USA Today Opinion Column Backs CBS's Hiring of Ross Douthat

A USA Today opinion column published in the paper's Opinion section argues that CBS made the right call in adding New York Times columnist Ross Douthat to its commentary lineup, and that critics on the political left should accept the move rather than fight it, according to the column.

What Does The USA Today Column Argue?

The column's central claim, as stated in its own headline, is direct: "Ross Douthat is the right move for CBS. The left can cope." The piece frames CBS's decision to bring Douthat into its commentary roster as a defensible editorial choice for the network, and it pushes back preemptively against expected objections from left-leaning viewers and media critics, according to the column.

Who Is Ross Douthat?

Douthat is identified in the column as a columnist for the New York Times. His move into a commentary role at CBS is the news event the USA Today piece is responding to, though the column itself is an opinion piece rather than a straight news account of the hiring.

Why Is The CBS Move Seen As Controversial?

The column anticipates pushback from the left over CBS's decision to add a conservative-leaning voice to its commentary lineup, according to the piece. It does not detail the specific objections critics have raised, but its headline and framing — telling "the left" it "can cope" — signal that the author expects resistance rooted in Douthat's ideological positioning rather than his journalistic credentials.

What Does The Column Say Critics Should Do?

The column's position is that left-leaning critics should accept the addition of a conservative commentator to CBS's roster, treating the hire as a legitimate and even beneficial editorial decision for the network rather than a grievance to be litigated, according to the piece. The column does not name specific critics or organizations who have objected, and USA Today's opinion desk speaks only for itself, not for CBS.

What Do 'Opinion Column' And 'Commentary Lineup' Mean?

An opinion column is a piece of published commentary that carries the writer's own argument and is explicitly separated from a news outlet's factual reporting; it is labeled as opinion precisely because it takes a side, unlike a straight news article. A commentary lineup, in television terms, refers to the roster of pundits, columnists, and analysts a network brings on to offer perspective and analysis rather than to report breaking news. CBS's addition of Douthat, per the column, fits that commentary role rather than a traditional correspondent or anchor position.

The underlying facts of Douthat's arrangement with CBS — his title, the shows he will appear on, and any contract terms — are not detailed in the source material reviewed for this report. What is established is that USA Today's opinion section has weighed in publicly on the move, defending it as sound for the network and challenging critics to accept it, according to the column linked above.

The column represents one outlet's opinion commentary on a media personnel decision at a competing network, and its arguments reflect the author's viewpoint rather than CBS's own public statements, none of which appear in the material reviewed here.