Why is CBS News anchor John Dickerson leaving the network?

Dickerson, a 16-year veteran of CBS News, has announced he will be stepping down by the end of 2025 amid a controversial $8 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance, as well as his criticism of Paramount's $16 million settlement with former President Donald Trump.

What was Dickerson's role at CBS News before his departure?

Dickerson first joined CBS in 2009 as a Face the Nation anchor and went on to become a political director, 60 Minutes contributor, and co-anchor of CBS Mornings. He was most recently co-anchoring the CBS Evening News.

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Veteran CBS News Anchor John Dickerson to Step Down by Year's End

Q: How did Dickerson's criticism of the Paramount settlement impact his departure from CBS News?

Dickerson spoke out against Paramount's $16 million settlement with Trump, questioning whether the network could still hold power to account after "paying it millions." His outspoken stance on this issue is seen as a contributing factor to his decision to leave CBS News.

27 Oct, 2025

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Summary

CBS News anchor John Dickerson to leave network after 16 years
Departure comes amid Paramount-Skydance merger controversy
Dickerson spoke out against Paramount's $16M settlement with Trump

Veteran CBS News Anchor John Dickerson to Step Down by Year's End

In a major shakeup at CBS News, veteran anchor John Dickerson has announced he will be leaving the network by the end of this year. Dickerson, who has been with CBS for 16 years, revealed his decision in a heartfelt social media post on Monday, October 27, 2025.

Dickerson's exit comes at a tumultuous time for CBS, as the network's parent company, Paramount, is seeking approval for its $8 billion acquisition of Skydance Media. Earlier this year, Paramount also agreed to pay $16 million to former President Donald Trump to settle a lawsuit over alleged deceptive editing of a 60 Minutes segment featuring then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Dickerson, who co-anchored the CBS Evening News, spoke out against the Paramount settlement, questioning whether the network could still hold power to account after "paying it millions." His departure is seen as a significant loss for CBS News, which has praised Dickerson as epitomizing "the very best of journalism."