Will Tony Dokoupil replace Maurice DuBois as the 'CBS Evening News' anchor?

CBS News faced a wave of urgency on Thursday, December 4, after Maurice DuBois announced he would be leaving CBS Evening News on December 18. Sources told the New York Post that network executives quickly moved to negotiate a new deal with CBS Mornings co-host Tony Dokoupil to potentially succeed DuBois as the evening programs anchor.

The announcement came after reports suggested DuBois had taken an unexpected step by sharing his departure on Instagram. CBS President Tom Cibrowski later clarified that the exit was coordinated, saying he had worked closely with DuBois for two weeks and praised him as a complete professional in planning the announcement.

In his farewell message, DuBois reflected on his career: It has been the honor of a lifetime. Twenty-one years, including my time at WCBS-TV in New York City. Being welcomed into viewers homes every night, reporting the news, meeting incredible people, and telling their stories has been a true privilege. I leave with gratitude, treasured relationships, and unforgettable memories.

DuBois had joined CBS Evening News as co-anchor with John Dickerson in January 2025, taking over from Norah ODonnell. Dickerson had previously announced his departure in October, with his final broadcast scheduled for December. The exits of both DuBois and Dickerson reflect broader changes at CBS News following Paramounts merger with Skydance earlier this year.

Since the merger, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison appointed Bari Weiss, co-founder of The Free Press, as CBS News new editor-in-chief. Weiss has reportedly been exploring options for a new evening anchor, with Dokoupil emerging as a leading candidate. She is also said to have reached out to other prominent journalists outside CBS, including Fox News Bret Baier, CNNs Anderson Cooper, and ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman.

The New York Post reported that DuBois departure accelerated the search for his successor. Negotiations over Dokoupils contract were actively underway on Thursday with his agent, Jay Sures of UTA. CBS News has not yet officially named a replacement for the CBS Evening News anchor role.

CBS Evening News airs weeknights at 6:30 PM ET on CBS.

Author: Benjamin Carter