Inside Tony Dokoupil’s chaotic first week as the CBS Evening News anchor

Sat, 10 Jan 2026

The revamped US broadcast has endured a rough start with changed plans, big interviews, social media criticism and an abrupt firing

As traditional TV audiences continue to decline, and more Americans switch to streaming platforms and social media, it’s often a challenge for networks to get the public’s attention when relaunching a show. That hasn’t been an issue for the CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil.

The nightly broadcast has received close scrutiny – and a heap of criticism – since its official launch on Monday, and unofficial launch two nights earlier, when the anchor hosted a special edition after the US attack on Venezuela.