Bari Weiss, born March 25, 1984, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to an observant Jewish family, is a prominent journalist known for her neoconservative leanings, defense of free speech, and criticism of progressive 'woke' culture. She has faced accusations of Islamophobia and undue favoritism toward Israel from critics on the left. During her undergraduate years as a Columbia University sophomore, she co-founded Columbians for Academic Freedom and defended The David Project's film while criticizing its methods. After graduating, Weiss rose to prominence in journalism, serving as an op-ed and book review editor at The Wall Street Journal from 2013 to 2017, followed by a role as an op-ed staff editor and writer on culture and politics at The New York Times from 2017 to 2020. Her tenure at the Times ended controversially with a public resignation in July 2020, in which she accused the newspaper's newsroom of fostering an illiberal environment, bullying, and harassment, particularly over her centrist views and support for Israel; this open letter drew widespread media attention and debate. Since leaving the Times, Weiss has built an independent media presence. On March 1, 2021, she began writing as a regular columnist for the German newspaper Die Welt. In early 2021, she founded the media company The Free Press, serving as editor-in-chief, and hosts the podcast 'Honestly with Bari Weiss,' which covers politics, culture, and current events. Recent reports indicate she holds the position of editor-in-chief at CBS News, expanding her influence in mainstream media.