The stunt is the latest segment of Dokoupil’s to draw negative attention.

Tony Dokoupil draws criticism for interviewing his mom after CBS News head called for bigger ‘investigative scoops’

The stunt is the latest segment of Dokoupil's to draw negative attention.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on *Entertainment Tonight* and Popsugar.

EW's editorial guidelines

January 28, 2026 1:23 p.m. ET

Tony Dokoupil and his mom, Gail. Credit:

CBS Evening News (2)

*CBS Evening News* anchor Tony Dokoupil is once again drawing criticism, this time for a segment in which the former *CBS Mornings* cohost interviewed his own mother.

Tuesday's episode of the evening news series featured a segment focusing on a study that found grandparents who care for their grandchildren score better on tests of memory and language and decline more slowly than those who do not. Dokoupil turned to a "big source" for commentary on the study's finding — his mom, Gail.

"I find that they give me a sense of purpose. They energize me more than drive me down," Gail said of caring for her grandchildren. Dokoupil, who made his debut as the anchor of *CBS Evening News* earlier this month, has four children: two with his current wife, MS NOW anchor Katy Tur, and two with his ex-wife, Danielle Haas.

Tony Dokoupil interviews his mom on 'CBS Evening News'.

CBS Evening News

"Something magical happens when a parent becomes a grandparent," Dokoupil said as he wrapped up the segment. "And to think, the next time I call my mom for help with the kids, I can use the line she used on me as a kid: 'It's for your own good, Mom.' I love you."

While some found the study resonated with their personal experience, critics lamented the overly familiar approach to the evening news, especially after Dokoupil already made headlines for getting emotional during a chat with CBS Miami as part of his "Live From America Tour."

Trump says CBS anchor Tony Dokoupil 'wouldn't have a job' if Kamala Harris had won election

Bari Weiss fires back at George Clooney's claim that she is 'dismantling' CBS News

"Ah, a throwback to those days where they tried to humanize [Walter] Cronkite by having him co-anchor with his dog, Trusty," Brian Lowry, a media columnist and critic for Status, joked on X.

Another X user wrote, "Real hard hitting journalism... please keep CBS focused on the real issues currently facing Americans vs telling us what we all know."

"The dumbing-down continues. Now we're asking Mom to pitch in?" a user commented, while another added, "Jesus Christ this is a clown show."

The segment seemed particularly ill-fitting considering that new CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss recently vowed that the network would be putting a "huge emphasis on scoops. Not scoops that expire minutes later, but investigative scoops, and, crucially, scoops of ideas. Scoops of explanation."

Weiss — who was appointed to her new role in October, after David Ellison, the owner of CBS's parent company, Paramount Skydance, acquired her independent news and opinion site, The Free Press — convened an all-hands meeting on Tuesday to discuss her vision for the future of the network in which she insisted that CBS News needs to switch from a "linear mentality" to a "streaming mentality."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

"To cover America as it is, we in this building need to reflect more of the political friction that animates our national conversation," Weiss said. "That means recruiting and hiring editors, reporters, producers, and correspondents about whom our viewers will say, 'They understand me. They will give me a fair shake. They respect me.'"

Tony Dokoupil interviews his mom on 'CBS Evening News'.

CBS Evening News

The network's controversial news division has been under fire from all sides, most notably from Golden Globes host Nikki Glaser, who segued a joke about redacted information in the Jeffrey Epstein files into a criticism of the very network that broadcast the moment.

"And the Golden Globes for Best Editing goes to: the Justice Department. Yes, congratulations!" Glaser said, with the audience laughing at the jab. "And the award for *Most* Editing goes to: CBS News!"

She continued, "Yes, CBS News: America's newest place to see... BS news!"**

- News & Commentary Shows

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW News”