Bari Weiss is an American political commentator who founded The Free Press and is now editor-in-chief of CBS News. [1] She popularized the term "Intellectual Dark Web" (IDW), creating a media identity for the anti-woke movement that has become a pipeline for anti-trans content.
In May 2018, Weiss published "Meet the Renegades of the Intellectual Dark Web" in the New York Times. [4] The term was coined by Eric Weinstein, managing director of Thiel Capital. [4:1]
Media scholar John Postill argues this essay was a "defining media event" that gave the anti-woke movement an identity and cast of characters. [4:2]
IDW figures include: [4:3]
A 2019 study described the IDW as a "gateway to the far right." [4:4]
Weiss founded The Free Press (originally "Common Sense") in 2021. [3:2] It has become a major platform for anti-trans content.
The Free Press investors include: [3:3]
Eric Weinstein, who coined the "Intellectual Dark Web" term that Weiss popularized, is managing director of Thiel Capital. [4:5]
Peter Thiel has documented Epstein connections: [5]
Jeffrey Epstein
↓ ($40M to Valar Ventures, 5 years correspondence)
Peter Thiel
↓ (Thiel Capital)
Eric Weinstein (managing director, coined "IDW")
↓ (defined the movement)
Bari Weiss (popularized IDW in NYT)
↓
The Free Press (anti-trans platform)
The Free Press under Weiss has: [6]
Notable Free Press contributors include: [3:4]
In October 2025, Paramount acquired The Free Press for $150 million, making Weiss editor-in-chief of CBS News. [3:5]
Journalist Michael C. Moynihan resigned, stating: [3:6]
"One didn't have to be especially prescient to spot those 'anti-woke' types who would just slowly become MAGA flunkies."
Weiss resignation letter, July 2020 ↩︎
Wikipedia: Peter Thiel — Epstein correspondence (House Oversight Committee 2026 releases) ↩︎
The Free Press content analysis ↩︎