Overview

• The Washington Post is experiencing an identity crisis as Jeff Bezos transitions from a passive owner to an active decision-maker, reshaping the paper’s editorial and cultural direction.
• Bezos ended the paper's long-standing tradition of endorsing presidential candidates, including blocking an endorsement of Kamala Harris in 2024, which alienated readers and staff.
• The billionaire mandated a new editorial focus on ‘personal liberties’ and ‘free markets,’ prompting the resignation of opinion editor David Shipley and further staff departures.
• Will Lewis, Bezos’s handpicked CEO, is reportedly disengaged from the newsroom, with staff criticizing his leadership and morale at an all-time low.
• More than 75,000 subscriptions have been canceled in protest of the changes, while over 400 journalists have petitioned Bezos to restore trust and stability at the paper.