Archive · 18 Dec 2025
CBS News and The Free Press Plan 2026 Events
CBS News and The Free Press are planning a series of events called 'Things That Matter' for early 2026.
These events will include town halls with important people like Vice President JD Vance, Sam Altman from OpenAI, and Governor Wes Moore.
There will also be debates on topics like whether young people should believe in the American Dream, if America needs God, and if feminism has failed women.
The events will be held in different places across the country, and the moderators will be announced later.
The first town hall with Erika Kirk had a lot of viewers, and this new series is part of the initiatives by Bari Weiss, who is now leading CBS News.
The Free Press, a center-right website, is now also part of CBS News.
CBS News and The Free Press are planning a series of town halls and debates called 'Things That Matter' for early 2026.
Participants include Vice President JD Vance, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, and others.
Debates will cover topics like the American Dream, the role of God in America, and the success of feminism.
Events will be held across the country with moderators to be announced.
The Erika Kirk town hall averaged 1.9 million viewers and was the most-watched interview ever on CBS News social media.
- Who
- CBS News, The Free Press, Bari Weiss, JD Vance, Sam Altman, Wes Moore, Isabel Brown, Harry Sisson, Ross Douthat, Steven Pinker, Liz Plank, Allie Beth Stuckey
- What
- Series of town halls and debates called 'Things That Matter'
- When
- Early 2026
- Where
- Across the country
- Why
- To engage audiences on various topics and initiatives led by Bari Weiss
- Event Series Name
- Things That Matter
- Participants
- JD Vance, Sam Altman, Wes Moore, Isabel Brown, Harry Sisson, Ross Douthat, Steven Pinker, Liz Plank, Allie Beth Stuckey
- Event Types
- Town Halls, Debates
- Moderators
- To be announced
- Audience Locations
- Across the country
- Erika Kirk Town Hall Viewership
- 1.9 million viewers, 265,000 in the 25-54 demo
- CBS News Leader
- Bari Weiss
- The Free Press
- Center-right site, now on CBS News website