The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times made a notable choice by declining to endorse Kamala Harris or Donald Trump for president, which is causing a stir on both sides of the political spectrum. While many believe this decision was driven by fear or some billionaire conspiracy to back Trump, there’s likely a simpler explanation: Harris, to put it bluntly, isn’t exactly hitting home runs with her campaign. Plus, these major newspapers have management teams that aren’t exactly thrilled about playing a role in the current circus, even if they’re no fans of Trump.
Behind the scenes, it appears both papers’ owners—billionaires, no less—may have quietly pulled the strings to prevent an endorsement. This has sent parts of the left into a tailspin, interpreting the lack of support for Harris as proof that wealthy elites are somehow terrified of Trump or view him as their golden ticket. However, an equally plausible scenario is that executives like Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post, are just done with the drama. It’s a fair bet that Bezos, along with his tech colleagues, might be feeling the effects of left-wing initiatives in their own companies. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, while well-intentioned, have led to bureaucratic headaches and a drain on talent for some organizations. It’s hardly surprising that some in management, fed up with HR overreach, might quietly prefer to stay out of divisive politics entirely this cycle.
Amid this backdrop, the rank-and-file reporters at these papers are reportedly fuming. At The Washington Post, journalist Karen Attiah even hinted that the lack of endorsement felt like management was leaving her to fend for herself in a world that could see Trump back in power. Her remarks underscore just how anxious some staffers are, viewing the decision not as editorial neutrality but as a personal affront or even a perceived threat.
It’s worth noting that the endorsement process isn’t new territory for editorial boards, but the stakes feel particularly heightened with Harris and Trump as the choices. Watching traditionally left-leaning media outlets avoid a ringing endorsement for their usual team has some wondering if it’s less about who’s running and more about the state of today’s progressive policies. When management is keeping its distance, maybe it’s a sign that the narrative is wearing thin, even for them.
In the end, while many in the media landscape are scrambling to make sense of the silence, some readers see it as a refreshing sign of independence—or perhaps just an unwillingness to jump into the political fray this time around. Either way, the fallout from the endorsement non-decision shows just how divided and tense things have become within the establishment media itself.
I am LOVING this meltdown for them. pic.twitter.com/IzFsr0Ze2B
— Bad Hombre (@joma_gc) October 25, 2024
