CBS Evening News struggled in its first week under anchor Tony Dokoupil, a development that underscores instability at a broadcast once defined by Cronkite and Rather. The debut included technical glitches, flubbed lines, and an on‑air emotional moment, while CBS fired senior producer Javier Guzman after the January 7 broadcast, according to staff insiders. Executives including Kim Harvey ordered the dismissal, as the program ranks third in ratings amid Paramount’s merger with Skydance, David Ellison’s influence, and Bari Weiss’s arrival as editor in chief. Insiders cited morale issues, contested reasons for Guzman’s exit, concerns about politically slanted editorial decisions, and criticism—from Variety’s assessment to David Letterman invoking Edward R. Murrow—amid questions about execution, AI use, and the "Live From America" tour.
