‘Face the Nation’ Shakeup: Bari Weiss Reportedly Considered Firing Margaret Brennan

CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss privately considered replacing Face the Nation anchor Margaret Brennan earlier this year, according to a new report from Oliver Darcy’s Status newsletter.

The report also confirmed that two top producers will be exiting the Sunday political program. Mary Hager, the show’s senior executive producer, will be leaving CBS News after 35 years. Meanwhile, Anne Hsu, the show’s executive producer, will be moving to CBS News’ Hong Kong bureau.

While Weiss’ move to replace Brennan never happened, the recent behind-the-scenes shakeup presents a new opportunity for The Free Press co-founder to reshape the show as she sees fit.

A CBS News insider denied the recent departures have anything to do with off-camera drama or Weiss wanting to make changes. The source told the New York Post that Hager had been planning to retire at the end of the year and had discussed this with her colleagues for some time.

Hager, who also served as the network’s executive editor of politics, was described as a “beloved figure whose departure will be felt by colleagues,” per the insider. The source also dismissed any suggestion that Hager’s exit was unexpected or the result of backstage disputes.

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They also noted how Face the Nation is the No. 1 Sunday public affairs program, while refusing to speculate on Brennan’s future with the show or at CBS News as a whole.

Brennan joined CBS News in July 2012 after previously working as a producer and correspondent at CNBC and an anchor at Bloomberg Television. Based in Washington, Brennan covered the Obama and Trump administrations and frequently filled in as a substitute anchor on CBS This Morning and CBS Evening News.

In February 2018, she was named the 10th moderator of Face the Nation, becoming the second woman to host the program after Lesley Stahl, who moderated from 1983 to 1991. Brennan also served as one of the moderators of CBS’ 2024 United States vice presidential debate.