Event Details and Format

While the town hall will air live later in December, it is slated to be recorded on December 10 at 12 PM in New York City. An online form for potential attendees highlights a series of questions designed to gauge participants’ political leanings and personal experiences with loss, as well as their views on civic engagement. The opening question prompts: “Do you consider yourself a conservative? If so, why?”

Weiss’s Vision for CBS News

This town hall represents a pivotal programming decision for Weiss, who assumed her role in October with the mission to introduce more diverse political perspectives to CBS News. Her appointment by David Ellison, president of Paramount Skydance, has been met with skepticism from some journalists due to her limited television experience. However, Weiss has previously demonstrated her influence in the network by orchestrating significant interviews, including a conversation between former Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice.

Weiss has advocated for a platform that champions centrist views, stating, “This is an opportunity to speak for the 75%, for the people that are on the center-left and the center-right, who still believe in the American project and individual responsibility.” She emphasized the necessity for the public to access unbiased information to facilitate informed decision-making in areas such as education and voting—a principle she believes has been overshadowed in recent years.

Erika Kirk’s Emergence in Conservative Media

Since the tragic death of her husband on September 10, Erika Kirk has become a prominent figure in conservative politics and media. At a recent DealBook summit organized by the New York Times, she underscored the importance of open dialogue in resolving national divides. “If you really want to heal this country, you’re going to have to do it by talking to each other,” she stated, advocating for a return to constructive communication and civic engagement.