October 06, 2025

Does Bari Weiss Prove Woke Media Is Collapsing?

1 hour 12 minutes

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie are joined by Reason reporter Eric Boehm to discuss Paramount's $150 million acquisition of The Free Press and Bari Weiss' promotion to editor in chief at CBS News. They examine whether this represents a backlash to "woke" media, and debate if the success of outlets on Substack and YouTube shows that journalism may be entering a period of entrepreneurship and renewal rather than decline.

The panel then turns to President Donald Trump's controversial National Guard deployments to cities like Portland and Chicago, weighing its constitutional limits and political consequences. They also cover the leaked texts from Virginia's Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones about shooting his Republican rival, and the fallout for Democrats in a critical election year. A listener asks the editors to reflect on whether libertarians should focus more on defending freedom as an end in itself or on steering society toward specific outcomes. Finally, the conversation touches on Argentina's economic crisis and what it means for libertarians.

0:00—Bari Weiss named editor in chief at CBS News

13:32—Consolidation and the changing media landscape

20:58—Federal troops deployed to Chicago and Portland

38:17—Democrat attorney general candidate fantasizes about political violence

48:07—Listener question on prioritizing process over purpose

56:37—What Argentina's bailout means for libertarianism

1:00:35—Weekly cultural recommendations

Mentioned in This Podcast

"The Future of the Free Press," by Bari Weiss

"Letter To All CBS News Employees," by Bari Weiss

"Domination Fantasies: Does Rupert Murdoch control the media? Does Anyone?" by Ben Compaine

"Mergers & Disquisitions: Reasons not to sweat AOL-Time Warner--and other megadeals," by Nick Gillespie

"Trump's Troops Return to a City That Moved On: Dispatch From Portland," by Nancy Rommelman

"Sending in the Guard," by Liz Wolfe

"Oregon Court Strikes Down Trump's Federalization of National Guard," by David Post

"Deploying Federal Troops Is Not a Sustainable Solution to Crime in American Cities," by Katherine Mangu-Ward

"A Judge Blocked the Trump Administration From Deploying National Guard Troops to Oregon," by Shawn Hubler, Anna Griffin, and Eric Schmitt

"Dem AG Nominee Jay Jones Fantasized About Shooting Former Virginia GOP Speaker: 'He Receives Both Bullets,'" by Audrey Fahlberg

"Politically Motivated Violence Is Rare in the United States," by Alex Nowrasteh

"The Agony of Abundance," by Nick Gillespie

"Bail Out Argentina," by David Frum

"Why Is Trump Bailing Out Argentina?" by Paul Krugman

"Why is Argentina the IMF's biggest deadbeat?" by Steve Hanke

Today's Sponsors:

You believe in limited government and support organizations that champion the ideals of a free society. But have you ensured that your charitable giving will leave a lasting legacy of liberty? Without a plan in place, your charitable legacy could fade—or worse, be redirected to causes that don't align with your values. At DonorsTrust, they help you secure your philanthropic vision for the long term. With a donor-advised fund, you can ensure that the groups you care about continue to receive support, even beyond your lifetime. And unlike other donor-advised funds, DonorsTrust respects your libertarian principles and ensures your charitable capital remains committed to advancing individual liberty. Your giving should reflect your values—not just today, but for years to come. Your Vision. Your Values. Your Impact. Go to http://DonorsTrust.org/Reason to ensure your philanthropy continues to champion liberty for generations to come.

BetterHelp connects you with mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise—so you can find the right fit. Your well-being is worth it. October 10th is World Mental Health Day, and this year BetterHelp is saying thank you to the therapists who make a difference every day—professionals who show up, listen, and help millions of people take steps forward in their mental health journeys. Visit http://betterhelp.com/roundtable today to get 10 percent off your first month.