The silence of the left-leaning Washington Post regarding an official endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for President has its staffers on edge, as revealed in a recent report. Amidst a climate of uncertainty, several of The Post’s employees reportedly suspect that the cause of this delay lies with the newspaper’s owner, Jeff Bezos, and the editor-in-chief, Will Lewis.
According to Oliver Darcy, a former media observer for CNN who now operates Status after leaving the cable network in August, there is a pervasive belief within The Post’s ranks that the editorial board has penned their support for the Vice President but has yet to receive clearance to publish it. This restraint is rumored to originate from Bezos, the entrepreneur and Amazon.com founder who has owned The Post since 2013, and Lewis, who began his tenure as editor-in-chief in October 2021.
The Washington Post, with its long-standing repute and influential voice, is renowned for its political commentaries and endorsement editorials in the run-up to elections. This delay in endorsement – which, if true, is a rare discretion for the newspaper – is causing a stir among its staffers.
The speculation surrounding the delay in endorsement reflects the complex dynamics that often exist between newsroom policies and the preference of media tycoons who own these publications. Despite assurances of editorial independence, there are often murmurings about how media owners might influence the material that their publications release.
For Jeff Bezos, his ownership of The Washington Post has not been without its fair share of controversy. His critics often suggest that he bought the newspaper to gain political influence, aside from its storied history and its respected place in American journalism. Bezos, thus far, has maintained a policy of non-interference in day-to-day operations and editorial decisions.
If the speculations of an endorsed yet unpublished article are accurate, however, it does bring into question whether this policy is changing. The hold-off has created a mist of anticipation among the newspaper’s staffers, audience, and political spheres alike, eager to see where the influential paper will place its support.
Vice President Harris has an enviable political career that is generating momentum for her bid in the next Presidential election. The Washington Post’s endorsement, should it come, is likely to bolster her campaign significantly, given the influence the newspaper wields over its vast readership.
However, pending an official endorsement, employees of The Washington Post reportedly find themselves navigating an atmosphere of anxious bewilderment. When and if an endorsement does surface, it will not only serve to put fears and speculations among staffers at rest but also significantly shape the political discourse surrounding the Presidential race.
That makes the silence at this juncture all the more intriguing, putting a spotlight not just on Harris’ candidature, but also on Bezos’ policies regarding the running of one of America’s oldest broadsheets. As such, these rumors, if true, could have significant implications not just for the politics surrounding the next Presidency, but also for the future dynamics within The Washington Post itself.
