John,
This morning, news broke that Jeff Bezos forced out The Washington Post’s Opinion Editor, aligning its editorial direction more closely with a right-wing agenda.
In an email to staff, Bezos announced that the Opinion section will now focus exclusively on "free markets" and "personal liberties." He added that dissenting views will no longer be allowed.
The opinion page changes are the latest blow to The Washington Post’s journalistic independence. Bezos—whose company Amazon receives billions in government contracts—is now more focused on currying favor with Donald Trump than preserving The Post’s history as a vital defender of American democracy.
Bezos claims these changes are just an “editorial shift.” In reality, they are another abdication of duty for what was once a vital American institution.
David Shipley, the Opinion Editor Bezos forced out, was the same editor who resisted Bezos’ decision to block The Post from endorsing Kamala Harris last year. This was the first time in 40 years that the paper had declined to endorse a candidate.
Shipley also backed Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Ann Telnaes, who resigned in protest after The Post killed her cartoon depicting Bezos and other billionaire media owners kneeling at Trump’s feet and handing over bags of money.
See the cartoon Bezos killed—then chip in $25 to help COURIER fight back.
The Washington Post is the newspaper that took down Nixon, exposed Watergate, and set the gold standard for investigative reporting.
Now, as Trump and Elon Musk usher in an unprecedented era of government corruption, Bezos is signaling that The Post is yet another captured corporate media outlet – all to protect its owner’s bottom line.
That’s why your support for COURIER and our mission is so urgent right now. If we want real journalism that won’t bow to Trump or a fear of losing profits, we have to build it ourselves, and that's exactly what we're doing with your support.
In solidarity,
The COURIER Team