‘A wreck’: Legendary ex-late night host rips CBS News in blistering rant

David Letterman unleashed a blistering critique of CBS News on Friday, accusing the network where he spent more than two decades on the air of abandoning its integrity and handing control to what he described as “idiots.”

The searing criticism from the 78-year-old former “Late Show” host came during an appearance on the Barbara Gaines Show, a YouTube program hosted by his longtime producers, according to a The Daily Beast report. Letterman told the hosts the “mentality that drove the integrity of CBS News has been trampled on, p---ed on and eviscerated by these idiots that have taken it over.”

“I’m at a point now where it’s really hurting my feelings,” Letterman added, before declaring, “CBS News is a wreck. It’s just gone.”

Letterman’s remarks were delivered amid sweeping changes at the network he once called home following the merger of parent company Paramount with Skydance Media, led by billionaire David Ellison, according to The Daily Beast. One of Ellison’s first major moves was installing Free Press founder Barry Weiss as CBS News’ editor in chief last week.

Among the changes at the network include promoting Tony Dokoupil as anchor of its nightly broadcast, which began this week with “MAGA-friendly language” to viewers, the outlet added Friday.

Letterman has previously criticized CBS leadership, blasting Paramount’s decision last year to settle a $60 million lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump over a “60 Minutes” edit involving then-Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. At the time, Letterman called the settlement “pure cowardice.”