Here’s what we’re talking about the opinion section of American newspapers: Their owners have the final say. If the guy signing the check – most of the time it’s a man – really really wants to see his Cocker Spaniel Run city hall, you’ll probably see “Our Choice: Fluffernutter for the Mayor” peeled off on the edit page. From Murdoch to Roeb, Hearst, Pulitzer, and Daniels to Greeley, this is one of the valid perks of media ownership. If Jeff Bezos wanted to change the Washington Post opinion section to an AI-powered version of Alexa, he would be within his rights. Therefore, his presentation this morning – that posthumous opinion will be revived “in the support and defense of two pillars of individual freedom and the free market” – in a sense, merely rephrases the traditional Droit du Signer given to capital.
However, the scale of hypocrisy displayed here is a distraction.
Don’t get in the way. This is the same as Jeff Bezos, who decided to cancel the approval of Kamala Harris’ post just before the election. This is a move that led to over 250,000 pay-mail readers cancelling their subscriptions within a few days. The same Bezo flew to Mar Lago, who was comfortable with Donald Trump after the election. The same Bezo, who has donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration and $40 million for Melania’s Trump documentary, has paid the most to date, almost triple the number of things other studios have offered, of which over 70% will go directly into Trump’s pockets. All that cash appears to serve as a kind of personal seating license for Bezos, winning him just behind the first president. The right-hand side of the technology aristocrat is a familiar theme of the post-election period, and it doesn’t require much brain power to see today’s announcement as part of the same shift.
But Bezos’s claim of power can be laughed at all, compared to the rhetoric he used only four months ago when trying to justify the murder of Harris’ support. Remember his confused, obscuring operations that crushed the oligarchs? His core argument at the time was that the worst thing a newspaper’s opinion could do was see politically taking one side.
Bezos, October 28, 2024: We need to be accurate and be believed to be accurate. Swallowing is a bitter medicine, but it fails the second requirement. Most people believe that the media is biased. Anyone who doesn’t see this pays a little attention to reality, and those who fight reality lose. The reality is that he is an undefeated champion. It’s easy to blame others for our long-standing reliability (and therefore reduced impact), but the victim’s thinking doesn’t help. Grumbling is not a strategy. We must work hard to control what we can control to increase reliability.The president’s support does nothing to scale the election. Undecided voters in Pennsylvania are not going to say, “I have the support of Newspaper A.” none. What Presidential support actually does is create awareness of bias. Non-independent perception. Ending them is a principled decision, and it is the right decision.
It’s bad to support a presidential candidate. Because it can generate perceptions of prejudice. This means that newspapers are institutionally leaning towards one side.
The solution is to declare owners that millions will be shipped to Trump headquarters, and certain opinions that are not in favor of political rights will become redundant on the post’s page.
Bezos, February 26, 2025: We write every day to support and defend two pillars of individual freedom and free market. Of course we will also cover other topics, but perspectives against those pillars will be made public by others.
In October, Bezos even grieved the notion that his personal interests could affect the content of the post.
Bezos, October 28, 2024: Regarding the emergence of conflict, I am not the ideal owner of the post. Every day, somewhere, someone from an Amazon executive or Blue Origin executive, or from another charity or business I own or invest in, meets with a government employee. I once wrote that this post is a “complex device” for me. Yes, but I also see that it is the complexity of the post.You can see my wealth and business interests as a breakwater against threats. Or you can see them as a web of contradictory interests. Only my own principles can tilt the balance from one to the other. My views here are actually principled, and I think my track record as owner of posts since 2013 supports this. Of course, you are free to do your own resolve, but I challenge myself to support my interests and find one instance in the 11 years I have won someone in the post. That’s not happening.
But of course – when one of the wealthiest humans in the history of the species decides to block the critique of the “free market” from one of the country’s most important news outlets, it has nothing to do with his interests. It’s completely irrelevant.
Bezos, February 26, 2025:I am America, I am America and I am proud to be. Our country did not come here by being typical. And much of America’s success was freedom in the economic realm and everywhere else. Freedom is ethical, minimizes coercion and is practical – promoting creativity, invention and prosperity…I am confident that the free market and personal freedom are suitable for America. They also believe that these perspectives are underserved in the current market for ideas and news opinions. I’m excited to fill that blank together.
