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Did Israel Just Buy CBS News? // James Li
James Li | Trusted Newsmaker
Did Israel Just Buy CBS News?
CBS News, long regarded as a gold standard of American journalism, has become the center of controversy after reports surfaced linking its new parent company’s financial moves to pro-Israel influence. Paramount, recently taken over by Skydance Media, agreed to spend $200 million acquiring Bari Weiss’s Substack-based outlet *The Free Press*. Critics argue this deal makes little sense financially — but a great deal politically .
The Free Press and Its Mission
*The Free Press* isn’t a newsroom or broadcast network; it’s a newsletter platform founded by Weiss after her departure from *The New York Times*. Its editorial mission has been clear from the beginning: staunch defense of Israel. From reframing the Gaza famine as “misinformation” to amplifying pro-Israel talking points through data-like presentations, Weiss’s publication has consistently aligned itself with Zionist positions .
Who’s Funding the Operation?
Behind *The Free Press* is a roster of high-profile pro-Israel investors. Marc Andreessen, whose venture firm A16Z heavily invests in Israeli tech, is one. Another is Howard Schultz, the billionaire ex-CEO of Starbucks, whose foundation pledged direct support to Israel after October 7th. Their backing signals that this isn’t simply a media venture but an ideological project. Paying ten to fifteen times *The Free Press*’s revenue makes no business sense unless ideology, not profit, is the priority .
The Ellison Factor
The deal’s real architect is David Ellison, the Hollywood heir running Skydance. His father, Larry Ellison — founder of Oracle — has deep ties to U.S. intelligence and is one of the largest private donors to the Israeli Defense Forces. He has hosted Netanyahu and Trump at his estate and funneled millions into pro-Israel causes. With Skydance now controlling Paramount, and therefore CBS News, analysts argue this acquisition is less about strengthening Paramount and more about ensuring CBS aligns with Israeli interests .
What’s Really at Stake
CBS News remains Paramount’s crown jewel, home to *60 Minutes* and other respected investigative outlets. By integrating Weiss and her worldview into the company, critics believe the goal is to “inoculate” CBS against future reporting critical of Israel. From questions of Jerusalem’s status to giving platforms to voices critical of Israeli policy, this deal ensures there will be gatekeepers in the building to prevent narratives inconvenient to Tel Aviv from reaching American audiences .
Beyond Business: A Loyalty Play
Viewed strictly as business, the deal is irrational. But as political strategy, it makes sense. Analysts describe it as “tribute” or “insurance” — a guarantee that U.S. media giants won’t challenge Israel at a time when global opinion is shifting. Glenn Greenwald went as far as to call *The Free Press* “one of the most blatant campaigns of atrocity denial in years,” warning that its influence inside CBS could whitewash foreign policy crimes .
This acquisition isn’t about competing with Substack or strengthening Paramount. It’s about ideology, loyalty, and control. By embedding pro-Israel voices like Bari Weiss into CBS’s institutional structure, the Ellisons and their network of investors are ensuring America’s most trusted legacy media outlet becomes a reliable ally of Israeli narratives. The bigger picture: the battle for public opinion has shifted from think tanks to newsrooms — and CBS News is the latest prize .
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