# The Washington Post: Democracy Dies With Us **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [October 25, 2024, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210 "2024-10-25T17:30:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/201 "2024-10-28T20:11:58Z")
> **[Over 200,000 subscribers flee 'Washington Post' after Bezos blocks Harris...](https://www.npr.org/2024/10/28/nx-s1-5168416/washington-post-bezos-endorsement-president-cancellations-resignations)** > > Over 200,000 people canceled their subscriptions in the first few days following news that The Washington Post would not endorse any presidential candidate. I wouldn’t say “flee”; more like scraping shit off my shoe. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/202 "2024-10-28T20:22:09Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Honestly, though, if you’re going to strictly choose companies you deal with based on whether you agree with the political views of the companies themselves or their majority owners, you are going to have a hard time finding _anyone_ to deal with. But I can get all the Penzey’s Spices I want! ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/203 "2024-10-28T20:31:19Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Honestly, though, if you’re going to strictly choose companies you deal with based on whether you agree with the political views of the companies themselves or their majority owners, you are going to have a hard time finding _anyone_ to deal with. same thing when choosing your news sources. I want my news sources to give me complete, accurate, unbiased, and non-partisan reporting of the news. Having news sources endorse political candidates, if not discordant, is at best orthogonal to that goal. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/204 "2024-10-28T20:34:41Z")
Well, as many have pointed out, if the owner is willing to censor content to curry political favor, then how do you know what is in fact accurate, unbiased, and most importantly, non-partisan? The thumb is on the scale. The question now is only how hard. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/205 "2024-10-28T20:41:13Z")
> [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](#): > > I want my news sources to give me complete, accurate, unbiased, and non-partisan reporting of the news. The NY Times, WaPo, WSJ news pages all try to do this, but none of them claim that their editorial page is unbiased. What does your comment have to do with whether the editorial page endorses someone? ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/206 "2024-10-28T20:41:58Z")
I think it is the right decision, made for a very wrong reason. I agree it calls into question their impartiality. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/207 "2024-10-28T20:45:48Z")
I guess you should cancel your subscription, since they did endorse other non-presidential candidates, but I imagine you canceled it years ago when they endorsed presidential candidates in the last election cycle, and the one before that, etc. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/208 "2024-10-28T20:48:30Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > The NY Times, WaPo, WSJ news pages all try to do this, but none of them claim that their editorial page is unbiased. What does your comment have to do with whether the editorial page endorses someone? The editorial page is still part of the paper. It seems to me it is still “speaking” on behalf of the paper when it endorses someone. It can be argued that an endorsement can influence news coverage, potentially leading to biases in reporting. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/209 "2024-10-28T20:50:49Z")
Similarly, I presume, you think papers’ editorial pages should take no position on issues like “should puppies be tortured”, since such a position might cast doubt on their unbiased coverage of puppy torturing incidents? ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/210 "2024-10-28T20:50:54Z")
The WSJ reporting is very high quality, but their editorial page is right-wing garbage. I agree that if there’s no separation between the editorial and news portions (like Fox News, which freely intermingles those), it’s a garbage news source. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/211 "2024-10-28T21:17:04Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > The WSJ reporting is very high quality, but their editorial page is right-wing garbage. I still read the WSJ and like their reporting. I never cease to be amazed at how far right their editorial section is. As you say, it is garbage. They really go off the rails. It’s kinda weird compared to the rest of the paper but I can separate the two. What gets me about Bezos is interfering with the editorial section of the paper which is supposed to be able to do its thing without interference. Bezos crossed a line he shouldn’t have. He could put new people in place to make an editorial board whose opinions match his own but he should let them do their job. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/212 "2024-10-28T21:32:28Z")
> [@bobsmom101](#): > > Bezos is acting like a Russian oligarch who is worried he’s about to be defenestrated. And there is no guarantee that this won’t be his exact fate. Bezos, you’re already the “enemy of the people”. You’ve already earned a top spot on Trump’s enemies list. Why would you even begin to think that because you didn’t say anything mean about Trump for _one day_, you’re forgiven and all is well? Your paper has probably published dozens of articles since trash talking Trump. You’re still the enemy, _you just took a day off_. You think Trump is your buddy now? You think he won’t stab you in the back and take everything you have? He has categorized you as a traitor. He thinks traitors should be executed. Your only hope is that he is too lazy and disorganized to come after you. But you know damn well he wants your billions. Have you got a plan for dealing with someone who makes up his own laws and has a legislature and a Supreme Court to rubber stamp everything he does? ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/213 "2024-10-28T22:02:53Z")
