Charlie Kirk's wife to appear with CBS News chief Bari Weiss for televised town hall

CBS News will feature its newly appointed editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, in a prime-time town hall event with Erika Kirk, widow of the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The conversation is set to air on December 13 and will take place in New York. It will explore topics including grief, faith, politics, and other personal and societal issues.

This will be Weisss first significant on-air appearance since taking over leadership of CBS News this fall, following the merger of her media platform, The Free Press, with Paramount Skydance. Her appointment has drawn attention as she is among the few openly queer leaders of a major U.S. broadcast newsroom. Weisss critics highlight her opposition to certain progressive policies and argue that her commentary has sometimes marginalized trans and nonbinary communities.

Weiss first gained national attention in 2020 after leaving The New York Times with a public resignation letter citing ideological conformity. She later founded The Free Press, aiming to provide what she described as heterodox journalism, combining centrist perspectives, cultural critique, and content for audiences skeptical of mainstream progressive media. Her supporters praise her as an independent voice, while critics see her as a polarizing figure in cultural debates.

Centering Erika Kirk in this televised event underscores the cultural and political tensions surrounding Weisss leadership. Erika Kirk has become a public figure since her husbands passing and now serves as CEO of Turning Point USA, the organization Charlie Kirk helped establish as a key player in conservative activism.

Author: Maya Henderson