The Free Press (Opinion)

U.S. center-right

Background

The Free Press was launched in 2021 by Bari Weiss, a former New York Times opinion editor who resigned from the Times in 2020, citing what she described as a culture of ideological conformity in the newsroom. It began as a newsletter called 'Common Sense' on Substack before being rebranded and expanded into a full media company in 2022, with early backing from venture capital investors including Marc Andreessen and David Sacks. The outlet grew rapidly, reaching roughly 1.5 million subscribers and an estimated $15 million or more in annual subscription revenue, before raising $15 million in a 2024 funding round that valued it at around $100 million. In October 2025, Paramount Skydance acquired The Free Press for $150 million, and Weiss was simultaneously named editor-in-chief of CBS News; The Free Press continues to operate as an independent brand within that corporate structure. Throughout its existence, the outlet has positioned itself as a defender of free speech and heterodox thinking, publishing contributors from across the political spectrum but with a pronounced tilt toward conservative and center-right voices such as Douglas Murray and Niall Ferguson. AllSides rates it 'Lean Right,' and critics have described it as reflexively anti-woke and effectively aligned with right-of-center politics, despite occasional sharp criticism of Republican figures including Trump himself. Supporters contend it fills a genuine gap for readers skeptical of progressive media orthodoxy, while critics argue its heterodox branding masks a largely one-directional editorial lean.

Sources

1. The Free Press (CBS News) — Wikipedia
2. Paramount acquires Bari Weiss' The Free Press, names her top editor of CBS News — NBC News
3. Paramount Skydance acquires The Free Press for $150M — Axios
4. The Free Press goes from zero to $150m valuation in five years on Substack — Press Gazette
5. Bari Weiss's Free Press is valued at around $100 million and just raised $15 million — Nieman Lab
6. Bari Weiss's Free Press Accuses Trump of Making America 'Weaker' And 'Emboldening' Iran — Mediaite
7. The Free Press Media Bias — AllSides
8. The Free Press news outfit backed by top VCs, acquired by Paramount Skydance for $150M — PitchBook

Profile compiled 2026-07-31; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.

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