USA Today is not endorsing. > **[USA Today the Latest to Offer Up Excuse for Lack of Presidential Endorsement](https://www.thedailybeast.com/usa-today-the-latest-to-offer-up-excuse-for-lack-of-presidential-endorsement/)** > > The national newspaper, which endorsed Joe Biden four years ago, says it’d rather have its editors focussed on local elections. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/214 "2024-10-28T22:35:00Z")
Journalism is a business that talks a lot about ethics. I like the Post. Wanting Harris to win and not saying so is not brave and not in keeping with its traditions. However, I see this decision as disheartening but not outrageous. I can understand institutions and business not wishing to be embroiled in divisive politics even if papers and journalism are different. This human understanding does not mean it is the right thing to do or that I agree with it. But I found this more disheartening, though do not wish to discuss it further in a thread on this topic. [https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/10/28/trump-immigration-family-separation-00185512](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/10/28/trump-immigration-family-separation-00185512) ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2024, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/215 "2024-10-28T22:39:40Z")
Let’s say you’re right and newspapers shouldn’t be in the business of endorsing candidates. Is the right time to make that right decision right after a presidential election, to end the process in a way that has nothing to do with the next election, or is it 2 weeks before the election and a day ahead of when your boss will be meeting with the candidate the paper would otherwise endorse against? If the answer is obviously the former, why are they doing it now? Because Bezos is just so ethical that he has to do the right thing? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/216 "2024-10-29T00:59:53Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > If the answer is obviously the former, why are they doing it now? Because Bezos is just so ethical that he has to do the right thing? Of course Bezos is ethical. He’s built a successful business based on providing high-quality products, handled by well-treated employees. Right? I’d find the whole shitshow much more plausible if they’d made such an announcement MONTHS ago. As noted, something like 200,000 people have unsubscribed from the Post. Which is kind of a shame (though we are in that crowd). The real impact would be REFUSING TO USE AMAZON - hit Bezos where it counts. It may still be a drop in the bucket - my few hundred bucks a month will barely be noticed, and a lot of people will continue to shop there because it IS so damn convenient. Even if 200,000 purchasers quit using Amazon, that’s likely beans compared with their other business interests (e.g. I use AWS for work). I did cancel my Audible, Kindle Unlimited, and Amazon Music subscriptions. We won’t tell Jeff that I was gonna do that anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/217 "2024-10-29T03:29:08Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > An incident in 2016 wouldn’t be the sole reason for them not endorsing in 2024, **otherwise they wouldn’t have endorsed in 2020 either**. (Bolding mine). The possibility of Trump winning seemed a lot less likely in 2020 than it does now, and the prospect of what Trump would do in a second term seemed a lot less frightening. He wasn’t nearly as threatening back then, and the immunity case and Dobbs rulings hadn’t happened yet. I’m sure Bezos is motivated mostly by business related reasons but I wouldn’t completely rule out existential fear as a contributing factor. Billions in wealth doesn’t protect you in an authoritarian state. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/218 "2024-10-29T03:44:42Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > USA Today is not endorsing. I suspect that these papers/owners/editors have taken Trumps threats VERY seriously, and are prepared to welcome the upcoming totalitarian dictatorship with open arms. Expect them to fall in line quickly in the event of a Trump Victory or Trump revolution. The Supreme Court has clearly laid out a road map for Trump to commit any crimes he wants. (Official Acts) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/219 "2024-10-29T04:23:01Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > The possibility of Trump winning seemed a lot less likely in 2020 than it does now, and the prospect of what Trump would do in a second term seemed a lot less frightening. That doesn’t address my point in any way whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210/220 "2024-10-29T04:23:32Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > USA Today is not endorsing. FWIW, USA Today had _never_ given a presidential endorsement until 2020 (though they gave Trump a “non-endorsement” in 2016). But, that said, it’s not like Trump is any better or more appealing now than he was four or eight years ago, unless “appealing” is “covering your corporate ass.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-washington-post-democracy-dies-with-us/1009210.md?page=12)