In late 2023, George Clooney publicly criticized Bari Weiss, the editor-in-chief of CBS News, for what he described as her 'dismantling' of the news organization since her appointment in October. His comments were made during an interview with Variety, where he expressed disappointment over mainstream media's inability to challenge lawsuits from former President Donald Trump, which he believed contributed to the current societal issues. Clooney's critique coincided with widespread backlash against Weiss, with former CBS employees reportedly preparing a public letter urging the network to take action against her perceived interference in journalistic integrity, particularly related to the acclaimed program '60 Minutes.' In response to Clooney's remarks, Weiss extended an invitation to him to visit the CBS Broadcast Center, claiming that he seemed interested in learning more about the network's operations as she worked to revitalize the Evening News during the holidays. This invitation included a promise of a reboot scheduled for January 5.