Amid the United States’ military actions in Venezuela, Tony Dokoupil started his CBS Evening News tenure two days early, greeting viewers for the first time on Saturday, January 3, instead of Monday, January 5.
At the start of Saturday’s broadcast — billed as a “special edition of the CBS Evening News With Tony Dokoupil” — broadcast news’ newest evening anchor reported on the U.S. military’s airstrikes in Caracas and its capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Dokoupil called the development “breaking news, news that could shape the year, maybe even the century.”
And the CBS Mornings alums devoted almost half of Saturday’s broadcast to an interview with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who called the operation “a bold and audacious move” that was “thought through” and “well orchestrated.”
Hegseth added, “I think the hemisphere, I know the hemisphere will benefit from President Trump’s bold action.”
The breaking news has delayed plans for the two-week tour of American cities that was meant to kick off the CBS Evening News’ Dokoupil on Monday. Dokoupil reported from San Francisco, California, for Saturday’s broadcast, according to Deadline, with a muted set and onscreen graphics matching that of the program’s DuBois–Dickerson era. CBS says Dokoupil will report from New York City on Monday before embarking on the cross-country tour later in the week, Deadline added.
Dokoupil’s early debut had social media divided. Some viewers praised CBS News’ new evening anchor.
“I don’t think I’ve watched the evening news in about 10 years,” one X user wrote. “As the bias grew, I watched less and less until I stopped completely. I tuned in tonight and saw what I considered to be a balanced program. Those who want to be spoon-fed ‘spin’ will surely be disappointed.”
Another user wrote, “I think that’s the first clip of CBS I’ve seen in about 15 years that didn’t make me want to puke!”
A third person posted, in all caps, “CBS is back.”
Other viewers, meanwhile, criticized Dokoupil, who shared a controversial mission statement for the CBS Evening News last week.
“What the actual f*** happened to the Tiffany Network and its once-stellar CBS News?” one X user wrote. “@tonydokoupil is the latest member of Trump’s state-run media team. Giving @PeteHegseth 20 mins of softball questions on the evening news? Walter Cronkite is rolling over in his grave right now.”
Someone else said, “Tony Baloney is no Cronkite, that’s for sure.”
Another critic wrote, “And this is exactly why, @tonydokoupil, we all gave you such a hard time. You proved on day one how in the tank you’ll be for this corrupt admin. This was an illegal act and a dangerous one for our country. But Pete likes to play army, and you enabled his BS.”
CBS Evening News With Tony Dokoupil, Weeknights, 6:30/5:30c, CBS
More Headlines:
- Tony Dokoupil Makes Early & Divisive ‘CBS Evening News’ Debut With Pete Hegseth Interview
- ‘Breaking Amish’ Star Jeremiah Raber Airlifted to Hospital Amid Medical Emergency
- ‘Today’ Cohost Sheinelle Jones Mourns Another Family Loss After Husband’s Death
- Bill Maher Makes Candid Admission About Rob Reiner’s Death
- ‘Tracker’ Season 3: Will Jensen Ackles & Melissa Roxburgh Return as Colter’s Siblings in 2026?
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.