A few months ago, Bezos was convinced that the Post had to distinguish it from a misleading swarm of online content, due to its stubborn independence from the ideological agenda.
Bezos, October 28, 2024: Many people are turning to off-cuff podcasts, inaccurate social media posts, and other unverified news sources.I don’t impose personal interests on it, but this paper does not allow it to remain on autopilot and disappear irrelevant. That’s too important. The stakes are too expensive. Now, the world needs a more reliable, reliable, independent voice than ever before. And where does that voice come from the capital of the most important country in the world?
But today, all Macs on the Internet is positioned as a complete excuse to abandon all desires for a wide range of opinions.
Bezos, February 26, 2025: There were newspapers, particularly those that were local monopoly, might have seen them as a service that brought a broad opinion section to the reader’s gateway every morning, trying to cover all opinions. Today the Internet does its job.
So, in summary, newspapers are not considered ally. Until it becomes essential that it is considered to be taken on the side. Bezos never uses his own ideological beliefs to limit post work. Until he decides, he must use his ideological beliefs to limit his post work.
As in the fall, the problem with these swings is that their content is less than naked services to one man’s agenda. Newspapers are free to support or not to approve of who it wants. The owner is free to shape his opinion section. However, the substantial context of these decisions clashes violently in the tone of Bezos’ lectures and freshman-level political analysis. I don’t think today’s announcement will generate another 250,000 subscription cancellations just because there are so few subscribers remaining to cancel. However, the impact is felt. Just three months ago, the post was preparing a plan to “win” Wayward subscribers by focusing on people like Ashley Parker, Eugene Robinson and Dana Milbank (people like Ashley Parker, Eugene Milbank, and more). Parker is a ship that has already jumped. How should voices like Milbank and Robinson fit into the new critic’s non-abolized market regime?
I keep thinking when the new publisher of the post denounces the newsroom. “No one’s reading yours.”
It was true at the time, and it was true as the events of today were revealed again. The “thing” he dismissed it is amazing. It’s a matter of leadership and business.
– Ashley Parker (@ashleyrparker) February 26, 2025
“I think (Bezos) correctly detected that Trump is doing more revenge than his first term.”
Acclaimed journalist Marty Baron denounces former boss Jeff Bezos and discusses the threat to the free press with Zeteo contributor @Johnjharwood.bsky.social.
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– Zeteo (@Zeteo.com) February 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Update: Wash Post Executive Editor Matt Murray has sent a note to the newsroom, highlighting that Bezos changes are directed towards the Opinion section.
“The independent and impartial work of the Post’s newsroom remains unchanged and continues to pursue attractive, impactful journalism without fear or favor.”
– David Folkenflik (@Davidfolkenflik.bsky.social) February 26, 2025, 1:51pm
Shipley, privately, according to the knowledgeable, told Bezos that his vision would break the post’s brand promise to provide accountability for power.
As reported by NPR, over 300K people cancelled their subscriptions after Bezos killed Harris’ support.
– DavidFolkenflik (@DavidFolkenflik.bsky.social) February 26, 2025 at 1:03 PM
How it started: “I promise I will never interfere with the editorial decisions of the Washington Post.”
How it goes: “If you don’t like my editorial decisions, that’s when you go.”
– City myths, legends (@urbanmyths) February 26, 2025
More details on Bezos at @Davidfolkenflik.bsky.social
My thoughts: It’s easy to say this, but there’s no way today’s announcement won’t have a calm impact on the newsroom. Bezos revealed that the Washington Post exists to promote his political ideology.
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– Judd Legum (@Juddlegum.bsky.social) February 26th, 2025, 2:20pm
Bezos’ interference with the post in the morning will be a pitch for donations by the Guardian in the afternoon
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– Bill Grueskin (@bgrueskin.bsky.social) February 26, 2025, 2:13pm
Jeff Bezos’ massive invasion of today’s Washington Post opinion section – no clear objections will be made public or tolerated there
I still don’t feel an invasion of my journalism in the news of the press, but if Bezos tries to interfere with pic.twitter.com/7hzwcudcvv
– Jeff Stein (@jstein_wapo) February 26, 2025
“Freedom is ethical – minimizes coercion,” Jeff Bezos said in a statement about how he will force his own newspaper to keep out objections https://t.co/nyjxkasfhm
– Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) February 26, 2025
