CBS in the news as it shifts staff, absorbs leadership tensions, and eyes streaming layout changes. Broadcasting giant; longtime CBS News flagship.
The NCAA tournament's viewership increased by 7% compared to last year, with record-breaking numbers for the first week. All rounds saw higher audiences, including the most-watched second round since 1993 and the most-watched first-round primetime games in history, driven by expanded coverage on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV.
The NCAA Tournament has attracted its highest TV audience since 1993, with an average of 10.3 million viewers across four networks, up 9% from last year. The Elite Eight game between UConn and Duke peaked at nearly 19 million viewers. Despite fewer upsets, interest remains high.
CBS News has been undergoing significant changes as new leadership attempts to shift the network's editorial and operational strategies. Bari Weiss and Tom Cibrowski are reportedly working with differing visions, leading to internal frustrations and ratings challenges. Meanwhile, other media outlets are adjusting their staffing and programming to adapt to industry shifts.
President Donald Trump has said he will suspend the 18.4¢ federal gasoline tax "till it's appropriate" to ease rising pump prices; he has endorsed legislation Sen. Josh Hawley is introducing but cannot act unilaterally. Suspension would cut roughly 4% from retail prices and would reduce funds for the Highway Trust Fund.
The governing coalition has passed a preliminary Knesset vote to dissolve parliament and has sent the bill to committee; if the law clears final readings it will force elections at least 90 days later. Ultra‑Orthodox parties are pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over a draft‑exemption for yeshiva students while the coalition is rushing controversial judicial and media reforms through committees.
Stephen Colbert has hosted his final Late Show as CBS confirms the program’s cancellation, with the finale featuring Paul McCartney and a climactic performance of Hello, Goodbye. Coverage notes the financial rationale behind CBS’s decision and situates the moment within broader shifts in network television.
Stephen Colbert’s final Late Show has sparked off-script appearances and a Michigan-set homage as he resurfaces on a community access show, with Jack White and Jeff Daniels joining in. The moment marks a swift post-show spread of tributes and playful stunts, as Colbert’s era concludes.
The war talks have stalled recently as Russia's strikes on Ukraine escalate. Ukrainian officials have indicated a push for a diplomatic path before winter, while Western mediation efforts face competing priorities. Kyiv reports heavy rocket, drone activity with multiple cities hit and civilians killed or injured.
Russia has been applying economic and diplomatic pressure on Armenia ahead of its 7 June 2026 parliamentary election, banning or restricting imports, recalling its ambassador and warning Armenia against pursuing EU membership. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is framing the vote as a choice between peace with Azerbaijan and a return to war while deepening ties with the EU and US.
The FBI has fired several analysts linked to the 2023 Richmond memo amid a broader personnel purge under Director Kash Patel, amid congressional criticism and ongoing debates over the bureau's actions during the Biden era.
Fired 60 Minutes anchor Scott Pelley has accused CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss of steering coverage to favor the administration, claiming changes were demanded to depict protesters as more violent and to describe a shooting victim’s car in a particular light. The public statements come amid a broader leadership shake-up at 60 Minutes.
The White House hosts UFC Freedom 250 on Trump’s 80th birthday, with a 600-ton arena called The Claw and seven fights staged on the South Lawn. Legal challenges have been resolved to allow the event, though critics call it a private, commercial use of federal land. Fights are streamed on Paramount+ and feature prominent fighters, while sponsors line up for the occasion.