
The Washington Post is facing significant internal upheaval following its decision not to endorse Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Veteran journalist Molly Roberts resigned on Monday, and another board member, David Hoffman, is expected to leave shortly.
Publisher Will Lewis justified the decision as part of a broader effort to “return to our roots” of nonpartisan coverage, referencing the Post’s earlier years before it started endorsing candidates in 1976. However, sources report that the editorial board had drafted an endorsement for Harris, which was ultimately blocked by owner Jeff Bezos, sparking criticism over potential corporate influence on editorial choices.
The decision has already led to the resignations of Michele Norris, who left Sunday, describing the move as “a terrible mistake,” and Robert Kagan, a longtime editor-at-large. Kagan, whose wife Victoria Nuland previously served as Under Secretary of State, reportedly stepped down in protest of what he saw as a failure in journalistic responsibility.
The Los Angeles Times also announced it would forgo a presidential endorsement this year, resulting in the resignation of several pro-Harris journalists. The shared decisions by two major newspapers have stirred debate over the media’s role in elections and the influence of corporate interests on journalistic practices.
With a growing list of departures, the endorsement controversy reflects a broader question about the independence of the press in high-stakes elections. For the Washington Post, these staff resignations highlight an ongoing struggle to reconcile journalistic values with the changing expectations of its ownership, especially in a heated political environment.