CBS Evening News mistakenly identified rapper Kanye West as Sean “Diddy” Combs during a report on the Fourth of July weekend, highlighting ongoing challenges for the network following recent programming changes. The error occurred in a segment discussing President Donald Trump’s consideration of a pardon for Combs, who is serving a 50-month prison sentence after a conviction in a federal sex-crimes case.

The broadcast featured a photo of West, sourced from his unexpected appearance at Combs’ trial last year, despite the report focusing on Combs himself. The misidentification was corrected in the West Coast rebroadcast as well as in digital and streaming versions of the program.

A source familiar with the show attributed the mistake to its understaffing, suggesting limited resources may have contributed to the oversight. However, CBS News declined to comment on the issue, and another network insider described the incident as an isolated error unrelated to staffing levels.

The incident comes amid criticism of the network’s coverage of the Independence Day celebrations held on the National Mall, which were disrupted by severe thunderstorms. Anchor Tony Dokoupil, who took over the role in January as part of a revamp led by network executive Bari Weiss, was notably off the air for approximately an hour during the event as the news leadership deliberated on how to proceed.

The National Mall coverage drew scrutiny for perceived disorganization and delayed responses to evolving conditions. Critics pointed to the confusion as emblematic of wider struggles within the CBS Evening News since Weiss’ arrival and the program’s ongoing efforts to rebuild its audience.

CBS Evening News remains near the bottom of national ratings, and the network’s leadership has been engaged in efforts to improve its journalistic credibility and operational efficiency. The recent missteps underscore continuing challenges as the program attempts to redefine its identity in a competitive news landscape.