CBS News is reportedly narrowing its focus on Anderson Cooper in its ongoing quest to find the next host for CBS Evening News, according to a recent report.

Bari Weiss, the new Editor-in-Chief at the network, is said to have a keen interest in the CNN star, who also serves as a correspondent for 60 Minutes, insiders revealed to Status.

Weiss, who took over leadership at the network earlier this month, is aiming to revamp the Evening News.

Cooper’s current $18 million annual contract with CNN is reportedly nearing its expiration, Status indicated. In August, he was recognized as the nation’s most admired news anchor on the DailyMail+ Power List.

Meanwhile, John Dickerson, co-host of Evening News, announced his resignation on Monday, concluding a tenure that struggled with low ratings.

Sources informed Status that the 16-year CBS veteran had been discreetly negotiating his departure for several weeks before making the announcement.

Recent changes at the network after its parent company Paramount’s merger with David Ellison’s Skydance in July led to the decision, Status reported.

Sources said that the anti-woke Weiss – a vehement critic of legacy media – has since made it her mission to overhaul Evening News.

CBS News is closing in on Anderson Cooper as it continues to search for the next host of CBS Evening News

CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss has a ‘strong interest’ in Cooper, whose CNN contract is up this year

The program has been met with declining ratings since Dickerson and co-anchor Maurice DuBois were tapped to replace Norah O’Donnell at the start of the year.  

Other figures reportedly being considered to replace Dickerson include Fox News’ Bret Baier, CBS Mornings host Tony Dokoupil, and O’Donnell.

Baier – whose contract with Fox News runs through 2028 – responded to reports of the interest in him Monday during an interview with Meghan McCain, saying he was ‘flattered by all the press and everything like that, but I’m in a multi-year contract with Fox.’

He added, ‘we’ll see what happens at the end of that.’

Internally, Dokoupil is another top candidate, Status reported.

He has helmed CBS Mornings alongside Gayle King since 2019. King’s contract is also up at the end of the year.

O’Donnell, meanwhile, stepped away from the Evening News desk late last year after six years as host.

Sources told Status that she is also being considered.

CBS Evening News co-host John Dickerson announced his resignation from the network Monday after 16 years at the network

CBS Mornings co-host Tony Dokoupil is also being considered for the Evening News hosting spot. He has helmed the morning show for nearly seven years

Evening New has been met with declining ratings since Dickerson and co-anchor Maurice DuBois were tapped to replace Norah O’Donnell at the start of the year.

Dickerson’s exit marks the first major talent change at the network since Weiss was installed as editor-in-chief

The multiyear deal he signed when he and DuBois were picked to host Evening News will be paid out in full, Status reported.

The network has announced no new plans for DuBois.

CBS News standards chief Claudia Milne resigned earlier this month, telling her coworkers: ‘We live in complicated times. For our company, for our industry and for our country.

In the spring, 60 Minutes Executive Producer Bill Owens and CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon both resigned over concerns with the company’s direction.

Each was responsible for the Evening News revamp in January, which saw one anchor replaced with two despite decades of tradition.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Paramount and CBS News for comment.