Public statements or interviews with Marty Baron

Jeff Bezos Blocks Washington Post's 2024 Endorsement; Staff Resignations and Criticism Follow

Oct 28, 2024, 05:59 AM

The Washington Post announced that it will not endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential election, breaking a 30-year tradition and stating it is "returning to their roots." Reports suggest that the decision was influenced by the newspaper's owner, Jeff Bezos, who allegedly blocked the endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris. This move has prompted internal turmoil, leading to resignations from prominent staff members including columnist Michele Norris and editorial board members Molly Roberts, David Hoffman, and Mili Mitra. Marty Baron, former executive editor of The Washington Post, criticized the decision as "cowardice" and "spinelessness." Similarly, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney canceled her subscription, stating that Bezos is "afraid to issue an endorsement for the only candidate in the race who's a stable responsible adult because he fears Donald Trump." The newspaper's humor columnist Alexandra Petri took it upon herself to endorse Harris. Additionally, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein publicly condemned the paper's decision. These actions have sparked widespread criticism and concern over media influence on democracy.