Mike Pesca joins CBS News as podcast editorial director

CBS News has hired veteran journalist and podcaster Mike Pesca as its podcast editorial director as the network works to expand its audio programming.

CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss announced the appointment during the network’s morning editorial call Wednesday. Details about the programs Pesca will oversee or develop were not immediately disclosed.

The move follows CBS’s move to shutter its CBS News Radio brand in March 2026, though the podcast industry is significantly different than legacy radio broadcasting.

Pesca recently ended “The Gist,” the daily news and commentary podcast he launched through Slate in 2014. The program produced more than 3,000 episodes during its 12-year run, covering politics, culture, media and other topics. Pesca took ownership of the show after leaving Slate and relaunched it independently in 2022.

Before joining Slate, Pesca worked as a reporter and correspondent for NPR, appearing on programs including “Morning Edition,” “All Things Considered” and “Weekend Edition.” He became the first NPR reporter to host his own podcast with the 2005 launch of “On Gambling with Mike Pesca.”

Pesca has also contributed to Weiss’ digital publication The Free Press and hosted or appeared on podcasts including “Not Even Mad,” “Funny You Should Mention” and “How To!”

In 2024, Pesca’s “Gist” podcast broke an 11-year tradition and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, while some of his other works could be seen as suggesting a centrist or right-leaning ideology. He has voiced support for gun control — though he says he doesn’t believe it would substantially reduce gun violence. He’s also called out more progressive media outlets and criticized an anti-police podcast series while also questioning its integrity. 

When viewed collectively, his body of work could be seen as straying from views reflecting either a traditional progressive or conservative stance. In many ways, his hire aligns well with Weiss’ previously announced objective of bringing more diverse voices to the network, including through the use of commentators and contributors. 

Advertisement

With Pesca’s hiring, CBS News appears to be readying itself to double down on podcast and audio content. 

Podcasts can attract loyal listeners and give talent an opportunity to stand out more on their own. Depending on the format, they can also attract buzz for comments made by the host or guests.

There are also monetization opportunities within podcasts, including the ability to offer native marketing experiences. Podcast advertising can also be dynamic, allowing content owners to serve messaging more likely to resonate with a particular listener. 

From a broader standpoint, podcasts also demonstrate legacy media outlets’ ability to extend into new formats while keeping their brands in front of listeners wherever they get their podcasts.