The Washington Post Skips Endorsement: A Surprising Shift

For the first time in decades, The Washington Post has decided not to endorse a candidate in the upcoming presidential race. This move has sparked a wave of criticism, especially from those who believe the paper's role is to shine light on democracy. The paper's publisher, William Lewis, explained that this decision is a return to their roots of not endorsing presidential candidates. He emphasized the need for the newspaper to remain independent, especially given its importance in the capital city of a crucial country. The decision was revealed during a tense meeting with the editorial staff, coming at a time when many are concerned about news outlets softening their stance to please President Trump in the closing days of a very tight race against Vice President Harris. It's unclear who made the final call, but insiders suggest that the paper's owner, Jeff Bezos, ordered the decision, which was then carried out by Lewis. Former Washington Post Executive Editor Marty Baron was harsh in his critique, labeling the move as cowardice that would leave democracy harmed. He warned that Trump might see this as an invitation to intimidate not just Bezos, but other media owners as well. Baron added that history would remember this as a moment of spinelessness for an institution known for its courage. The paper's opinion editor had initially approved an endorsement for Harris. However, a week later, the publisher killed the endorsement. The decision to not endorse any candidate led to an outpouring of harsh comments on The Washington Post's platform, with many readers threatening to cancel their subscriptions. Social media was also flooded with anger and disappointment. One user on a popular social media platform expressed their outrage, labeling the decision as an abdication of responsibility. Another commenter noted that the paper's motto, "Democracy Dies in Darkness, " seemed to be forgotten. U. S. Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA) chimed in, stating that the first step towards fascism is when the free press starts to back down out of fear. Political scientist Norman Ornstein offered a detailed analysis, pointing out Trump's history of attacking the press, his authoritarian tendencies, and his admiration for figures like Hitler. Ornstein emphasized that with all this known, the decision by The Washington Post not to endorse in such a critical election was a breathtaking show of cowardice.