This episode is a personal address from Bari Weiss, the host of Honestly and editor-in-chief of The Free Press. Weiss reflects on the show's history and announces a significant professional transition. She explains this episode marks a temporary pause for the Honestly podcast.
The first episode in May 2021 featured Majdi Wadi, a Palestinian-American business owner from Minneapolis. Wadi's business suffered after his teenage daughter posted controversial tweets. Weiss recalls Wadi asserting his American right to individual judgment and free expression. Over nearly 400 episodes, Honestly has covered politics, culture, technology, religion, and war. The show has aimed to present serious thinking, real disagreement, and unheard voices during global crises and elections. Weiss has now accepted the role of editor-in-chief of CBS News. She sees this as an opportunity to bring her journalistic values to a larger platform. The mission she describes is journalism that is fair, fearless, factual, and reports the world as it is. The Honestly podcast will be on hiatus for a few months.
Weiss emphasizes her continued love for making the show and commitment to its core values. She states the pause is not permanent and the show will return. The Free Press is expanding with other podcasts like Conversations with Coleman and Old School. Other offerings include Breaking History with Eli Lake and Free Press Investigates. Subscriber-only live streams react directly to news events, like a recent Trump meeting. New columnists like Abigail Shrier and Arthur Brooks have joined The Free Press. Weiss also encourages listeners to watch CBS programs like 60 Minutes and the CBS Evening News.
The tone is reflective, appreciative, and direct from the host to her audience. The style is a monologue announcement blending personal sentiment with promotional updates.
Listeners devoted to Honestly and Bari Weiss's perspective will appreciate this update on the show's direction. Those seeking a standard interview or debate episode may want to skip this administrative note.
