LA Times Faces Backlash Over Altered RFK Jr. Op-Ed

Author Eric Reinhart accuses the newspaper of distorting his critique of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to support a pro-Trump narrative.

Eric Reinhart, a political anthropologist, claims his critical op-ed on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination was edited by the LA Times to appear supportive of Kennedy.
The published version omitted key arguments, including comparisons between Kennedy and a healthcare CEO's alleged assassin, and softened Reinhart's warnings about preventable deaths under Kennedy's potential leadership.
The headline and tone of the piece were altered without Reinhart's approval, prompting him to publicly denounce the changes as a misrepresentation of his work.
LA Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong promoted the edited op-ed on social media, framing it as supportive of Kennedy, which Reinhart argues undermines journalistic integrity.
This incident has sparked broader concerns about billionaire influence on media and the erosion of editorial independence in major publications.