Anchor Tony Dokoupil Mocked for ‘Hard-Hitting’ Segment With His Mom Amid CBS Crackdown on ‘Scoops’

CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil is once again coming under fire for his presence on the air.

The 45-year-old journalist — who was named anchor in December after a major shake-up at CBS — invited his mother, Gail, onto the evening news program on Tuesday, January 27, to discuss how grandparents who help care for their grandchildren may experience cognitive benefits.

Dokoupil’s segment came shortly after it was widely reported that CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss wants the organization to invest in more “revelatory journalism” with an “emphasis on scoops,” including investigative reports and hard-hitting stories, with her comments circulating on social media.

In response to CBS’ post on X (formerly Twitter) featuring Dokoupil’s lighthearted on-air chat with his mom, social media users began to criticize the journalist.

“So the world is coming apart at the seams and this is what you are choosing to cover?” one user wrote. “Walter Cronkite @tonydokoupil is not.”

While some parents and grandparents seemed to enjoy Dokoupil’s report, others pointed out that the news was simply… not news.

“This was news in 10,000 BCE. Maybe,” one person wrote.

Variety reported on Wednesday, January 28, that CBS News is seeking buyouts at CBS Evening News, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The buyouts were reportedly offered by CBS Evening News executive producer Kim Harvey, but it is unclear how many buyouts there will be.

One of Variety’s sources said that Dokoupil has tried to “dissuade management” from making cuts from CBS Evening News.

Dokoupil, who began anchor duties earlier this month, came under fire just days after he started his new position.

He got visibly choked up on air while visiting Miami, Florida — where he once lived — because he felt he was “robbed of the full Miami experience” due to his father getting in trouble with the law.