Face the Nation made its debut in 1954, Dwight Eisenhower was president then! Its host has been Margaret Brennan since 2018. She is a steady, informative, non-showy presence at the anchor desk. Her personality seems to align nicely with the role. But there has evidently been some upheaval behind the scenes. According to The New York Post via Status, a media publication, a pair of top figures who help to make the program what it is are reportedly departing from the ranks. One of them is Mary Hager. A senior executive producer, Hager has been at the network for 35 years. The other individual who is heading for the door is Anne Hsu, Face the Nation's executive producer. She will be taking a role in the Hong King bureau of CBS News.
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There might have been an even more decisive shakeup in the pipeline, although to date, it has not happened. Bari Weiss, the controversial editor-in-chief of CBS News, was allegedly mulling over replacing Brennan. She is still there as of this date. However, Weiss now has the opportunity to reshape the program significantly with the exits of Hager and Hsu.
An Anonymous Source Explained the Circumstances of Hager's Leave-Taking
Per The New York Post, Mary Hager's exit may just be a routine transition for a longtime employee. The outlet stated, "...Hager has been planning to retire at the end of the year and has discussed her intentions with colleagues for some time." Nevertheless, her decision to depart will be consequential.This source claims that Hager is very highly thought of and will be missed. Despite that, though, this person says that she is not stepping down abruptly or because of any friction between her and anyone else.
As for Anne Hsu, who hails from Hong Kong, she will still be associated with CBS News, but in a new capacity.
What About Margaret Brennan's Future?
In the volatile television space, things can change from minute to minute. But Brennan's apparently well-positioned for the moment. According to The New York Post's source, that person "pointed to 'Face the Nation' being the No. 1 Sunday public affairs program, ahead of NBC's 'Meet the Press,' while declining to speculate about the host's future or how CBS News might deploy her going forward."
So stay tuned....
