Fox News anchor bashes CBS' 'liberal bias' as Norah O'Donnell cites 'fear' over leadership change

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Fox News anchor Trace Gallagher on Thursday, February 19, took aim at what he described as liberal bias at CBS News.

Gallagher was responding to remarks made earlier by longtime CBS correspondent Norah O'Donnell about turnover in the network’s leadership ranks.

Trace Gallagher calls out CBS' 'liberal bias'

During a Fox News segment, Gallagher addressed comments O’Donnell made on a podcast with Jamie Kern Lima earlier Tuesday, February 17.

Gallagher cited the remarks and said the network’s “liberal bias” has been evident for decades and that viewers shouldn’t be surprised by concern over editorial shifts.

“Common sense thinks maybe the future means that CBS would like to balance out the coverage, considering the network's liberal bias has been on full display for decades,” Gallagher said, hinting at changes new CBS leadership might bring.

past controversies in the network’s history, including reporting problems that emerged in the early 2000s.

“Who could forget the 2000 election and the scandal involving Dan Rather and the phony documents criticizing George W. Bush and his service record in the Texas Air National Guard?"

This refers to the 2004 CBS News scandal known as Rathergate. Veteran anchor Dan Rather aired a 60 Minutes report questioning George W. Bush’s service in the Texas Air National Guard. The story relied on documents later widely discredited as forgeries. CBS eventually acknowledged serious journalistic failures.

He also mocked the network's logo saying “Conventional wisdom says that CBS is called the eye Network because of its eye-Logo. Common sense thinks the eye-logo is more relevant than ever, because maybe the comedians are right when they say it's no longer difficult to see BS at CBS.''

Trace Gallagher cites examples of CBS' bias

Gallagher also brought up other moments that many have pointed to as examples of perceived bias or editorial missteps at CBS. He asked, who could forget "the 2024 election when CBS appeared to offer up friendly edits to soften up a Kamala Harris interview?"

This claim circulates largely in conservative media commentary. CBS has not acknowledged any improper editing. 

Norah O'Donnell cites 'fear' among CBS staff

O’Donnell, who has been with CBS News for more than a decade, acknowledged that recent leadership changes have been “challenging” for staff.

“You know, I have worked at CBS now for, oh my goodness, probably almost 14 years. We have had a lot of leadership changes at CBS, and that has been challenging, not only for me, but I know for my colleagues,” O’Donnell said. 

“And I think with so many leadership changes, people are fearful about what the future means.”

With Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief since late-2025, many observers see CBS moving its news agenda in a direction that reflects positions associated with Weiss’s own media history, particularly through her previous platform, The Free Press.

That site has been described as closer to centre-right on culture wars, sceptical of “woke” politics, and strongly pro-Israel.