Bezos Killed Washington Post’s Harris Endorsement, Report Says

Topline

Jeff Bezos made the decision to block the Washington Post editorial board’s planned endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, unnamed sources told Washington Post reporters, making Bezos the second billionaire newspaper owner this week to blindside staff by killing a Harris endorsement.

Key Facts

What Happened At The Los Angeles Times?

Mariel Garza, who was until days ago the Los Angeles Times’ editorials editor, said she resigned from her post in protest after the paper’s owner, billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong, blocked an endorsement the editorial board had planned to make for Harris. Soon-Shiong appeared to push back in a social media post, in which he claimed the editorial board was asked to “draft a factual analysis of all the POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE policies by EACH candidate” so readers could make an informed decision, but claimed the board did not follow through. Editorial board members Robert Greene, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and Karin Klein also resigned in protest, with both citing their disappointment over the blocked endorsement.

Chief Critics

Former Washington Post executive editor Martin Baron called the paper’s decision “cowardice” and said former President Donald Trump would see it as an “invitation to further intimidate” Bezos. Karen Attiah, a Post columnist, called the decision an “absolute stab in the back” and 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.” Robert McCartney, a former Washington Post columnist and editor who spent nearly four decades at the paper, slammed the decision to not endorse: “Given the choice this year, it’s appalling.” The Washington Post Guild, the labor union that represents Post staffers, said in a statement it is “concerned that management interfered with the work of our members in Editorial” and criticized the company for alienating readers. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., called Bezos’ decision an example of “oligarchy,” alleging he is “afraid of antagonizing Trump and losing Amazon’s federal contracts.”

Forbes Valuation

Forbes estimates Bezos is the third-richest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of $206.2 billion as of Friday afternoon. In addition to owning the Post, Bezos owns slightly less than 10% of Amazon, which he resigned as CEO of in 2021 but remains executive chairman of. Soon-Shiong is worth $7.6 billion, according to Forbes estimates. Soon-Shiong, who is a medical doctor, invented the Abraxane cancer drug and owns the NantWorks network of healthcare startups.

Tangent

The refusal to make an endorsement comes as the presidential race appears increasingly neck-and-neck as most polls show an essentially tied race between Harris and Trump, including a deadlocked 48%-48% poll among likely voters released Friday by the New York Times.

Further Reading

On political endorsement (The Washington Post)

Two more Los Angeles Times editorial board members resign amid turmoil over blocked Harris endorsement (CNN)