Tony Dokoupil’s debut as anchor of the CBS Evening News on Monday, January 5, 2026, was marked by a series of on-air gaffes that left viewers and critics questioning the network’s decision to install him in the chair once occupied by Walter Cronkite.

The 45-year-old journalist, who previously co-hosted CBS Mornings, introduced himself twice within 80 seconds during his first broadcast—three times if counting the announcer’s introduction. The awkward moments continued when Dokoupil confused the segment order between stories about Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.

“To other news, as you just heard from Jill—oh, to other news now. Ah, to Governor Walz—no. We’re going to do Mark Kelly. First day—first day, big problems here,” Dokoupil acknowledged, shaking his head and grinning as the wrong photograph appeared on screen.

After an uncomfortable silence while images of Kelly continued to display, Dokoupil asked the control room whether they were proceeding with the Kelly segment or going to a correspondent for the Walz story. The confusion underscored the kind of technical transitions an experienced anchor should handle seamlessly.

When Dokoupil finally addressed Walz’s announcement not to seek reelection as Minnesota governor, he committed another error by calling Minnesota the Great Lake State instead of the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The Great Lakes State is actually Michigan’s nickname, a mistake that highlighted the anchor’s rocky start in delivering accurate information to viewers.

The stumbling debut came after Dokoupil had criticized legacy media for missing stories and promised to be more accountable and transparent than Cronkite. In a video posted on New Year’s Day, Dokoupil promised independence from corporate owners and politicians, declaring that viewers would come first above advertisers and corporate interests.

“On too many stories, the press has missed the story,” he said in the promotional video. “Because we’ve taken into account the perspective of advocates and not the average American. Or we put too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites, and not enough on you.”

Dokoupil was appointed to the anchor position in December 2025 by Bari Weiss, the 41-year-old new CBS News editor-in-chief who was reportedly in the studio for his gaffe-filled debut. Weiss, who was installed by David Ellison after he bought Paramount, killed a 60 Minutes segment on an El Salvador prison three hours before it was set to air, drawing criticism for editorial interference.

Some CBS staffers called Dokoupil’s appointment an insult to the long-running news program. The appointment represented a significant shift for the network, which has struggled to compete with ABC’s David Muir in the evening news ratings. CBS Evening News drew 4.04 million viewers last year, compared to the 27 to 29 million viewers who watched during Cronkite’s final year as anchor.

Dokoupil’s debut was supposed to take place on Monday as part of a planned 10-day tour of American cities. However, the tour was delayed due to President Donald Trump’s surprise attack on Venezuela, forcing Dokoupil to make an unexpected debut on Saturday before his official start date. That broadcast devoted half its airtime to an interview with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, Dokoupil praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the ultimate Florida man during a segment broadcast from Miami, Florida, where Dokoupil was raised. The flattering coverage drew attention from the White House, which posted the segment on social media.

Dokoupil’s background includes education at Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami, where annual tuition costs $53,000 per year, as well as degrees from George Washington University and Columbia University. He is married to journalist Katy Tur. Dokoupil’s family situation reflects a modern media power couple navigating high-profile careers.

The appointment of Dokoupil, a Trump supporter, represents Weiss’s effort to reshape CBS News with what she has characterized as a more balanced approach. Critics have questioned whether the changes represent genuine journalistic reform or a rightward shift designed to appeal to conservative viewers who have traditionally favored Fox News and other outlets.

The Monday debut drew 4.4 million viewers, a modest increase from the network’s recent average but still trailing competitors. The broadcast covered Walz’s decision not to seek reelection as Minnesota governor, as well as the Defense Secretary interview.

Industry observers note that evening news broadcasts face structural challenges regardless of who occupies the anchor chair. Viewing habits have shifted dramatically since the Cronkite era, when network evening news represented Americans’ primary source of national and international information. Today’s fragmented media landscape offers viewers countless alternatives, from cable news channels operating 24 hours daily to digital platforms delivering customized news feeds.

Dokoupil’s claim that he would be more accountable and transparent than Cronkite drew particular criticism from journalism veterans. The comment seemed designed to appeal to conservatives who have long viewed Cronkite as a symbol of liberal media bias, despite his reputation during his career as “the most trusted man in America.”

The network promoted Dokoupil’s debut with a video showing him holding a sign with his name and asking passersby to pronounce it correctly. The stunt demonstrated that strikingly few people recognized CBS News’ new chief anchor, a contrast to the universal recognition Cronkite enjoyed during his tenure.

Weiss’ hiring in October 2024 signaled Ellison’s intention to reshape CBS News after acquiring Paramount. Her lack of traditional hard journalism experience—she previously wrote opinion pieces and founded The Free Press website—raised questions about her qualifications to lead a major network news division. Her editorial decisions, including the killed 60 Minutes segment, have reinforced concerns about corporate interference in journalism.

The challenges facing CBS Evening News extend beyond anchor selection. All three major network evening newscasts have seen viewership decline as audiences migrate to other platforms. The format itself—a 30-minute broadcast at a fixed time—seems increasingly antiquated in an era when people consume news continuously throughout the day on smartphones and computers.

Dokoupil’s rocky debut raises questions about whether his broadcasting skills match his ambition. His ability to see which way the wind blows politically, as one observer noted, appears to have outstripped his technical proficiency in the anchor chair. Whether he can develop the charisma and competence needed to restore CBS Evening News to relevance remains uncertain after his stumbling start.