‘CBS Evening News’ Tony Dokoupil In ‘Panic,’ Says Source
Viewers have recently watched Tony Dokoupil transition from CBS Mornings to CBS Evening News earlier this year. Since then, however, the move has not been without criticism. Recently, inside sources have shared that things might also be getting tense behind the scenes of the show.
Tony Dokoupil Joined CBS Evening News Earlier This Year
Dokoupil became known to viewers for his work with CBS Mornings. Beforehand, he had worked with NBC News and MSNBC.
More recently, Dokoupil took over as anchor for CBS Evening News, following the departure of John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois. Dokoupil was originally intended to make his debut on January 5, 2026, but ended up appearing on the show a few days earlier to cover breaking news over the United States’ strikes in Venezuela.
Dokoupil’s joining the series has not been without criticism. Megyn Kelly, in particular, criticized him for getting too emotional in a segment discussing his childhood in Florida. He also received flak after inviting his mother onto the show as a guest.
As previously reported, CBS Evening News has also faced competition from other networks’ late-night news programs. Reportedly, CBS Evening News drew in 4.538 million total viewers over the past month. ABC World News Tonight with David Muir and NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas, however, drew in 9.244 million and 7.150 million total viewers, respectively.
Recently, an inside source discussed what could be happening behind the scenes. As shared by Rob Shuter during his “Naughty But Nice” Substack, a CBS source told him that Dokoupil “is starting to panic” amid declining ratings.
One Source Claimed That The Show ‘Doesn’t Know What It Is Anymore’
The source continued, “He’s asking people what comes next — because he can feel this slipping away.” Another source shared, “Everyone sees the same thing. Longtime viewers have checked out. And once they leave the habit, they don’t come back.”
Per sources, Dokoupil wants to stay in his current role on the show. In addition, he’s worried about how any change happening too soon will reflect on him. One colleague explained, “Tony didn’t sign up to be a placeholder. He wanted a legacy job. Now he’s worried this will define him — and not in a good way.”
Dokoupil’s new position on the show has long been attributed to the recent shakeup at CBS News following Bari Weiss’s installation as editor-in-chief. One veteran producer also felt that, at this time, it feels like “that show doesn’t know what it is anymore.”
Meanwhile, according to AdWeek, reports claim that the evening news program’s ratings have endured a loss of around 400,000 viewers in a week. It was also alleged that the program had been down from about 600,000 viewers since last year.
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What do you think will happen going forward on CBS Evening News? Moreover, have you been following this story? Finally, what is your reaction to the insiders’ recent shares? Make sure you come back to TV Shows Ace for all the latest TV and celebrity news.
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