In a recent interview, current and former staff members of the Washington Post expressed their outrage following the newspaper’s shocking announcement that it would not endorse any candidates in the upcoming US presidential election. This marks the first time in over three decades that the editorial board has refrained from making an endorsement.
Will Lewis, the publisher, revealed this unprecedented decision on Friday, igniting a wave of criticism from journalists and media professionals. Some staffers allege that Jeff Bezos, the billionaire owner of the Post, played a significant role in quashing a potential endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Columnist Karen Attiah described the decision as an “absolute stab in the back,” saying, “What an insult to those of us who have literally put our careers and lives on the line, to call out threats to human rights and democracy.”
The union representing the editorial staff expressed deep concern about the timing of this decision, particularly with an “immensely consequential election” just days away. They underscored the purpose of the Editorial Board: to share opinions on current events and endorse candidates to guide the readership. Reports emerged that a draft endorsement for Harris existed before the decision to withhold it was made.
The backlash has already resulted in subscription cancellations from loyal readers, with approximately 2,000 subscriptions dropped within 24 hours of the announcement. Marty Baron, the former executive editor, lamented that the decision reflects “cowardice” and compromises democracy, while David Maraniss, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter at the Post, stated, “The paper I’ve loved working at for 47 years is dying in darkness.”
Former editor Robert McCartney weighed in, calling the choice “appalling,” and it has been reported that Robert Kagan, the newspaper’s editor at large, plans to resign from the editorial board as a result.
Former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, criticized the decision as “hypocritical,” referencing the newspaper’s slogan “Democracy Dies in Darkness,” which was adopted under Bezos’s ownership. She said, “This is the most hypocritical, chicken-shit move from a publication that is supposed to hold people in power to account.”
On social media, terms like “Democracy Dies in Darkness” and “WaPo” began trending, with reports indicating that the furor within the organization led the chief tech officer to restrict readers’ inquiries regarding the decision not to endorse a candidate.
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