Trump Supporter Sage Steele for Anchor Role
What To Know
- CBS News is reportedly considering former ESPN anchor Sage Steele as a potential new co-host for CBS Mornings, amid a search led by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.
- Steele, who left ESPN after a lawsuit settlement, is a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump.
CBS Mornings could be getting a makeover as reports suggest CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss has been eyeing former ESPN anchor Sage Steele for an anchor position on the morning news program.
According to Oliver Darcy’s Status newsletter, Weiss and network President Tom Cibrowski are on the search for a new co-host for CBS Mornings. This comes after former co-host Tony Dokoupil was promoted to CBS Evening News in January.
Status reports that Weiss has floated names such as Fox News personality Kat Timpf and The New York Times’ The Daily host Michael Barbaro, but has also “expressed significant interest” in Steele.
Steele, who began her career as a sports reporter in Indiana, worked for 15 years at ESPN, serving as host of SportsCenter, before departing the network in 2023 following a settlement in a lawsuit against its parent company, Disney.
In the lawsuit, per The Daily Beast, Steele claimed the network violated her First Amendment rights after she criticized the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on a 2021 podcast and questioned why Barack Obama identified as Black even though he had a white mother, as does she.
“Having successfully settled my case with ESPN/Disney, I have decided to leave so I can exercise my First Amendment rights more freely,” Steele wrote in a statement at the time.
Since leaving ESPN, Steele has become a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, even serving as the president’s surrogate during the 2024 presidential election. She also hosts her own weekly podcast, The Sage Steele Show, where she talks to entertainers, athletes, and politicians.
CBS Mornings is currently co-hosted by Gayle King and Nate Burleson, but there has been uncertainty regarding King’s future on the show. In January, Variety reported that Weiss has been zeroing in on King’s salary — said to be around $15 million annually — which she argued was no longer sustainable in the current media market.
In a separate report from The Independent, sources claimed King defended Weiss in front of CBS News staffers during an all-hands meeting in January.
“If you don’t want to be here, if this is not the place, it’s okay,” King reportedly said at the end of the meeting, echoing Weiss’ sentiment that anyone who doesn’t think she’s the “right leader” was free to leave. “But for the rest of us who would like to be here, who’d like to do a good job and figure things out along the way, this is a very bumpy time for all of us.”
Status notes that it’s unclear whether Steele ever had serious discussions with CBS News about coming on board.
Neither Steele nor CBS News has commented on the latest reports.
CBS Mornings, Weekdays, 7a/6c, CBS
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B
If Sage is the anchor, I am definitely not looking at the show...
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G
So it will Turn out to be another Trump flunky show. Disgusting!!
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L
This woman is trash and a liar so it fits that she is a Trump supporter and a reporter.
Her attempts to discredit Blake Lively are clearly laid out in the text messages between her and the company hired to smear Blake.
Save your breath defending her because all of her text messages are a matter of public record part of the court record in Blake’s lawsuit against Justin.
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B
I think CBS has confirmed they are no longer a serious real news station. As they slowly help with the destruction of democracy. I’ve noticed how they are quickly moving through the news not wanting to report all the facts, putting up the Trump smoke screen. To afraid of loosing their billions to care for anyone else but themselves and absolutely having no self pride as they kiss the ass of a wanna be dictator. All your bending over does not grant you favor. Remember CBS “First they came…” And there will be no to speak out for you.
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B
My household will definitely not be watching CBS any longer if this woman ends up in air!
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M
So when they refuse to continue to be a one sided news agency, parroting the left agenda, they are no longer a serious news station. Typical liberal nonsense. You aren't open to the truth. Just another case of TDS, so move on to one of the other liberal, rubber stamp agenda, news stations. They can stroke your TDS and keep you running on that hamster wheel.
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