The world of morning news just got a shakeup, and it's leaving many viewers with strong opinions: CBS Saturday Morning has a brand new anchor team! But this isn't just a simple changing of the guard. It comes on the heels of some significant, and controversial, shifts within CBS News. Let's unpack what's happening and why it matters.
CBS News officially announced that Adriana Diaz, a seasoned CBS News veteran, and Kelly O'Grady, a sharp business journalist, will be taking the reins as co-hosts of "CBS Saturday Morning", starting this week. This news follows the departure of Michelle Miller and Dana Jacobson, the program's previous co-hosts for a long time. Their exit was part of a larger wave of company-wide staff reductions back in October. It's a tough reminder of the ever-changing landscape of the media industry.
And this is the part most people miss... The decision to make these changes to the weekend program was reportedly underway before Bari Weiss stepped into her role as editor in chief of CBS News earlier that same month. But here's where it gets controversial... Weiss's arrival has been marked by some high-profile decisions that have drawn both praise and sharp criticism.
One such decision was the last-minute pulling of a "60 Minutes" story focusing on the Trump administration's handling of Venezuelan migrants deported to El Salvador. This move ignited a firestorm, with some critics accusing Weiss of political interference. The revamp of "CBS Evening News," now anchored by Tony Dokoupil, has also received mixed reviews. Could these changes signal a broader shift in the network's direction? What do you think?
Beyond "CBS Saturday Morning," Diaz and O’Grady will also share co-hosting duties on “CBS Mornings 24/7,” the CBS News streaming platform's daily program. They'll be working alongside Vladimir Duthiers, a CBS News staple whose career path itself is an inspiring story of perseverance.
Let's take a closer look at these new co-hosts:
Adriana Diaz: Diaz has been a familiar face at CBS News since 2012. Her career has taken her from covering Asia as a China-based correspondent to reporting from Chicago. She previously anchored “CBS Mornings Plus,” a now-defunct one-hour program that aired after “CBS Mornings” in select markets, including Los Angeles. Diaz, 42, also has experience anchoring “CBS Weekend News” and frequently fills in for Gayle King on “CBS Mornings.” In fact, some insiders see her as a potential successor to King, whose contract with CBS News is nearing its end. That's a lot of pressure!
Kelly O’Grady: O'Grady, 34, is a relative newcomer to CBS, having joined the network in 2024 as a correspondent for its MoneyWatch unit, focusing on economic reporting. Before CBS, she was a correspondent and fill-in anchor at Fox Business. Importantly, O'Grady will continue to cover business, technology, and the economy for CBS in addition to her new role as co-host. This suggests CBS is looking to deepen its coverage of these critical areas.
The appointment of Diaz and O'Grady marks a new chapter for "CBS Saturday Morning." Will this fresh perspective resonate with viewers? Will the controversies surrounding recent network decisions impact the show's success? Share your thoughts in the comments below!