CBS News staffers in uproar after anchor questions guest's anti-Israel views, network executives respond

CBS News is in turmoil after an internal staff meeting raised concerns surrounding an interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates about Israel's “right to exist.”

Last week, “CBS Mornings” host Tony Dokoupil criticized Coates, an author and journalist, for an anti-Israel section in his new book “The Message,” which describes his travels “to Palestine, where he sees with devastating clarity how easily “We are misled by nationalist narratives and the tragedy that lies in the conflict between the stories we tell and the reality of life on the ground,” the book summary says.

Dokoupil brought up this section of the book and bluntly told Coates that it read like something you would find in “the backpack.” of an extremist.”

CBS host criticizes Ta-Nehisi in new book about anti-Israel views: Looks like it comes from an 'extremist'

Author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates was asked about his views on Israel's right to exist in an interview Monday by CBS host Tony Dokoupil. (CBS/Screenshot)

“I have to say, when I read the book, I imagine if I took your name out, took the awards, the acclaim, the cover away from the book, the publisher would go away, the contents of that section wouldn't go away.” be out of place in an extremist’s backpack,” Dokoupil said.

“Then I asked myself why Ta'Nehisi Coates, who I've known for a long time, has read his works for so long, a very talented, smart guy, leaves out so much? Why leave out the fact that Israel is surrounded by countries that want to eliminate it? Why ignore the fact that Israel is dealing with terrorist groups that want to eliminate it? . Is it because you simply don’t believe that Israel has a right to exist under any circumstances?” The CBS host continued.

Coates defended the book, saying he wanted to give a voice to the Palestinian people, whose views he said were underrepresented in American media.

The interview sparked outrage among some CBS News employees who felt Dokoupil pressured Coates too much about his anti-Israel stance. The network addressed the internal furor at a staff meeting on Monday, marking the one-year anniversary since the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel. CBS leadership assured offended employees that after a review they concluded the interview did not meet the company's “editorial standards,” reported the Free Press, which obtained an audio recording of the staff meeting.

Ta-Nehisi Coates defends his new book “The Message” on CBS Mornings. (CBS News/Screenshot)

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Adrienne Roark, who oversees news gathering at the station, told staff that covering an event like Oct. 7 “requires empathy, respect and a commitment to the truth,” according to the Free Press.

“We will continue to ask difficult questions. We will continue to hold people accountable. But we will do this objectively, which means checking our biases and opinions at the door,” Roark reportedly said.

“We are here to spread the news without fear or favor,” Roark added, according to the Free Press. “There are times when we let our audiences and each other down. We are in such a time right now, and it is increasing. And we are at a turning point. Many of you have reached out to express your concerns about the recent reporting.” Specifically, about the CBS Morning Coates interview last week, as well as comments from reporting from some of our correspondents.

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She continued, “I want to acknowledge and apologize that it has taken so long to have this conversation.”

But not everyone at CBS agreed with leadership's decision to appease their employees.

CBS News senior legal correspondent Jan Crawford reportedly defended Dokoupil's handling of the interview, remarking during the meeting, “I don't even understand why Tony's interview didn't meet our editorial standards… I thought our commitment was to the truth.” If someone comes.” In our show with a one-sided portrayal of a very complex situation – which Coates himself admits – I think we as journalists have an obligation to challenge that worldview so that our viewers can have access to the truth and have a more balanced account …,” Dylan Byers of Puck News reported about her.

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“And that’s exactly what Tony did,” Crawford added, according to Byers. “He questioned Coates' one-sided worldview, Coates had to answer. It was polite… I don't understand how we can say it didn't meet our editorial standards… Tony prevented a one-sided presentation. “We have a duty as journalists to show an extremely complex situation on our channel that has no story whatsoever contains facts.

CBS has not yet responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Fox News' Kristine Parks contributed to this report.